VOTE411 Voter Guide

I bring more than 20 years of legal experience, having built and led a successful Wake County law firm while fighting every day to ensure clients were treated fairly and compassionately by North Carolina’s justice system. As a State Senator and later a Member of Congress, I helped shape criminal law, strengthened public safety, and managed a large congressional office serving Wake County. The Wake County District Attorney oversees nearly 80 staff and more than 100,000 cases each year. With proven experience leading both a law firm and a large government office, I’m uniquely prepared to deliver safety, justice, and accountability.

One of the greatest challenges at the District Attorney’s office is a lack of funding and support. The career prosecutors at the Wake County District Attorney’s Office do an amazing job despite being overworked and understaffed. Wake County is the most populous county in the state, however, Mecklenburg County has 94 prosecutors to Wake County’s 43 - a stark disparity that directly affects caseloads, the time and care attorneys can devote to each case, and the overall efficiency of the court system for victims, defendants, and families alike. We need a District Attorney who will get us the resources we need to keep Wake County safe. I can do that and will make it a top priority on day one.

Our state faces a growing mental health crisis, with more than 450,000 adults and young adults living with serious mental illness and rising rates of depression and anxiety. Mental Health Courts serve nonviolent offenders with mental health, substance use, or co-occurring disorders by coordinating courts, treatment providers, and the state mental health system. These courts connect repeat offenders to treatment, improve community functioning, reduce recidivism, and ease court workloads. As District Attorney, I’ll establish a full-time Mental Health Court in Wake County so people in crisis receive care instead of cycling through jail. This approach is smart on crime, compassionate, and improves public safety for everyone.

Wake County needs a District Attorney who communicates clearly and shows up to build trust in our justice system. The current office lacks a dedicated website and official social media presence. With increased funding, I’ll create both and communicate regularly with residents about the work of the DA’s Office. I’ll visit municipalities across Wake County and partner with local law enforcement and elected leaders to educate the public and strengthen community relationships. As District Attorney, I’ll establish a Community Engagement Office to build lasting relationships with law enforcement, local leaders, neighborhood groups, and residents of all backgrounds. Building trust is how we achieve real public safety.

I’ve spent over 20 years as an attorney, managing my own law firm and team in Cary while standing up for working people as a Wake County defense attorney. As a North Carolina State Senator, I helped write some of the criminal laws we use today and served on the Senate Judiciary Committee to strengthen public safety and fairness. In Congress, I sold my law firm to meet ethics rules and led an 18-member team, building one of the state’s most responsive constituent service offices. The Wake County District Attorney manages one of North Carolina’s largest law offices with 43 prosecutors, over 30 support staff, and 100,000 cases a year—requiring leadership and management, not just trial skills. I’m the only candidate with proven experience running both a successful law firm and a large government office, uniquely preparing me to lead the DA’s Office with fairness, accountability, and trust.

During my tenure under two long-standing, different DAs, I have learned which policies work, and which must evolve. Over my 27 years in this office, I have seen both Wake County and the DA’s Office grow significantly in population and diversity.

As a volunteer firefighter and member of the Fire Commission, I understand firsthand the challenges facing our first responders. I was also an integral part of the creation of the SAFEchild Advocacy Center, strengthening our community’s response to child abuse and neglect.

Having tried more than 250 jury trials, I know that justice is about more than prosecutions alone. It requires strong victim advocacy, building trust within the community, and accountability, both inside and outside the office.

Reducing violence, particularly gun violence, is the most challenging issue and my top priority. As District Attorney, I will establish a task force to identify the most dangerous offenders and prioritize their prosecution in a timely and effective manner.

I am deeply committed to reversing the rise in violent crime committed by juveniles. Achieving this will require strong collaboration with law enforcement, community partners, including faith-based organizations, and our school system to develop early intervention strategies that prevent violence before it occurs.

I will also hold accountable those who unlawfully provide firearms to minors by thoroughly investigating these cases and taking appropriate legal action when warranted.

I will create a Dangerous Offenders Task Force to identify and target the most violent offenders and prioritize their cases for swift, efficient prosecution.

In juvenile justice, I will strengthen our existing Teen Court and Restorative Circle programs and expand additional diversion initiatives to keep non-violent youth out of Juvenile Court while still holding them accountable.

