Michael Parker
ADDRESS: North Carolina Prosecutorial District 20A, P.O. Box 1241, Albemarle (28002)
FAMILY: Wife and two sons
Since July 1, 2006, the District Attorney’s Office has disposed of over 17,000 Superior Court cases including 50 homicides and over 7000 criminal defendants; nearly 2000 of those where in jail. Currently, we have 635 total cases pending in Superior Court. Despite being in the top half of districts in the number of cases filed in Superior Court, we disposed of cases faster than the state median. The state median age for felonies in Superior Court is 181 days, ours is 173 days. The state median age for misdemeanors in Superior Court is 155 days, ours is 135 days.
When I was assigned to Richmond County in 1995 as an assistant district attorney, we had 35 pending homicides. Today, Richmond County prosecutors are responsible for 19 homicides, with 11 being arrested in the last 12 months.
Combating crime in Richmond County requires a proactive approach. Our Domestic Violence Program has become a model across North Carolina, and has helped reduce our pending domestic violence homicides by 50 percent since 1995. This program focuses on preventing homicides before they occur through evidence collection, collaboration and training between community and law enforcement agencies to bring strong cases against abusers.
I plan to establish a Cold Case Task Force that uses modern forensic techniques to review our district’s 31 unsolved homicides including the 19 from Richmond County.
Gangs are increasing their foothold in rural North Carolina, including our district. Gangs bring violence, drugs and murder. I have hired a veteran gang prosecutor who will work to address these issues on a community, state and federal level during the next four years. Although understaffed due to the hiring slow down, we must target repeat offenders and drug dealers and build stronger cases to remove them from the street.
Finally, modern prosecutors must work to build stronger cases and be prepared to defend convictions for years to come. It is not about making an arrest; it is about making a case that will stand up in court. Working with law enforcement to improve their skills in investigations and their understanding of the law will make better cases and will result in stronger sentences for criminal offenders. Each of the candidates for Sheriff has indicated a desire to improve officer performance through education and communication. I stand ready to work with the next Richmond County Sheriff to better serve our citizens and victims, making our community safer.
Challenger
Reece Saunders
CAMPAIGN ADDRESS: P.O. Box 2769, Rockingham; www.reecesaunders.com.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: I was born and raised in Richmond County and attended our public schools. After graduating from Wake Forest Law School, I began the practice of law in 1977. I was appointed District Court Judge in 1983 and after being elected, I was a Judge until 1986. I then returned to private practice.
FAMILY: I am married to the former Melanie Carroll, a Hamlet native and my current law partner. My two daughters, Claire and Laurel, are both graduates of North Carolina State, and our son Michael attends Rockingham Middle School. We are active members of First United Methodist Church.
By law, the District Attorney is required to (1) prepare criminal dockets, (2) prosecute in a timely manner criminal actions and infractions, (3) advise law enforcement officers and (4) work with the Attorney General on matters of appeal.
Our current District Attorney is not fulfilling these requirements. He rarely enters the courtroom and rarely tries cases in our three counties. He frequently is out-of-state, or out of our district, teaching seminars, but neglecting matters here at home. The criminal dockets are unrealistically large and cases are not timely in their prosecution. Defendants are frequently re-arrested before their first case is disposed of. I invite you to ask court personnel or attorneys about these matters.
The public will not have difficulty locating me. I have 33 years of trial experience, and I can be found in the courtroom serving you as a “hands-on” District Attorney. I will utilize a full week of court and not stop court two or three days early. I will cooperate with law enforcement officers, requiring their input in order to dispose of cases properly. I will be accessible to law enforcement, attorneys and to the general public. I will treat criminal defendants fairly but firmly, especially for repeat offenders.
The citizens of our district can count on me to lead the District Attorney’s office by example and in person.
1. Are you eligible for NC State retirement benefits after 2 or 3 years on the state payroll?
2. How much do you anticipate receving if you serve 2 or 3 years as DA? How much, including health care benefits does that amount to per year served, if you live to age 77, for 5 or 6 years of total public service?
3. How many inmates can we house in our County jails at $35 per day for the total amount you will receive if you live to age 77?
