Ex-judge can bring change as Contra Costa’s D.A.
Tamisha Walker is writing thank-you notes to supporters of Diana Becton, Contra Costa County’s newly appointed interim district attorney.
Walker is the executive director of Safe Return Project, a group of formerly incarcerated Richmond residents who help others smooth the bumpy path from incarceration to freedom.
So when the county Board of Supervisors selected Becton from five finalists — making her the first woman and African American to hold the top cop job — Walker was impressed.
She wanted to thank the supervisors for “actually hearing the community and being on the right side of justice this time around.”
Safe Return was one of a handful of community groups that didn’t flee from Becton’s side after she admitted lifting passages from several sources without attribution on her application for the job.
Another candidate, Tom Kensok, also copied and pasted passages without attribution.
“When people of color make mistakes, it has to be about character. It just can’t be a mistake,” Walker, who is black, told me. “She’s not the only one that made the mistake. I didn’t want to give up on her.”
Now Becton has a chance at redemption.
In seeking the job, Becton
promised to address racial and economic disparities in the criminal justice system. She highlighted bail reform, increasing trust between the community and law enforcement, and reducing recidivism and incarceration rates. Walker said Becton sought out formerly incarcerated people and asked for their advice.
To Walker, Becton represents the people Safe Return fights for — people who don’t always get second chances, especially in communities of color where there is little access to resources like quality schools and jobs. She sees Becton as an ally in the prosecutor’s office who could make lasting impact in those communities.
“It was a feeling of accomplishment, but I also felt a large weight lift off my shoulders,” said Walker, recounting the moment she realized Becton was selected. “I felt safe. It was almost like I could take a breath.”
Dozens of Becton supporters attended the Sept. 12 meeting of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. After public comment, the five finalists answered questions from the supervisors. Only Becton received raucous applause. Only Becton had folks waving signs supporting her.
“It’s good to know that I’ve earned the respect of the people in this county, and they have entrusted me with this very, very important position,” Becton said to me. “I will do everything I can to live up to all of the expectations placed upon my shoulders.”
Becton, a Contra Costa County Superior Court judge for 22 years, was a surprising choice — even without the plagiarism. She’s never worked as a prosecutor, but now she’s expected to transform an office that has been slow to address racial discrepancies in the county.
Becton will serve out the term of former district attorney Mark Peterson, who resigned after pleading no contest to felony perjury.
Peterson didn’t vacate his seat until he was charged with 12 felony counts of perjury and one of grand theft. He’s being replaced by someone who passed off the work of others as her own.
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but I believe in rehabilitation. Yes, I believe in second chances.
As I wrote in my endorsement of Contra Costa Superior Court Judge Danielle Douglas, it’s time for the county to have a district attorney who listens.
That’s something Becton says she’s willing to do.
“It won’t be me walking in saying, ‘This is what I’m going to do,’ ” she told me. “We are going to collectively as an office go forward with a plan that gives us a hope and a vision to be the best district attorney’s office in this entire country.”
Becton only has one chance to back up her words.