T.J. Rohr for District Attorney

Charlotte Observer's Article

2010-10-11T00:03:00.001-04:00

Good article about the race. They fairly present my positions near the end of the article. Check it out: 3 vie for DA post

Newton Observer News Enterprise

2010-04-26T16:08:00.003-04:00

The Newton O-N-E asked me to respond to their questionnaire for the DA candidates. I did so, but they just notified me that due to lower-than-expected ad revenue, they're only going to run the answers of those candidates who face a May primary. Since I went to all that work, though, I thought I'd go ahead and post my answers here. So, without further ado, here they are:

Observer News-Enterprise

Candidate Questionnaire

1. History in office or experience that makes you a good candidate for elected office: I have been a criminal and civil attorney in the 25^th District for more than fifteen years, trying numerous cases in District and Superior Court throughout all three counties. I have also been on the Lenoir City Council for more than six years. I am prepared to handle not just the courtroom, but also the political pressures that go along with the job.

2. What do you see as the biggest issues facing this position in coming years, and how do you plan to address them? First is restoring the public’s faith in the District Attorney’s Office after some public embarrassments. Second is managing a three-county office on a continually tightening budget from Raleigh as the state’s budget crisis continues. I will act with honesty and integrity as your District Attorney. I will meet with the assistant district attorneys and their staff regularly to offer as well as receive feedback. I will focus the office’s increasingly limited resources in the most effective way possible, by aggressively prosecuting violent criminals as well as those who would seek to defraud us, steal our property, or endanger the safety of those of us on the roads.

3. What makes you the best candidate? In addition to my years as a trial attorney in this district, people have seen from my actions and votes on the Lenoir City Council that I am a man who stands for his principles and will not compromise in the face of well-organized opposition. I will make sure that the Office of District Attorney will aggressively and effectively seek to convict offenders, while it will also leave you alone if you respect other people’s rights, persons, and property.

My Manifesto as DA

2010-03-30T16:53:00.004-04:00

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

2010-03-02T08:24:00.000-05:00

"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

2010-03-01T08:53:00.003-05:00

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

2010-03-01T08:43:00.003-05:00

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.

Thanks for the Support!

2009-04-01T08:13:00.003-04:00

I've gotten some positive telephone calls and e-mails regarding the article in Sunday's News-Topic, wherein I reiterated my stand against incentives, especially in light of the bonuses paid out to Jeff Cook and other executives at Furniture Brands. Thanks for letting me know some of you agree with me.

I'm Not Dead Yet

2009-03-09T08:18:00.002-04:00

I'm still plugging away, trying to advocate and vote for what's right. I appreciate those of you who have been checking in here and at www.electtjrohr.com. I welcome any e-mails asking about the issues.

A Creepy Story and a Funny Comment

2008-11-05T17:35:00.003-05:00

Creepy Story:

One of my supporters went to Hudson Town Hall to vote, whereupon someone came up to her, handed her some literature, and said, "I'm T.J. Rohr and I'd appreciate your vote." She said, "No, you're not." He said "Sh. They don't know that," perhaps referring to the other pollworkers.

The guy wasn't me. I didn't have anyone (that I knew of!) working Hudson Town Hall at that time.

Funny Comment:

Another supporter came up to me today and said, "You got 2,300+ votes?!? That's about 2,000 more than I expected you to get." I wasn't sure if that was a compliment or not!

I love politics. :)

Oh, well.

2008-11-04T22:41:00.002-05:00

Thanks to all the folks who worked the polls for me today. It was a lot of fun. I ended up with 8% of the vote, and met a bunch of nice people. Congrats to Edgar Starnes, who beat me and John Forlines. I'll post some cellphone pix and more thanks later.

VOTE Tomorrow!

2008-11-03T15:26:00.005-05:00

We're at the finish line. Help me cross it ahead of my opponents! Don't forget to vote tomorrow, for both me and Mike. On the ballot, it's easy to find me: on the front, lower right hand corner. And thanks for your support.

"What are you going to get for us?"

2008-10-29T01:07:00.002-04:00

I get this question a lot. My basic answer is, I'm not running to "get stuff" for the people of the 87th. That kind of politics is what has gotten us into the mess we're in, on both the state and federal level of government. It leads to wasteful pork barrel spending and corruption.

