Last week, as the clock ticked down for filings in the August primary election, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd pulled his name from the ballot.
As first reported online last week, Zahnd withdrew his bid for reelection at 4:55 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31. At 4:56 p.m., his long-time first assistant prosecutor, Mark Gibson, filed for election. Wednesday morning, the Platte County Board of Elections announced that in accordance with state law, filing for the office of prosecuting attorney would reopen Tuesday, April 7 and close at 5 p.m. Friday, April 11. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, there were no new filers for the position.
Also on April 1, Zahnd and Gibson held a press conference at the prosecuting attorney’s office to address the end of Zahnd’s record-breaking 24-year tenure as prosecutor and his pick for successor.
“April 1 is a happy day, but Mark and I assure you this is no joke,” Zahnd said. “Serving the people as their prosecutor has been my great privilege and solemn responsibility for more than two decades. This job has brought great joy to my life and also considerable pain along the way.
“It’s high time for me to pass the baton to Mark Gibson on December 31. Fighting bullies by pursuing justice for crime victims has been my calling, but now it’s time for Tracy, our two great sons, and me to write a new chapter in our lives.”
Zahnd first took office in January 2003, and previously practiced law at Bryan Cave LLP, Missouri’s largest international law firm. Zahnd began his career in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, under Attorney General Bill Webster.
“I learned so much about public service and politics right after I graduated from college,” Zahnd said.“I found mentors and made lifelong friends. I’ll be forever grateful to Attorney General Webster and the people on his team for teaching me everything I know about politics and public service — including what not to do.”
Zahnd was recognized as Missouri’s Prosecutor of the Year in 2014 for his efforts to establish best practices for Missouri prosecutors, and he has led national discussions on that topic. He is one of only two Missouri prosecutors selected in the inaugural class of “Super Lawyers,” an honor given to the top attorneys in Missouri and Kansas. In 2007, Zahnd was named an “Up and Coming Lawyer” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. He was also named one of Ingram’s magazine’s “40 Under 40” in 2004, recognizing him as one of the most influential business, government, and community leaders in Kansas City.
Zahnd will not leave office until Dec. 31, the expiration of his current term. He is currently writing a book called Joy Comes in the Morning and is pursuing law and graduate school teaching opportunities.
Zahnd and Gibson have obtained convictions against hundreds of criminal cases for murder, rape, robbery, assault, and other violent felonies, including the only quadruple murderer in modern Platte County history. They also served together as special prosecutors in a northwest Missouri murder-for-hire scheme, convicting all four men involved.
Gibson has served in the prosecutor’s office for 22 years and said he hopes to retain Zahnd in a part-time role after his retirement from office.
Like Zahnd, in 1989 – while still in law school — Gibson began his legal career in Webster’s criminal appeals unit. Gibson continued with the Attorney General’s Office until he became an assistant prosecuting attorney in Johnson County. He tried more than 40 jury and bench trials during his 10-year tenure there.
“I love my job,” Gibson said. “I’ve devoted three decades of my life to helping keep Missourians safe. Eric’s reputation as a tough-as-nails prosecutor was already common knowledge before I ever joined this office. But I’m proud to have had a part in cementing his legacy.
“Once I joined his office, I knew I would end my career with him. Now, I’m eager to step into an even bigger leadership role to ensure this office continues to protect families, children, businesses, schools, and workers.
“Eric could have had virtually any job he wanted, and Platte Countians are fortunate that he chose to work for them these past 24 years. Now I get the chance to extend Eric’s legacy as the leader of this great prosecutors office.”