Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein is hoping to keep his job for the next four years.

Lieberstein, 50, is seeking a third term for the county's top law enforcement job. The election will be held June 2006. Lieberstein, who has been a prosecutor for 20 years, took office in Napa County in 1989.

He said he believes during his seven years as district attorney his accomplishments have made Napa County a better and safer place to live.

"When I ran for office in 1998, I did so as a voice for victims," Lieberstein said. "My passion for victims comes from years of seeing the effect our criminal justice system has had on children and adults who have done nothing except being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Lieberstein said when he first took office his primary goal was to stop the gang violence that was plaguing Napa.

Gang violence in 1997 and 1998 resulted in the shooting of several gang members and innocent citizens. Michael Arreguin, a Norteo gang member was killed.

"Our office ended up prosecuting four men for Mr. Arreguin's death, all of which are serving life sentences in prison," Lieberstein said. "When it comes to gang violence, I believe in holding those responsible to the highest degree of accountability."

Lieberstein said during his tenure the countywide gang violence prevention task force was created.

"Through this effort we have brought all facets of the community together to address the gang problem in Napa County. We also have brought Doug Pharr, a gang prosecutor, and Gary James, a gang investigator, into the office," he said.

Lieberstein added that his office has been essential in securing state funding to fight gang violence, including a grant for almost $1.2 million over the next three years.

Napa County Sheriff Gary Simpson supports Lieberstein for re-election.

"He has been very good following through on programs that he indicated were important to him and the county," Simpson said. "He has lots of energy and has done a good job keeping in contact with the community, making sure he understands their concerns, along with the fact that he has to enforce the law."

Lieberstein said he has made positive strides while in the office, recruiting the county's first bilingual female investigator, and hiring more female deputies during his tenure than any of his predecessors. "We also have implemented part-time job sharing, so the deputies can spend more time with their families," Lieberstein said.

Lieberstein also is responsible for establishing the elder abuse unit.

"We recognized elder abuse was becoming a big problem. Before, many of these victims slipped through the cracks," he said. Lieberstein's office has set up the elder abuse defense council and has one full-time deputy and investigator assigned to prosecute and investigate crimes against the elderly.

Mark Boessenecker, Napa County Chief deputy district attorney, has worked with Lieberstein for almost two years.

"For me it is important to work for someone whose focus is doing the right thing. The only question Gary asks is 'What is the right thing to do?' It is comforting to have the person in charge have that directive in this type of job," Boessenecker said.

Lieberstein said he's set his sights on setting up a central place where county law enforcement, Child Protective Services and victims advocates can work together.

"I would like to see a standalone center. Right now, parents don't have a lot of privacy when they visit their children at CPS. Many families do not have a positive image of CPS. We would like to change that," he said.

Lee Philipson, Napa County assistant district attorney, has high praise for Lieberstein's community involvement.

"Gary is a proactive member of the community working with many different groups to prevent crime. He has taken it to the next level. He goes to schools to speak with the kids. He always meeting with various groups," Philipson said. "I have worked for three different district attorneys, and Gary has done the best job of anyone I have ever seen."

Lieberstein said he believes his office has a good working relationship with law enforcement.

"I have a management team of investigators, many of whom are retired peace officers with the city and county. I do everything possible to work with law enforcement to let them know where the cases they bring to us stand," he said.

Although the demands of being the county district attorney are great, Lieberstein devotes much of his spare time to several service organizations and committees, including Napa County Child Abuse Prevention Council, Napa County Elder Abuse Prevention Council, Volunteer Center of Napa County, California District Attorneys Association, Victims Rights Committee, Napa County Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council and If Given a Chance Foundation.

Lieberstein was born in Los Angeles and grew up in the San Fernando Valley. He graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 1976 with a degree in political science. He graduated from Hastings College of Law in San Francisco in 1979 and passed the bar in 1980. He worked as a blackjack dealer in Lake Tahoe to pay his way through law school.

He worked in Fairfield for three years, practicing general law before coming to Napa. He joined the Napa County District Attorney's Office in 1985. He has prosecuted more than 250 jury trials in his 20 years as a prosecutor.

When he runs for re-election, he said he wants voters to ask the question: Is Napa County safer than it was eight years ago?

"The answer is yes. Napa County is a safe place to live, raise a family and retire," Lieberstein said.

Lieberstein and his wife Patti have two children, Adam, a senior at California State University, Chico, and Rachel, a junior at Napa High School.