Democratic district attorney candidate Matt Maillaro has won an endorsement from civic leader and former gubernatorial candidate Noel Ginsburg in the 18th Judicial District primary, the prosecutor’s campaign announced Tuesday.

Ginsburg, a plastics entrepreneur and career development guru, cited the veteran assistant district attorney’s devotion to reforming the juvenile and criminal justice systems in a statement backing Maillaro, one of two Democrats running for the south-metro office held by term-limited Republican George Brauchler.

Maillaro is in a primary against Democrat Amy Padden, a prosecutor who ran last year for attorney general. John Kellner, Brauchler’s chief deputy district attorney, is the only Republican in the race.

“In business and in life, I have promoted programs to give kids and young adults from all backgrounds opportunities to succeed,” said Ginsburg in a statement released by Maillaro’s campaign.

“With intelligent and experienced leadership in the juvenile and criminal justice system, there is a huge opportunity to give young men and women a chance to thrive, to increase their self-worth, and to change the course of their lives. Matt’s plan to keep kids from being entangled in the criminal justice system, and to provide support to the kids who need it most, is exactly what is needed.”

Ginsburg said Maillaro’s 22 years experience as a prosecutor make him uniquely suited to enacting his platform.

The state’s largest, the 18th Judicial District counts nearly 1 million residents in Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties. Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district, but they both take a backseat unaffiliated voters, by registration. It’s only elected Republican DAs since the district was formed in 1962.