My Manifesto as DA

It's really easy to propose legislation that comes down harder and harder on people accused of crime. That always appeals to the lowest common denominator; it's called pandering. I have never done it while on the Lenoir City Council, and I won't do it if you elect me your District Attorney.

What's difficult is following the law, keeping the government off law-abiding, peaceful people's backs, reducing the size, scope, and power of government, convicting only the guilty, and making our homes, bodies, and roads safer anyway. There's just no way to prosecute every crime that takes place, since our legislature has criminalized almost everything these days. I would make the tough decisions and prosecute the real crimes and the real criminals aggressively but fairly. I believe that will result in a safer, freer, more just society.

Ethics

"The United States Attorney is the representative not of an ordinary party to a controversy, but of a sovereignty whose obligation to govern impartially is as compelling as its obligation to govern at all; and whose interest, therefore, in a criminal prosecution is not that it shall win a case, but that justice shall be done. As such, he is in a peculiar and very definite sense the servant of the law, the twofold aim of which is that guilt shall not escape or innocence suffer." Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78, 88 (1935)

Oaths

IN case you ever wondered what a District Attorney swears to do:

"I, _______, do solemnly and sincerely swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States; that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of North Carolina, and to the constitutional powers and authorities which are or may be established for the government thereof; and that I will endeavor to support, maintain and defend the Constitution of said State, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States, to the best of my knowledge and ability; so help me God."

"I, _____________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will well and truly serve the State of North Carolina in the office of district attorney for the State; I will, in the execution of my office, endeavor to have the criminal laws fairly and impartially administered, so far as in me lies, according to the best of my knowledge and ability; so help me, God. "

Running Again

I'm running for 25th District DA now! More to come. In the meantime, feel free to comment here or e-mail me with any questions.