Knox Statement on $1 Million in Spending by Special Interest Influencing Contra Costa District Attorney Race

“California Justice & Public Safety PAC” has reported over $1M in additional spending including $710k in Anti-Knox advertising

MARTINEZ, CA– In light of recently reported contributions from an out-of-state PAC funded by George Soros, Mary Knox, Candidate for Contra Costa District Attorney released the following statement:

“An out-of-state billionaire along with special interest groups have now dropped an unprecedented $1M to defeat my campaign and influence voters for District Attorney in this local election.  Contra Costa voters will determine the outcome of this election and the future of public safety in Contra Costa County. This money will not drown out the voices of the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of local donors who have worked tirelessly side-by-side with me over the past 11 months to spread our campaign’s message”, said Mary Knox, Candidate for District Attorney, “I have served this community for 37 years as a prosecutor. The bottom line is this. People in our community want to feel safe in their neighborhoods. Every day I talk to voters who are frustrated with D.A. Becton and want to see their District Attorney focused on public safety and crime reduction.”

Mary Knox has served as a Prosecutor in the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office for 37 years and has extensive trial experience. Knox has earned the endorsement of every law enforcement agency in the County, as well as state and local organizations such as the California Correctional Peace Officers Association,  PORAC, the California Narcotics Officers Association and the California Gang Investigators Association. Mary has advanced social justice while preventing crime in Contra Costa County.  She brought anti-bias training to the District Attorney’s Office and has fought to end discrimination against women in the Contra Costa County’s District Attorney’s Office.

Mary Knox and the incumbent are the only candidates running for election as District Attorney.  Since this election will be won by a simple majority, the election of the next District Attorney of Contra Costa County will be determined by the votes cast on June 7, 2022.

Attached are independent expenditure reports outlining this new spending.

• CA Justice and Public Safety PAC – 496 – 2022.05.28 – Support Becton (1)
• CA Justice and Public Safety PAC – 496 – 2022.05.28 – Oppose Knox (1)
• CA Justice and Public Safety PAC – 496 – 2022.05.14 – Support Becton (2)
• CA Justice and Public Safety PAC – 496 – 2022.05.14 – Oppose Knox (2)

Mary Knox Bio:

Mary Knox has dedicated her life to making Contra Costa County safer. For more than 37 years, Mary has served as an experienced prosecutor and advocate for crime victims. As a lead prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office, Mary has won high profile cases against some of the most notorious criminals in Contra Costa County history. She worked to dismantle the criminal gangs who have preyed upon our most disadvantaged communities, and she has engaged in meaningful violence reduction by instituting effective strategies to reduce crime and prosecute violent criminals. To discourage freeway shootings, she secured $3.5 million for freeway security cameras. She brought in $3.5 million in federal funding to combat sex trafficking. And, after recent smash and grab robberies, Mary developed a three-point plan to hold organized crime syndicates accountable and prevent future crimes.

Born and raised in Walnut Creek, Mary Knox attended UCLA and then Pepperdine Law School. During law school, Mary worked as a law clerk in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in the Sexual Assault Unit and in a second clerkship in the Juvenile Unit. Once Mary graduated from law school, she came home and has worked as a prosecutor in the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s for the past 37 years while raising her son, Darien, as a single mother.

Key Endorsements (for a complete list visit maryknox4da.com):

Crime Victims United
Police Officer Research Association of California (PORAC)
California Narcotic Officers’ Association (CNOA)
California Correctional Peace Officers Association
Central Coast Gang Investigators Association
National Latino Police Officer Association – Contra Costa County NLPOA Advocacy Chapter
Chinese American Political Association (CAPA) PAC
Contra Costa County Sheriff, David Livingston
Mitchell Celaya III, Calistoga Police Chief
Douglas Krathwal, Retired San Pablo Police Chief
Joseph Aida, Retired San Pablo Police Chief
Walt Schuld, Retired San Pablo Police Chief
John Moore, Retired Pleasant Hill Police Chief
Dan Lawrence, Retired Clayton Police Chief
Tom Holt, Former Police Lieutenant from the Contra Costa Community College District
Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
Contra Costa District Attorney Investigators Association
El Cerrito Police Officer Association
Hercules Police Officer Association
Martinez Police Officer Association
Oakley Police Officer Association
Pinole Police Officer Association
Pittsburg Police Officer Association
Pleasant Hill Police Officer Association
San Ramon Police Officer Association
Antioch Police Officer Association
BART Police Officer Association
Brentwood Police Officer Association
Richmond Police Officer Association
San Pablo Police Employees’ Association
Clayton Police Officer Association
Concord Police Officer Association
East Bay Regional Parks Police Officer Association
Walnut Creek Police Officer Association