I'm running to let you keep what you've earned. I'm running for you to keep your right to express yourself, the fruits of your labor, your right to bear arms, your right to privacy, and your land. I'm running to help you keep your freedom, your property, and your life.

Munger 'n' Me, Part Deux

2008-10-28T20:29:00.004-04:00

Dr. Munger, Libertarian gubernatorial candidate, will be doing a Murphy-to-Manteo run leading up to the election on Tuesday, and he'll be in our very own Caldwell County on Friday! He and I will be at Piccolo's in downtown Lenoir Friday at 6:30 pm. Please come meet him and me as we head into the final stages of what I hope and expect, with your help, will be an historic election on Tuesday.

Please volunteer and contribute if you can!

Munger 'n' Me

2008-10-27T21:28:00.004-04:00

A North Carolina gubernatorial candidate passed through Lenoir today! It was Libertarian candidate Dr. Mike Munger, who served on the Federal Trade Commission under President Ronald Reagan, and is chairman of Duke University's Political Science Department. He and I met up, as he gave me a few signs to put out for him. He'll be stopping through again on Friday for a campaign stop. I'll have more details as they come.

Early Voting

2008-10-26T21:27:00.004-04:00

The first week-and-a-half of early voting is done. I've been to the Granite Falls Rec location once and the Caldwell County offices location three or four times. It's hard when you've got a full-time job! :)

In any event, if you make it to Early Voting, don't forget about me. The race for the 87th House is in the lower right on the front page of the ballot. For those of you who've already voted for me, THANKS! Oh, and please tell your friends to vote for me, too. I need and appreciate each and every vote.

Quick summary

2008-10-21T08:22:00.002-04:00

It appears that a number of you have come here as a result of my radio or newspaper ads. Welcome! You can look along the right-hand side for some topics that I've already expressed my views on, but here's a little help:

Broyhill (the City vote on their handout is tonight; I'll be voting no)
Google, involuntary annexation, and eminent domain
School choice
The power of government
Illegal immigration

mp3s of my ads

2008-10-20T14:06:00.003-04:00

The Libertarian Party of North Carolina's homepage has my radio ads posted as mp3 audio files. Check them out!

2008-10-15T16:46:00.005-04:00

We're only two-and-a-half weeks away from Election Day. Starting Saturday the 18th, I'll be running two ads a day in the News-Topic, and I'll also have :30 and :60 radio spots running during morning and afternoon drive times on WKGX 1080 AM (bluegrass), and NewsTalk 1340 WJRI. Keep an ear out for them. As soon as I get the mp3 files, I'll try to post them here or at www.electTJRohr.com.

8,579.19

2008-10-09T16:36:00.004-04:00

Wasn't the $850 billion federal bailout supposed to provide short-term stability to the markets?

The Issues

2008-10-09T12:11:00.007-04:00

I've posted my views on various issues throughout this blog, but I had forgotten about Project Vote Smart. They surveyed (or tried to survey) state-level candidates on the issues, through a "Political Courage Test." Here's the responses of the candidates for 87th State House, in alphabetical order (clicking each link will open a new window or tab):

John A. Forlines, Jr.
Timothy J. Rohr
Edgar V. Starnes

While there, you can look up biographical information on each of us as well. I apologize in advance for the enormous picture of me. They didn't scale it down. Feel free to contact me with any questions you have.

Golf Tournament on Friday

2008-10-07T16:26:00.003-04:00

This Friday, October 10, I'll be having a golf tournament fundraiser out at Lenoir Golf Club. If you're interested in playing or sponsoring a hole, e-mail me or call me (757-9632). Assistant District Attorney Richard Holloway is organizing it (thanks, Richard!). Lunch (provided by Domino's Pizza) is at noon. The shotgun start is at 1 pm. It's $50/player, $200/team. Mulligans are $5 per person.

Of course, there will be prizes for the first and second place teams. In the past, the second place prize has been more valuable than the first place prize! There will also be prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, longest putt, etc. If you know me, you know I'm no threat to win any prizes at all. Hole sponsorships are $100.

I'm trying to arrange a special appearance, but it's still up in the air. If I get a confirmation, I'll post it here.

A New Investment "Opportunity"

2008-10-03T16:27:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the "wisdom" of our very own Senator Richard Burr and others (but thankfully not Senator Dole or Congressman McHenry), we are all unwilling investors in a new, risky hedge fund. I fear for the future of our nation.

