Replacement for attorney fired by Phill Kline walks after only two months

After only two months (two months?!) on the job, Sue Carpenter has resigned as head of Phill Kline's domestic violence section in Johnson County. Carpenter took over after Kline fired the 15-year veteran who headed the unit.

The Kansas City Star reports that Carpenter's last day was Friday.

Carpenter had some problems before she got to Kline's office. Her resume, as announced by his office, was also a tad inflated.

Once again, why do we care about Kline?

First, his office oversees law enforcement for one of the state's biggest counties. How he performs his job has an impact on the lives of people who live in the suburban Kansas City county. Since Kline got his DA job under less-than-normal circumstances, the question in the minds of many in the county has been whether or not Kline is competent, or as The Pitch said this week, a dimwit.

By the way, I've never thought Kline was dim, dull or in any way stupid, but he constantly shows signs of ignoring the nuts and bolts of his job in favor of his own political, far right agenda.

As important for the rest of the state and nation, Kline has wider political ambitions. He is a darling of the Christian Right.

The Pitch takes on Phill Kline

Interesting story in The Pitch with some old -- and some new -- detail about the state of Phill Kline's tenure as district attorney of Johnson County.

Johnson County district attorney race tests religious right

To no one's surprise, Phill Kline has already picked up two opponents in the race for Johnson County district attorney.

We've got one Republican --Steve Howe, one of seven assistant district attorneys fired in January by Kline -- and one Republican turned Democrat -- former assistant district attorney Rick Guinn.

This will be an interesting race to watch. It will not only determine the future of law enforcement in the county, but will be a good gauge of the strength of the religious right.

The far right forced Kline into office in a Republican precinct committee vote. If moderates can't boot him out in 2008, then I doubt if there is much hope that moderate Republicans and Democrats can retake their county anytime soon.

Stay tuned.