VOTE411 Voter Guide

I bring over a decade of experience in criminal, civil, appellate, and post-conviction matters, including years as a public defender in Buncombe County and service as an elected County Commissioner, where I have voted to fully fund our public schools. That combination gives me a rare, 360-degree understanding of how decisions made in the DA’s office impact people in the courtroom, the jail, and the broader community. I understand the law, the limits of reform, and how to implement policy change within complex systems. I have built strong working relationships across local and state governments, and bring the leadership, judgment, and willingness to take the principled risks this moment demands.

Restoring public trust while addressing serious harm is the DA’s greatest challenge. Our system has produced deep racial and economic disparities, overused pretrial detention, and prioritized low-level offenses over meaningful public safety. At the same time, people rightly expect accountability for violent crime and domestic violence. The challenge is balancing safety, due process, and fairness. The DA’s office must make thoughtful charging decisions, move cases efficiently, and ensure the system does not cause more harm than it prevents.

I would expand and strengthen diversion, treatment, and rehabilitative pathways, particularly for substance use and mental health–related cases. I also support increased use of restorative justice practices where appropriate. Restorative justice is a victim-centered approach that does not rely solely on incarceration to restore a sense safety, empowering communities to make amends and prevent crimes. Internally, I would implement consistent training on ethical charging and bail advocacy so Assistant DAs are equipped to pursue outcomes that enhance safety while reducing unnecessary system involvement.

Additional funding could support more staff, which are needed, and improve training for Assistant District Attorneys, victim-witness support services, and data systems that allow the office to evaluate outcomes rather than just convictions. Investments in staff capacity would help reduce delays, improve communication with victims and defense counsel, and ensure cases are handled thoroughly and efficiently. Funding that supports coordination with treatment courts and community partners would also improve long-term public safety outcomes.

Public safety must include a foundation of community trust and collaboration that addresses the root causes of crime. I have intentionally focused my campaign on values and priorities rather than tired “tough on crime” rhetoric, because meaningful change only happens when we are clear-eyed about why harm occurs in the first place. The DA cannot accomplish public safety in a vacuum, and lasting solutions require partnership, prevention, and a willingness to rethink systems that have too often failed to deliver justice.

I believe this moment calls for leadership that understands both the human cost of the criminal legal system and the DA’s responsibility to keep communities safe. My career has been shaped by listening to clients, victims, law enforcement, advocates, and working families, and translating those experiences into policy and practice. I am committed to transparent, collaborative leadership that is honest about what works, what doesn’t, and how we rebuild public trust.