Alan Martin

Running for: District Attorney
Hometown: Mooresville
Occupation: Chief Assistant District Attorney, District 22 (Alexander, Iredell, Davidson, Davie Counties) since 2001. Assistant District Attorney for this district since 1995.
Education: B.A. (Economics, 1991) and J.D. (1994) from the University of North Carolina

What are the biggest issues facing your constituency?
One of the primary reasons that the North Carolina legislature created the new district 22A is in response to the rapid growth of Iredell and Alexander Counties. One byproduct of increased population is increased crime and, as District Attorney, this must be my primary concern. As a parent, I’m also concerned about gangs in our area. I’ve seen the gang graffiti on the sliding board at the community park where my three-year-old twins play, and I’ve consulted with parents of high school students who are coming together to combat gang activity. We need to stay on top of this threat. Additionally, we need to let illegal immigrants know that if they commit crimes, they will be reported for deportation. The District Attorney’s office does not have the authority to deport illegal criminals, but I will use every available legal process to assist Federal immigration officials with removing these criminals from our community.

Of those issues, which do you feel is the most important?
As more people move into our area, unfortunately more crime will come with them – and it will come sooner than later. The redistricting of our counties entitles us to an additional Superior Court judgeship, an additional Assistant District Attorney, and a District Attorney who will focus solely on Iredell and Alexander Counties. We couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to join these forces together with our law enforcement professionals, in order to attack crime right now while planning ways to prevent it in the future.

What, if any, prior experience do you have that will help you if elected?
Just as I will always be an Eagle Scout, I can confidently say, “once a prosecutor, always a prosecutor.” I have been an Assistant District Attorney for our district since I came fresh out of law school. After I had been on the job only a couple of years, I was given the responsibility of training our incoming District Court prosecutors. I now am a Certified Trainer for the North Carolina District Attorneys Association, training prosecutors across the state to achieve greater trial conviction rates. I work closely with law enforcement to help ensure that collected evidence will be admissible in the courtroom—whether that means answering the phone at 2:00 am to research criminal statutes, or attending the autopsy of a crime victim. In court, I have tried—and convicted—criminals who committed murder, rape, robbery, home invasion, sex crimes against children, kidnapping, arson, burglary, vehicular homicide, drug trafficking, white collar crimes, and more. I have convicted every murderer I have tried as the lead prosecutor. Since I announced my candidacy for District Attorney, I have been humbled by the comments that I have heard from victims of crime, appreciative of the way I handled their cases with compassion and concern. I will continue to serve the people of Alexander and Iredell Counties in this way, as their District Attorney.

What is one particular thing you think the current official is doing right?
I have enormous respect for Garry Frank, our current district attorney, and am honored to have his endorsement for this position. What I respect most about him is his even-handedness and fairness, no matter the situation – whether making a tough call on a high-profile case or a delicate internal office matter. He has hired some excellent Assistant DA’s, and has always encouraged us to work closely with law enforcement. I look forward to carrying on his hard work in these areas.

What is one particular thing you think the current official is doing wrong?
Each elected District Attorney for our area has been obligated, for more than 30 years, to serve the people of four counties. Our district has, therefore, operated with two offices – one in Statesville, and the other in Lexington, with the DA’s main office physically located in Lexington. He comes to Statesville when appropriate and when possible. As a result, the Statesville office probably has not had the oversight that it could. Now that our district will be a more manageable two counties, I will provide more direct management of the office, and forge stronger relationships with law enforcement agencies in this area.

What specifically would you do if elected in response to the county’s growth?
In addition to creating closer partnerships with law enforcement, I will continue to seek ways to maximize court resources. The State budget allows for only so many courtroom hours, and in order to best serve our citizens, we need to make the most of the court time available. Years ago I developed and implemented a District Felony Screening Process to streamline and enhance felony prosecutions. This resulted in significant reductions in median case ages – which means more criminals get prosecuted, more quickly. I look forward to further enhancing this process. I also will work with county officials as they continue planning for a new or expanded courthouse complex; while I agree that we all need sufficient space to conduct our work, I firmly believe that we can create such space in a fiscally responsible manner.

http://www.alanmartinforda.org

Posted on 02/11/08 at 12:59 PM
candidates •District Court • (0) Comments

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