4. Do you intend to resign and help, along with other criminal defense attorneys, Judge Scott Brewer get appointed to fill your vacancy?
5. Did you actually accuse a woman, in an open court proceeding, of "abandonding her marital duties" when she stopped mowing and weed eating the yard? After she testified about her back problems that required her to take pain medication?
6. Does your wife mow and weed eat your yard?
7. How many cases have actually tried in Stanly and Anson counties?
8. How many total cases have prosecuted in your entire 33 year career?
9. Did you talk to, or meet with, Sheriff Furr, Mr. Robinette, Judge Brewer, or anyone representing their interests before you filed to run for DA?
We, the voters, deserve the answers to those questions. Your refusal to answer suggests you do not want to answer them. Why?
Are you concerned that your answers will tell a story you don't want told before the election?
Or are you just arrogant and believe a citizen is beneath you and should not question you?
It's been 5 days and you still have not answered the questions asked. If the photos of the event in Richmond County are an example of your priorities and loyalty I don't exppect you to answer. It looks to me like you're more interested in what the criminal defense attorneys think and ask than the citizens of our district.
The photos of the "event" in Richmond County added to my concerns about your level of committment to being our District Attorney. It also confirmed my sense that your support is from defense attorneys, Judge Brewer, and Sheriff Furr.
A number of well known criminal defense attorneys from all three counties, Sheriff Furr and his Deputies, along with Judge Scott Brewer are in those photographs. They depict a degree of intimacy that bothers me. Why is it that you, and them, are smiling ear to ear in those photos?
Just how do you propose to be an adversary to the very defense attorneys you accepted money and political support from?
I can guess why they're hopeful you will be elected but please explain to the citizens how that benefits us.
I want a District Attorney who represents the citizens of our district, not one who represents the criminal defense attorneys. They already do a pretty good job of returning criminals to our neighborhoods.
We are still waiting for your response to the questions asked.
Your silence is deafening.
You said "the public will not have difficulty locating me". You seem to be very difficult to locate before the election.
Your lack of response to the questions and issues speaks volumes.
Mr. Saunders, ignoring the questions and issues raised could be construed as arrogant. Are you "above the citizens" of this district?
Are you showing us what to expect if you are elected? Closed doors, no comment and no accountability?
Michael Parker has answered every question asked and demonstrated his transparency.
On April 6, 2010 a child sex offense trial began in Stanly County. On April 14, 2010 Thomas Lamont Jackson was convicted of first degree sexual offense with a child, indecent liberties with a child, and crimes against nature. The victim was 4 years old. In less than an hour the jury reached a guilty verdict. He was sentenced to 32 years in prison. Assistant District Attorney Kisha Scott prosecuted this case.
Would you have prosecuted this case personally as you imply in your comments? Exactly what could you have done better than Ms. Scott?
You are wrong when you say that District Attorney Michael Parker "is frequently is out-of-state, or out of our district, teaching seminars, but neglecting matters here at home".
I believe he teaches 2 "out of district" classes a year, each lasting 3 days. I think you are "out of district" duck hunting for 7 to 10 days each year.
You say "the public will not have difficulty locating me". The public has no difficulty locating District Attorney Michael Parker. He has staffed offices in Richmond, Anson and Stanly Counties and carries at least one cell phone.
I can easily believe that some criminal defense attorneys complain that Our District Attorney Michael Parker can be difficult to reach. They would be the criminal defense attorneys who expect Our District Attorney to stop what he is doing and listen to their last minute plea pitch. Likely after they continued the case time after time waiting to be paid by their customer. Or hoping that the passage of time would make prosecution more difficult.
The time and effort Our District Attorney Michael Parker devotes to training and supporting the Assistant District Attorneys pays handsome dividends. The same time and effort you say you will devote to personally trying cases in a courtroom.
It's a short step to think your comittment to being in the court room trying cases is so you can get experience prosecuting criminals instead of defending them.
It's a shorter step to think that you offer no promise to better train and support the assistant district attorneys because you can't. You have no experience. I think they would have to train and support you.
Mr. Saunders, I do not believe you have the qualifications to be Our District Attorney. You have no experience as a prosecutor and no experience managing a large, multi County, entity.