Bailout passes Senate. :(

2008-10-01T22:25:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I hate it when I'm right. Let's hope the House opponents will show some guts and not allow themselves to be bought out.

Gun Control

2008-09-30T17:02:00.002-04:00

I'm very much in favor of preserving our right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms. If elected, I will support any and all legislation to expand our right to possess firearms, and will oppose any further attempts to restrict that right. As long as you are not initiating harm against someone, the government should leave you alone. People should not be punished for what they possess; rather, they should be punished (if at all) for their acts.

Bailout voted down?!?

2008-09-29T15:54:00.004-04:00

Color me shocked. Now let's see if the opponents voted on free-market, non-government-interference principles, or simply because they weren't able to "get enough." Will Our Learned Leaders manage to create a Frankenstein's monster to get a majority? Call me a cynic, but I'm afraid they just might throw in some new programs or add in pork to swing some "Nay" votes. I hope I'm wrong.

Campaign Signs are in!

2008-09-26T16:44:00.007-04:00

Please click the "Volunteer" link at the top of my website if you want to put one in your yard. I'll be glad to get it to you however is convenient, and I'll get you more than one if you want to distribute some to your friends, co-workers, and family. Thanks for your support!

If you're new to the site, please check out the links to the right for my archive and related links. Welcome.

Gubernatorial Debate Wednesday Night

2008-09-23T20:05:00.004-04:00

For the first time, the Libertarian candidate for governor, Dr. Mike Munger, will be allowed to appear in a televised debate. It's on UNC-TV Wednesday night. Mayor McCrory has accepted the invitation, but Bev Perdue has apparently declined. She's participated in the other debates that only she and McCrory were allowed in; she isn't afraid of the little ol' Chair of the Duke Political Science Department, is she?

More information here. Please watch. I'm guessing Dr. Munger and I will agree on most issues.

Agricultural Fair

2008-09-23T20:01:00.003-04:00

I have a booth at the Caldwell County Agricultural Fair this week. As you go in the Exhibit Hall, head straight ahead. I'm in the center aisle on the left, about a third of the way down. When I have the time (like most of you, I have a job and a family), I'll either be there or at the main gate, greeting folks and handing out cards about the issues I believe are most important to the citizens of Caldwell County and North Carolina.

I hope I see you there!

Illegal Immigration and Community College

2008-09-19T08:35:00.004-04:00

This is one of those issues that may not make me particularly popular with some of you, but I've always stuck to my principles and said what I think. I always will.

We should allow illegal immigrants to attend our community colleges, but at the out-of-state rate. This would serve at least two purposes. First, it would make education available to more people. Regardless of whether someone is illegal or not, they should have the opportunity to get an education. Second, if we charge them the out-of-state rate, we, the taxpayers, will not be subsidizing them. They will be paying their own way, as they should.

If, for some reason, the current out-of-state rate isn't high enough to pay for all of a student's costs of attending community college, I would vote to raise the rate. Regardless of whether someone is an illegal immigrant, or from Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Virginia, we North Carolina taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing their education at our taxpayer-funded schools. But that's a separate issue, and shouldn't affect this issue. Illegal immigrants should be able to attend our community colleges.

Broyhill/Furniture Brands

2008-09-12T08:34:00.011-04:00

So I guess everyone knows by now. The City of Lenoir and Caldwell County have rolled over and taken Broyhill's hijacking, spending our money to make themselves look good.

If you'll recall, one of the arguments used to justify Google's handouts last year was that the tax rebates were on investment that wouldn't have happened without the incentives; we were giving away money we wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Not even that excuse works here.

Furniture Brands International (Broyhill's owner; let's be honest, it's not really "Broyhill" anymore) is staying in Lenoir and consolidating its operations, including closing several other plants. For this, the City and County have given them massive incentives conditioned on placing limits on job REDUCTION, rather than promoting job creation. If Furniture Brands cuts ONLY 100 jobs, City and County taxpayers will pay them $2 million dollars over the next year or so. This isn't tax rebates. Checks will be written out of the general funds, paid for by you and me, to Furniture Brands, a company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.

The John Locke Foundation, in its Agenda 2008 pamphlet, put it better than I can:

[Government] will reward specific companies that it deems worthy. If a company will run its business the way politicians and state economic development planners think it should be run, then the subsidies will flow in its direction.
If it locates in the right place, if it hires the right amount of workers, if it compensates the workers with the correct mix of salary and benefits, and if it is producing the right products or providing the right services, then it will qualify for the privilege of being subsidized by the citizens of North Carolina. This is government central planning, plain and simple.

