Jennifer Benson should be elected Webster County attorney.

Benson, who has served as first assistant in the county attorney’s office for more than three years, has demonstrated her qualifications for the job in both experience and ability.

Benson’s career has been spent as a prosecutor. Prior to joining the Webster County attorney’s office, Benson was recruited to run a write-in campaign for Humboldt County attorney. She defeated the incumbent in 2006 and was re-elected to Humboldt County’s top prosecutor’s job in 2010.

Benson has tried and won felony convictions in murder, robbery, child endangerment, sexual abuse and drug dealing cases.

For successful prosecution of cases, it is essential that law enforcement agencies work hand-in-hand with the county attorney’s office.

Benson has been endorsed by the Fort Dodge Police Association, which includes the rank-and-file officers who put their safety on the line every day. She also has the public backing of the former Webster County sheriff.

In addition, Benson has developed relationships with other county attorneys, members of the Iowa attorney general’s office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and federal prosecutors. Those relationships can prove crucial in successfully prosecuting cases.

Benson is also a proponent of using the services of the Iowa attorney general’s office, services that are offered without cost to taxpayers in every county in Iowa, not just the smaller counties. These attorneys, who devote their careers to prosecution of the most serious cases, also have ready access to resources that a single county, no matter how large, simply doesn’t have. Convicting violent offenders is far more important than who gets credit for the conviction.

Prosecutors have a great deal of discretion on whether to file charges, what charges to file and when offering a plea agreement is the proper option. They must reasonably determine the best outcome for both victims and taxpayers. Sometimes, that is a plea deal – for example when witnesses refuse to come forward; sometimes it is prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. Benson has made those choices.

County attorneys don’t just try cases. They are also administrators. The Webster County attorney must manage the budget and personnel matters for an 11-person staff. Benson had those responsibilities as the Humboldt County attorney and honed them under the tutelage of former Webster County Attorney Ricki Osborn Stubbs.

Attorneys, like everyone in modern society, tend not to stay in one place as long as they once did. The Webster County attorney’s office has seen its share of turnover in recent years. However, electing Benson would likely also mean keeping in office the current team of attorneys – which is already one short due to the sudden resignation of the previous county attorney. With approximately 150 currently open cases, there is no question that having a new set of attorneys would mean the wheels of justice would turn more slowly.

Benson is not a Fort Dodge or area native. She, like many of the other young professionals Fort Dodge eagerly wants to recruit and retain, chose to live in this area. Originally from southwest Iowa, she has purchased a house in Fort Dodge and has plans to stay here.

Jennifer Benson is the type of person Fort Dodge wants and the type of county attorney Webster County needs.