March 10, 2010
Endorsements
"Mr. Gardner tried cases from misdemeanors to death penalty in my court. He was always prepared, professional and a superb advocate for the people. He is a man of great integrity and fairness."
— Judge Robert C. Millikan,
retired
"I have always found Alex Gardner to be a top-notch guy. He is what an ideal prosecutor should be: Honest, consistent, and yet able to keep perspective and not let a case get "personal" to the point it precludes resolution of a matter. I think Alex has the force of personality to lead the office, and will do well."
— Russell Barnett III,
Defense Attorney
"I am a detective assigned to investigate violent crimes and I have more than seventeen years experience as a police officer. When it's two-thirty in the morning and Gardner is the DA called to one of our murder scenes, we know he'll show up quickly and he'll immediately be a valuable member of our investigative team. We don't have time for "on the job training" of a prosecutor who has never worked on major crimes. Gardner is an experienced murder prosecutor and it shows in his confidence, the quality of his work, and the way junior DAs apprentice and grow under his supervision and guidance. Gardner always gets the job done right – even when it's the middle of the night, he's got to do it himself, and he's already worked a 70 hour week. I've seen him do it."
— Dan Braziel,
Police Detective, assigned to violent crimes unit
 

News Center

For Immediate Release


Gardner announces run for DA

EUGENE, Ore. — June 11, 2007 — Lane County Chief Deputy District Attorney Alex Gardner is running for the county’s top legal job to succeed District Attorney Doug Harcleroad, who announced he will not seek re-election in 2008.

Gardner served as district attorney in 2004. He began his career as a prosecutor in Douglas County in 1991 and joined the Lane County District Attorney’s Office in 2001. After a six-month tour as the boss in 2004, Gardner has served as second in command since 2005.

Gardner is perhaps best known for prosecuting Jesse Fanus, who was convicted in 1998 of murdering war hero Marine Corps Major General Marion Carl and now sits on Oregon’s death row. Over the course of his career, Gardner estimates he has prosecuted almost 10,000 criminal cases.

“I am a career crime fighter, not a politician,” Gardner said in making his announcement. “While I am not totally comfortable in the role of candidate, I know what it takes to be a good district attorney. I have the experience and the confidence of my colleagues in law enforcement, as evidenced by their endorsements, to be effective from the moment I take office. This is no time for on-the-job training. I will hit the ground running.”

As the only person other than Harcleroad to serve as district attorney in the past 23 years, Gardner can point to his accomplishments in office, including the introduction of a program that collects thousands of dollars monthly for victims of bad checks, and a new system for processing intake that has saved tens of thousands of dollars in police and DA staff time.

“As your district attorney, I will continue to support crime prevention, aggressively investigate and prosecute crime, assist crime victims, and enforce Oregon law fairly and consistently,” Gardner said.

He is endorsed by all six district attorneys from the counties surrounding Lane, and is also endorsed by Sheriff Russ Burger, District Attorney Doug Harcleroad, and other law enforcement officers and leadership.

Gardner has three degrees from the University of Oregon: bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1986; master’s degree in biology in 1988; and law degree in 1991.

A resident of Oregon since 1979, Gardner was born in Connecticut into a family of six. He worked as a scuba instructor and was a volunteer medic and dive-rescue team leader before completing his college education.

Gardner and his wife of 22 years, Karin, live in Eugene with their two teenage sons. (For security purposes the Gardners prefer not to mention their names or schools.)

More information on Gardner and his campaign is available at www.gardnerforda.com.

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See Gardner’s campaign kick-off speech