There have been a few changes in the 2016 Attorney General race.
Former Cass County Prosecutor Teresa Hensley (D) [2012 file photo].
Today former Cass County Prosecutor Teresa Hensley (D) announced her candidacy for Attorney General in 2016:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2015[….]
FMR. PROSECUTOR TERESA HENSLEY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL
Kansas City, MO – Today Democrat Teresa Hensley announced that she is starting her campaign to become Missouri’s next Attorney General.
“As a former prosecutor, I saw the pain and the devastation families experience when they’re the victims of violent crime. I saw parents who lost children to drunk drivers, and children who lost their innocence to abuse. But I also saw the power of justice in action. I saw people begin to put their lives back together after justice was served in a court of law,” said Hensley “That’s why I’m running. I have a unique understanding of the power and importance of the Office of the Attorney General. As the state’s top prosecutor, I will seek justice with honesty and integrity for Missouri’s families.”
Shortly after her announcement, Missouri State Senator Scott Sifton and former candidate for Attorney General offered his endorsement, “Teresa Hensley has the prosecutor experience we need in our next Attorney General. Her experience as a prosecutor far exceeds that of the other candidates in the field.”
Hensley stated she looked forward to continuing and expanding the Attorney General Office’s strong tradition of defending victims’ rights and protecting consumers against fraud. She was recognized for that work as Cass County Prosecutor and plans to continue it at the state level. Hensley will also prioritize protection of senior citizens from financial scams, and work with community leaders to create safer, more secure communities for Missouri families.
“As a prosecutor, I want an Attorney General who understands the rights of victims and has the experience of seeking justice,” said Jennifer Joyce, Circuit Attorney for the City of St. Louis, “That’s why I’m supporting Teresa Hensley to become the chief law enforcement officer for Missouri.”
Said Hensley, “I look forward to traveling the state, hearing from voters from all over, and working to win their support.”
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About Teresa Hensley
Teresa Hensley has devoted her career to fighting for justice, the rights of victims, and protecting those most vulnerable in our communities. These qualities and experience make her ideally suited to become Missouri’s next Attorney General.
Hensley is a life-long Missourian. She began kindergarten at Raymore Elementary and remained at Raymore-Peculiar High School until graduating in 1977. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from William Jewell College and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri Kansas City Law School.
Hensley was appointed to the position of Cass County Prosecutor in January of 2005; she was elected to the position in November of 2006 and again in 2010 for a four-year term that began January 2011. Hensley received the 2010 Missouri Attorney General’s Justice Award for Domestic Violence Prevention. She participated as prosecutor in the Child Abuse Response Team, the Fire Investigation Team, and the DWI Task Force. In 2014, she was selected by the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (MAPA) to serve as Chair of the Missouri DWI and Traffic Safety Best Practices Committee.
Hensley remains active in the day-to-day life of the community. She served as a Raymore Alderman, Raymore Planning and Zoning Board member, and as a member of the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board, as well as a board member of Hope Haven. She is currently a member of the Bel-Ray Sunrise Lions Club, the Harrisonville Rotary Club, the Harrisonville Business and Professional Women, and Beta Sigma Phi of Lake Winnebago.
Hensley is a family law mediator. She taught social studies at Leavenworth Public Schools in the Alternative Program and criminal law at William Jewell College. Before becoming Cass County Prosecutor in 2005, she was a partner and practicing attorney for fourteen years with the Hensley Law Firm in Raymore with her husband, Kenny.
She grew up in Raymore, Missouri, where her parents and family still reside. She opened a law office with her husband Kenny Hensley in 1991 in Raymore and was there until she became Prosecutor in 2005. Kenny and Teresa were married in 1979 and have one son, Frank, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife Heather.