Contact: Chris Becker 616-227-5257 [email protected] www.becker4prosecutor.com PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Becker Announces His Candidacy for Kent County Prosecutor

GRAND RAPIDS - Kent County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker announced this morning that he will seek the position that will be vacated at the end of the year by long-time Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth. He will be running as a Republican.

“I am running because I have been a prosecutor in Kent County for the past 20 years and nothing is more important to me than protecting our families and keeping this community safe,” Becker said. “This is my county too. My family lives here, my kids are growing up here, and therefore it is important to me to ensure that Kent County remains a great and safe place to live. I believe I have the necessary experience and familiarity with our local enforcement, defense bar, courts, and community to ensure this. I want to continue to build on the legacy that Bill Forsyth will leave behind, a legacy of fairness and steadfast commitment to enforcing the law.”

Forsyth announced last week he will not seek re-election for the position he has held since 1987.

“I am proud to have been a career prosecutor, and my goal is to help establish a seamless transition that will allow the Prosecutor’s office to continue to represent the interests of the people of Kent County.” From 2008- 2011, Becker was a Senior Assistant Prosecutor for the county, and for the past five years Becker has been the Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney responsible for day-to-day operations of the staff of 33 attorneys and a budget of over seven million dollars.

Becker is a 1988 graduate of East Kentwood High School where he was a three-time high school All-American swimmer. He then went on to graduate from State University where he was a two time letter winner in swimming and also a two-time Academic All Big Ten selection.

He was also elected president of the Varsity S Club in 1991-92. He went on from there to Valparaiso University School of Law, where after graduation, he went directly into the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office. He has been married for 16 years to his wife, Jeanne, and their children are ages 14, 11, and 8.

www.becker4prosecutor.com

Paid for by the Committee To Elect Chris Becker Prosecutor PO Box 345, Ada, MI 49301

Becker is also heavily involved in the community. He was the 2015 winner of the Joe Sutton Access to Justice Award given by Elder . He is on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Assessment Center, Co- Chair of the Kent County Coordinated Domestic Violence Response Team, Co-Chair of the Kent County Stop Elder Abuse Coalition, and a member of the YWCA Kent County Sexual Assault Advisory Committee. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Thornapple Valley Baseball League, the Board of Managers for the Mary Free Bed YMCA, and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he has been on the Children’s Program Committee and a Sunday school teacher. He has also been a registered official with the MSHAA for 20 years, and a member of the Officials Association. As a football official he has been selected to do two state semi-final games and was selected to officiate the Division 1 state championship game in 2010.

During his tenure with the Prosecutor’s Office Becker has handled more that 170 felony trials, earning convictions in some of Kent County’s most high-profile cases. In 2011, Becker successfully prosecuted Jeffrey Malmberg, who was convicted of killing his girlfriend’s 2-year old daughter and then getting rid of her body in a dumpster.

In 2014, he convicted Javonte Higgins of a double homicide after Higgins broke into the home of an elderly Kentwood couple killing both of them during a robbery. Most recently Becker secured multiple convictions on serial rapist and murder Shawn Jarrett, who broke into the home of an 85-year old Grandville woman brutally raping and beating her, in addition to killing one of his co-workers at Mast Greenhouses in Walker.

“Shawn Jarrett was truly an evil man,” Becker said. “It was extremely rewarding to be a part of team that made sure he will never get out of prison to victimize more innocent people.”

“I am proud of the work I have done in this office,” Becker said. “And I am confident that because of the working relationships I have established over the past two decades, I can efficiently and effectively run the office from day one.”

“Our campaign motto will be, ‘Tested, Trusted, and Tough on Crime’ Tested because I have a vast experience handling many different types of cases; from drunk driving to rape and murder I’ve been involved in a lot of different cases in my career. Trusted because I believe if you ask anyone in the court system I have a reputation for fairness and honesty in all that I do. Tough on crime because it is always a priority to keep Kent County safe and hold those who have broken the law responsible for their actions”

Becker will be available for interviews and media questions after 5PM tonight at the Kent County Republican Headquarters, located at 725 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.

www.becker4prosecutor.com

Paid for by the Committee To Elect Chris Becker Prosecutor PO Box 345, Ada, MI 49301