Tim D. Kuykendall, 46, of Norman, is seeking a third term as district attorney for District 21, Cleveland, McClain and Garvin counties.

"I've been the elected district attorney for the past 12 years, and can think of no other job I'd rather have," Kuykendall said. "While there may be a great many headaches that go along with the job, it's often very rewarding, such as when you can help victims such as Juli Busken's mom and dad through a terrible ordeal."

Last February, a Cleveland County District Court jury found Anthony Sanchez guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree rape and forcible sodomy in the Dec. 20, 1996, abduction, rape and murder of Busken, 21, a ballet major at the University of Oklahoma. Sanchez, 27, was given the death penalty for the murder charge, 40 years on the rape charge and 20 years on the sodomy charge.

Kuykendall was born in Bristow and graduated from Bristow High School in 1976. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earning a bachelor of arts degree in 1980, and a juris doctorate at the University of Oklahoma Law School in 1983. His bar admissions include the state of Oklahoma and the United States Court of Appeals (10th Circuit).

Kuykendall began his career serving as a legal intern at the Cleveland County District Attorney's office from 1983 to 1984. He served as assistant district attorney in District 21 from 1984 to 1995. He was elected District 21 District Attorney in 1994 (taking office in 1995) and was reelected in 1998 and 2002.

In seeking a fourth term, Kuykendall points to his "experience and success and the accomplishments of the office in prosecuting crimes over the last 12 years -- including 143 homicides, eight of which resulted in death penalties."

That success is reflected in the other divisions of the office, such as the Child Support Division, Kuykendall said.

"When I was elected 12 years ago, the child support division was listed as one of the worst in the state. In my last campaign, I bragged about it being named the best child support division in Oklahoma, and in 2005 it was named as best in the nation by the National Association of Child Support Enforcement. I'm also proud of the other programs we've implemented, such as the drug court program.

"While many people need to go to prison, others need rehabilitation," Kuykendall said.

The drug court program helps drug offenders change their behaviors, find employment, begin paying taxes and serving as productive members of society "as opposed to someone taking up bed space for which other citizens are paying," he said.

Kuykendall said he's also expecting positive results from the mental health court -- an innovative new program recently implemented in Cleveland County.

The Oklahoma District Attorney's Association named Kuykendall as Assistant District Attorney of the Year in 1992, and District Attorney of the Year in 1998.

His teaching experience includes the City of Norman Police Academy; City of Moore Police Department; Cleveland County Sheriff's Department; McClain County Sheriff's Department; and City of Pauls Valley Police Department.

Kuykendall is a member of the Norman Kiwanis Club; the Cleveland County Bar Association; McClain County Bar Association; Garvin County Bar Association; National Association of District Attorneys; National Association of Drug Court Professionals; and the National Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation.

He is a member of the McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church.