Previous Offices Held
Currently serving first four-year term as district attorney for Prosecutorial DIstrict 7, comprising Hancock and Washington counties.
Top Three Priorities
1. Continue to reduce the massive court backlog of criminal cases accrued during COVID. 2. Continue to develop close relationships with our law enforcement partner agencies to maximize criminal justice efforts against violent crimes, crimes against children, domestic violence and drug trafficking. 3. Continue to develop strong partnerships with agencies that provide assistance to victims of domestic and sexual violence.
Why are you running?
I have a passion for criminal justice, crime prevention and promoting excellence in law enforcement. I have served in all roles within the criminal justice system, including law enforcement officer, judicial officer, defense attorney and prosecutor, all of which has provided me with the experience and temperament necessary to excel. I demand excellence and professionalism, and I am not afraid to take action against bad actors who dishonor the justice system.
What is the biggest challenge facing your town/county? The biggest opportunity?
The biggest challenge for prosecutors across the state is the need to reduce the incredible backlog of pending criminal cases, which threatens to break the criminal justice system, while contemporaneously processing the hundreds of new cases that arrive in the office monthly. My prosecutors face these challenges while juggling massive individual caseloads, tight court deadlines, tight operating budgets, marginal salaries and a severe shortage of available trial days.
If you could change one thing about how the town/county functions, what would it be and why?
Neither the district attorney or county sheriff should be affiliated with political parties because these offices represent all citizens, regardless of political persuasion or beliefs. In order to promote, ensure and project absolute fairness in the criminal justice system, these two offices should be void of party allegiance or even the slightest appearance of favoritism.
Do you support more development – i.e. more housing construction and business building in your town/county? Why or why not?
This is a policy question unrelated to the office of district attorney, but available affordable housing is always in high demand across counties.