I will also expand and strengthen a fully operational mental health court. The Wake County Justice Center has effectively become the County’s largest residential treatment facility, yet it is not equipped to serve that role. A robust mental health court is essential to addressing these challenges responsibly, improving outcomes, and enhancing public safety.

In addition to launching new programs, Wake County must add prosecutors to keep pace with the County’s rapid growth and ensure staffing levels comparable to Mecklenburg County. I will recruit and retain experienced prosecutors from diverse backgrounds who reflect the community we serve, and make it a priority that they feel supported, valued, and recognized for their hard work and initiative.

Joint training between law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office is essential to strengthening professional relationships, improving case outcomes, staying current with legal standards, and maintaining public trust. Together, these priorities will enhance public safety and ensure that all citizens feel protected in their daily lives.

The District Attorney’s race is critically important because the District Attorney decides which charges are filed and which cases move forward in our criminal justice system. The DA also leads a staff of prosecutors whose foremost responsibility must be the public safety of Wake County. This office demands an experienced leader who prioritizes justice and public safety, not politics or fear-based decision-making. Building trust, inside and outside the courthouse, is essential to the proper functioning of our justice system. Wake County needs a DA focused on the responsibilities of the office, not on politicizing current events for attention. The largest county in the state, Wake County is entrusted with protecting public safety, and holding public officials accountable and safeguarding our elections. There is no room for partisan politics in this race or this office. Over the last 27 years, I have demonstrated that I am the most qualified and dedicated to lead this office forward.

The District Attorney shapes what justice looks like in the courtroom and at the street level. I bring a rare breadth of experience. I have defended individuals facing criminal exposure and served more than a decade as a prosecutor handling cases at all levels: nearly 5 years in the Wake County DA’s Office and 8 years in the Manhattan DA’s Office. For the past 4.5 years, I have served as a legal advisor to law enforcement, providing real-time guidance to one of the largest agencies in our county during critical incidents and times of crisis. This diverse perspective equips me to administer justice fairly, promote public safety, and build trust in our justice system—while strengthening the Office to serve our growing community.

The most difficult challenge facing the District Attorney’s Office is keeping pace with Wake County’s rapid growth while maintaining public safety and public trust. As Wake County continues to grow, the Office needs more resources and energy to ensure safety and to earn the community’s trust, all while addressing the root causes of criminal behavior, like mental illnesses and addiction. The current operational model must be assessed to make sure we are working as efficiently and effectively as possible while remaining fair and equitable. My diverse experience gives me the broad perspective needed to identify what needs to be changed to make our system more effective and fair.

As District Attorney, I plan to implement key initiatives to strengthen public safety and build public trust. I will create a dedicated Violent Crimes Unit focused on the prosecution of our most serious offenses, including gun violence, robberies, and homicides. I will expand the Special Victims Unit to address a broader range of cases, including elder abuse and exploitation. I will also designate District Attorney liaisons for each law enforcement agency in the county to strengthen collaboration and address area-specific concerns. Finally, I will establish advisory councils, including a DA Youth Advisory Council, to ensure community and stakeholder voices—especially young people—help inform policies and practices that directly affect them.

Additional funding would allow the District Attorney’s Office to better meet the demands of Wake County’s growing community, both inside and outside the courthouse. Increased resources would support hiring and retaining experienced prosecutors and staff to better manage caseloads, expand access to diversion and treatment-based programs for mental health and substance use that actually reduce recidivism, and increase the availability of courtrooms to move cases efficiently. Outside the courthouse, additional funding would support transparency efforts, including community outreach, and ensure staff have the time and resources to engage meaningfully with the communities they serve, particularly those that rarely have a seat at the table.

The District Attorney holds one of the most powerful and consequential roles in our criminal justice system. With broad discretion and limited oversight, the DA's decisions shape outcomes far beyond the courtroom. In Wake County, that responsibility is even greater because the DA also has jurisdiction over criminal matters involving state government officials. Beyond prosecuting cases, the DA must lead an office of attorneys responsible for administering justice, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and guide law enforcement at the state and local levels. Given the breadth and weight of their responsibilities, I am proud to be endorsed by the current Wake County District Attorney, Lorrin Freeman, who knows firsthand what this job requires. My background as a defense attorney, prosecutor, and legal advisor to law enforcement uniquely positions me to lead with fairness, integrity, and sound judgment, ensuring our justice system truly serves all.