I hope you agree that we want our judges to be experienced. They make important decisions regarding the lives, well-being, and safety of our citizens. Though there is lots of support from clerks, prosecutors, attorneys, and law enforcement, in a courtroom situation all eyes turn to the Judge to manage the chaos. It’s no job for a beginner and the skills required have to be earned.

I have been practicing law for 25 years. I served 8 years in the NC House of Representatives and am currently a county commissioner and a past county attorney. I understand that it is our legislators who make laws, not our judges. If granted the honor to serve as a District Court Judge, I pledge to continue my service to the citizens of our district by enforcing and applying the laws, not changing them.

My areas of experience in the law are wide and varied: I practice criminal defense in our district and superior courts. I am experienced in dealing with social services and family law, on both sides. I have served as a Guardian ad Litem attorney, representing children and their best interests. I practice in our child support court, where I have represented both the government in enforcing child support orders for our children and also represented those parents who are court-ordered to pay child support. I practice civil litigation, representing both sides, plaintiffs and defendants. I have many, many years of experience in real estate law, wills, trusts, and estate planning.

Would you agree that judges need to be fair and balanced? I certainly believe so and want to make my case to you for how my record shows me to be fair and balanced.

For 6 years in the State House, I was the chairman of a judiciary committee, dealing with the laws governing our court system. A committee chair has to be fair and balanced to all the representatives serving on that committee (they were elected too, to represent their constituents), regardless of what party label they carry. A chair must also be fair to all those who come before the committee, advocating for changes in the law.

In the court system, there is more than one side. I have for years defended clients facing criminal charges, working to get them fair treatment from the courts. And as a legislator, I was endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association, the group representing our front-line law enforcement personnel. I can see both sides, and make fair and balanced decisions. As an attorney representing a county Department of Social Services, I prosecuted those charged with abuse or neglect of our most vulnerable citizens, our children. Yet I also represented parents and caretakers whose children had been taken by the state, to make sure those parties were treated fairly.

In the State House I was a Legislative Champion for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, but I also help clients who are charged with DWI, to make sure they are treated fairly in court. I am a past member of our local legal aid board, helping those who couldn’t afford legal representation, which I also do as appointed counsel in our courts today. I received the legislative endorsement of our State Employees Association, showing my fairness and concern not only for our state citizens, but also for those who serve our state citizens. I also received the legislative endorsement of our state’s small business advocates, because I helped make sure small business owners were treated fairly by the government. Finally, as a board member and chair of the Ashe County Free Medical Clinic, I helped the uninsured in our community receive medical care and prescriptions they needed to protect their health.

I’m sure in this chaotic political environment we are facing that you want the comfort and security of a judge who will be conservative, but always follow our laws and Constitution.

During my 4 terms in the State House, I received a 100% rating as a “Defender of Liberty” by the American Conservative Union each time they ranked the North Carolina General Assembly. That means I supported the ideals of our US Constitution: limited and transparent government, individual rights, personal responsibility, and traditional cultural values.

I served as the first Research Director of the John Locke Foundation, a conservative think tank in Raleigh that monitors state and local government to protect our Constitutional rights as citizens.

I am a life-long registered Republican and conservative who has given more than 35 years of time and effort to our party and its ideals through service as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Ashe County Republican Party, Vice-Chairman of the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans, and Communications Director of the North Carolina Republican Party (NCGOP), as well as many other positions over the years.

My record shows where I stand on the important issues of our time: As a legislator I was rated an “A+” by the NRA and a 4-star supporter of the right to bear arms by Grassroots NC. I received the legislative endorsement of North Carolina Right to Life each time I ran for office. I have served as a past board member of the Ashe Pregnancy Care Center.