Of course, the City and County will go through the motions of the public hearings required by law. Lenoir's hearing will be October 21 and Caldwell's hearing will probably be October 20. But the votes have already been unofficially cast. I'll very likely be the only local official who opposes these taxpayer subsidies.

Despite this, I encourage you to turn out for the public hearings and express your opposition. Because I will, and if enough citizens show up to voice their opposition to this corporate welfare, maybe together we can put a stop to it.

Ron Paul and the Power of Government

2008-09-10T16:08:00.006-04:00

Ron Paul today expressed frustration with the two-party "charade" we have and endorsed the Libertarian, Green, Constitution, and independent candidates for President. He says a lot of things in the article that I agree with, such as "I did not want to run people's lives. I did not want to run the economy and I did not want to run the world. I didn't have the authority to do it, and I didn't have the Constitution behind me to do it."Amen, Dr. Paul.

Criminal Matters

2008-09-08T17:32:00.004-04:00

North Carolina wastes too much taxpayer money on harassing and prosecuting non-violent offenders. This includes the court system and the prison system. This takes away valuable resources from prosecuting criminals who have damaged or stolen other people's property, or harmed or defrauded other people. This will lead to safer streets and homes, and a better environment for small businesses to grow in.

When I'm in Raleigh, I'll support laws that will focus our laws toward investigating and prosecuting violent crimes, while opposing laws that further attempt to harass people who are not hurting others.

Feel free to contact me here or directly by e-mail if you have specific questions. This is an incredibly broad topic that could take numerous blog postings to answer fully.

In Favor Of...

2008-09-07T19:49:00.003-04:00

One of the biggest (if not the biggest) line items in the state budget is the Department of Education. Despite this, it seems every school wants and/or needs more money, and teachers are constantly seeking raises. Then there's all the debates about prayer in school, creationism v. evolution, sex education, etc., etc., etc. Most of these issues would go away if parents had real school choice. The way it is now, however, you pay whether you use the public (government) school system or not. Then, you pay again if you send your kids to private school. And of course, if you homeschool you have lots of expenses as well.

I support a 100% tax credit for education expenses, whether you're paying for your own kids or someone else's, and whether you're an individual or a business. This would encourage corporations to create scholarships based on need, aptitude, etc. Credits are better than the other alternative, vouchers. There are a number of reasons why, but the two major ones for me are closely connected. First of all, a voucher means the government is "giving" your own money back to you, for you to use as it sees fit. Secondly, when the government gives you the voucher, it will undoubtedly come with strings attached, much as federal education or highway money does for the states. You will only be able to use the voucher at those schools that teach a certain government-approved way. This will simply continue the current problems with government schools and effectively gut what makes private schools different: alternative ways of teaching, using the Bible if a school wants to, etc. Vouchers will destroy what little choice we have left in the education of out children.

Here We Go!

2008-09-04T21:50:00.003-04:00

I'm just starting up this blog. I hope to use this as an opportunity to let folks know what I'm doing and where I stand on the issues. If you've been following my two terms on the Lenoir City Council, you know I'm against economic development incentives, a.k.a. corporate welfare. When the best thing the staunchest supporters of a policy can say about the policy is that "No one likes it, but everyone is doing it, so we have to," you know the policy is bad. I've voted against every incentive proposal that's come before us, including the massive Google handouts. I'll never vote for one, and if elected will propose laws to eliminate State-level incentive programs. If you earn your money, you should be able to keep it, instead of politicians giving it to multi-national businesses and using it to pat themselves on the back over the businesses they want to claim they recruited.

I'm also very much against involuntary annexation. Lenoir annexed my family and me back in the 1990s. It caused me to run write-in in 2001, to get elected in 2003, and re-elected in 2007. Involuntary annexation is wrong. It deprives citizens their voice in government. If I'm elected, I will propose legislation to abolish involuntary annexation, and will support any legislation to enact a moratorium or to limit cities' ability to involuntarily annex.

I'm also opposed to eminent domain for economic development purposes. The government shouldn't be able to take your house and give it to some big corporation that wants to build a big box on your land. If elected, I will propose a constitutional amendment to make clear that politicians can't pass a law that would allow this to happen.

So that's my first post. I welcome your comments and questions.