Oklahoma County district attorney race begins
A criminal defense lawyer is seeking to become the next Oklahoma County district attorney.
Robert W. Gray, an Edmond Republican, is the first to announce a candidacy for the 2022 DA race.
The incumbent, David Prater, 61, is retiring in January 2023 at the end of his term.
“I want to give back to the community I have called home all my life,” Gray, 39, said Thursday in his announcement. “Having assisted clients through some of their most difficult times will
assist me in dealing with the unique challenges of the job.”
Gray started out as an Oklahoma County prosecutor after graduating from law school in 2007. For the last dozen years, he has worked as an associate for prominent Oklahoma City criminal defense lawyer Scott Adams.
Gray said in his announcement that “Oklahoma County faces serious challenges as we continue to grow.” He identified the most pressing issues as violent crime, mental health and drug and alcohol addiction.
He said it was vital to continue to use diversion courts to assist offenders get to the root cause of their problems when they “will not be deterred or rehabilitated by simply a jail sentence.”
“However, I want to make it clear that violent crime of any kind will not be tolerated,” he said.
Expected to announce next is Gayland Gieger, a longtime Oklahoma County assistant district attorney.
Others who may enter the race are state Rep. Jason Lowe, Oklahoma County Presiding Judge Ray C. Elliott and former House Minority Leader Scott Inman.
Prater, a Democrat, became DA after defeating the Republican incumbent, Wes Lane, in 2006. He was unopposed in 2010, 2014 and 2018.
He decided shortly after the filing period in 2018 to retire after completing one more term.
His career has been marked by highprofile decisions that have drawn both widespread praise and harsh criticism.
“My job is to always do the right thing and pursue justice, not do what is popular,” he has said.
His controversial decisions include the filing of terrorism and rioting charges last year after protests over racial injustice turned violent.
More recently, he charged five Oklahoma City police officers with first-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old robbery suspect.
The suspect, Stavian Rodriguez, was shot last November after he had dropped a gun outside Okie Gas Express, 7917 S Western Ave.