Hansen left teacher’s job for law career

Kim Smith

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2002 | 11:19 a.m.

Just like his rivals in the district attorney's office, Joel Hansen never dreamed he would one day be running for the county's top prosecuting job.

The 58-year-old Independent American candidate thought he would spend his life teaching schoolchildren. By the time he had spent four years teaching in Reno and Sparks, however, Hansen knew it was time for a career change.

"My wife wanted to be a full-time mom and I wanted her to be a full-time mom, but we realized it would be difficult to do that on a schoolteacher salary," Hansen said.

As a result, Hansen went to Brigham Young University's law school. He graduated third in the class of 1978.

Now Hansen practices law with his two oldest sons.

Hansen is challenging Democrat David Roger and Republican Michael Davidson for district attorney.

Hansen worked in a private law firm for several years, before opening Hansen and Hansen, which handles personal injury and wrongful death cases as well as divorce and family law.

Hansen said he is well-rounded and the DA ought to be a well-rounded person who doesn't have a connection with the current administration.

"I think my opponents are both fine attorneys, but it's not a good idea to have a district attorney's office that is a self-perpetuating bureaucracy," Hansen said.