In one of her last interviews, Jean Peters Baker sat down with KSHB 41 Anchor Kevin Holmes to look back on her time as Jackson County Prosecutor.
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KH: “Why not seek re-election? What was the moment when you said, ‘I’m done?’”
JPB: “In 2020, I pushed myself along. I had to push through that election. Grind through that. I had a lot of big cases pending and I had to do that, but I was probably really close. What this county needs is somebody who is energetic and fresh, and willing to go to the mat on every issue.”
KH: “What’s the one piece of advice you have for your successor?”
JPB: “The piece of advice I have is to keep those who right now are very dear and close to you and have been for a long time. Your trusted circle; keep them close because you’re going to need them. Because the job is so much harder than you can ever imagine it’s going to be.”
KH: “How would you describe your tenure as prosecutor of Jackson County?”
JPB: “I’d say people know who I am. They know my moxie. My willingness to engage. Hopefully, they believe I was a prosecutor who would always put their interest first.”