Denver District Attorney Beth McCann won't run for third term

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann will not run for a third term. She held a sometimes emotional news conference to discuss her decision on Thursday morning and said she is ready to move the the next chapter of her life in a year-and-a-half when her current term is up.

"I'm announcing today that I will not be running for re-election as the Denver district attorney in 2024, which is when the next election is," she said.

McCann became the first female district attorney when she was elected in 2016.

"I have had and continue to have an amazing, stimulating, challenging time as Denver's district attorney. I believe the office is in great shape with almost 300 committed, dedicated employees working every day to keep our city safe, prosecute criminal behavior and provide support to thousands of crime victims," she said.

McCann says since she took office she has accomplished the goals that she set out to achieve when she was first campaigning for the position as well as goals that her team developed once she took office. For example, last year McCann launched a new conviction review unit that takes cases with credible evidence if the wrong person is convicted.

"I believe that the changes that I made came with support and ... they are in place now and have improved the office and broadened our view of criminal justice," she said.

McCann teared up as the conclusion of her opening statement to reporters as she said that she has been honored to hold the position.

In response to a reporter's question, McCann said she is looking forward to working with new Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Police Chief  Ron Thomas through the rest of her time in office.

"We have a lot of issues but I really do think our criminal justice agencies work well in Denver by and large. Obviously we have some disagreements, but we work well together," she said.

After she leaves office, McCann plans to devote some time helping on animal rights causes. She also hopes to pursue her passion for hiking, biking and skiing more extensively. She told reporters she recently bagged her 40th fourteener a couple of weeks ago.

"So I may want to do a few more of those," she said, referring to the mountains in Colorado whose summits are above 14,000 feet.