If you truly want to be Our District Attorney, and not the State retirement benefits, apply to become an assistant district attorney. Get some experience hands on. Learn the ropes. Before you take he helm learn to navigate safely.
Our communities and children need an experienced District Attorney. Not an experience crimminal defense attorney.
I also wonder about the same things along with a few others.
To the best of my knowledge Mr. Saunders has never prosecuted a case. Not one case. Yet he thinks he can do a better job than one of the best District Attorneys in North Carolina.
And he thinks the reason he can do it better is his "hands on - in the courtroom" approach. He has zero experience prosecuting any case.
If you needed back or spinal surgery would you go to a neurosurgeon or a urologist? They're both doctors but worlds apart in their training and experience.
Mr. Saunders would have you believe that his 30 years of doing his best to keep criminals on the street, and in our neighborhoods, somehow would qualify him to suddenly become an experienced prosecutor.
How many criminals would have to be tried by another prosecutor because they have been clients of Mr. Saunders?
If he has been as successful as he says he has been, he would have all sorts of issues with attorney/client priviledge with his customers.
You know, the ones through is hard work, he put back on the street and were arrested again before he was ready or willing to try their case.
To the best of my knowledge his management experience is working in a small criminal law practice and managing a 2 or 3 person payroll. Yet he thinks he can run a judicial district with dozens on employees in 3 Counties.
Mr. Saunders may be well qualified to be a criminal defense lawyer but I think his qualifications to be Our District Attorney are non-existent.
Of course, some other criminal defense lawyers will disagree. There is nothing they would like more than one of their own in that office. Our District Attorney, Michael Parker, does not give them what they want. I appreciate that and will vote for Michael Parker.
Mr. Saunders' "resume'" on his website would not get him past a receptionist if he had to apply for the job.
In my view, a vote for Mr. Saunders is a vote for disaster in our district.
Your vote for Michael Parker is needed to keep our communities and families safe.
Let's not hire a fox to guard the hen house.
District Attorney Michael Parker is more than "fullfilling" his requirements. Our district's mean case disposition time is below the State average and our district case load is in the upper half of the State's districts.
Oud district, under Michael Parker's direction, has become a model for other districts in North Carolina. His resolve to reduce crime, use science in the courtroom, implement programs that have reduced domestic violence homicides by 50%, educating law enforcement, and taking a hard line with pleas has paid off.
Michael Parker has 20 years of prosecutorial experience and 6 years of experience managing 12 or more Assistant District Attorneys along with numerous staff members located in 3 Counties.
To the best of my knowledge you have no prosecutorial or management experience to draw upon.
You state on your website that you have
"represented numerous clients in criminal and civil cases in Richmond, Anson, Stanly, Union, Moore and Scotland Counties". How many trials have you actually had in Stanly and Anson Counties? Richmond?
I have asked court employees and attorneys "about these matters" as you put it. Most disagree with you. There are a few who agree with you. The ones that agree with your opinion, like you, are career criminal defense attorneys. I believe they have not had much luck pressuring District Attorney Michael Parker into unreasonable pleas. Or resent the pressure to move their cases along.
To the best of my knowledge you have been a 30 year career criminal defense attorney. Who, according to your website, "returned to the private practice of law to earn a better living for his family at that time" after about 3 years as an appointed district court judge. I think that says that your priority for 30 years has been increasing your income. Not public service.
Also according to your website "Saunders currently practices law at the firm of Saunders & Carroll, L.L.P. with his wife and law partner, Melanie J. Carroll, where he has managed the office payroll". Do you believe managing your wife's payroll gives you the experience to manage the budget and personnel of our 3 County Judicial District?
You say on your website "The public will not have difficulty locating me. I have 33 years of trial experience, and I can be found in the courtroom serving you as a “hands-on” District Attorney".
Which of the numerous courtrooms will you be found in? Which County? What about the many others where you will not be found? Do you intend to close them? When will you find the time to train and support the DA's staff? Law enforcement? How many cases can you personally try in a year? Do you reasonably believe you can single handedly cope with the case load in our district?
I have asked repeatedly if you will become eligible for State retirement benefits if you are elected. If so, how many years will you have to serve as DA and what is your estimate of your annual retirement income and health care benefits?