Raleigh Public Record (https://theraleighcommons.org/raleighpublicrecord/page/84/)
C. Colon Willoughby Jr. served as Wake County’s District Attorney for 28 years. Prior to stepping down, Willoughby spoke with Record reporter James Borden about his time in office and the changes and challenges he has seen in nearly three decades of service.
City Journal: Raleigh Little Theatre’s Charles Phaneuf looks at the theater’s part in a growing city.
This candidate could not be reached for an interview. Kim Hanchette
Democrat
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Occupation: Founder of Diabetes Management Solutions
City: Raleigh
This candidate could not be reached for an interview. Jefferson Griffin
Republican
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Occupation: Assistant District Attorney, Wake County DA Office
Town: Raleigh
Benjamin ‘Boz’ Zellinger
Democrat
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Occupation: Assistant District Attorney, Wake County DA OfficeWhat is the central role of the district attorney? The District Attorney is obviously the chief prosecutor in the county, so the elected DA determines what is appropriate and just in all of the cases that come through our criminal courts. I think the DA has a role as an administrator in running an office with a pretty big budget and a lot of folks working under it making sure the office continues to hum and is able to address the thousands and thousands of cases that come through court everyday. Some judicial districts around the state make use of special courtroom procedures or pleas for minor offenses like traffic violations. How would you handle cases like these in Wake County?
Joe Bryan
Party: Republican
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Age: 61
Occupation: Financial Advisor
City: Knightdale
Incumbent: Yes, first elected in 2002
Do you support the half-cent sales tax for public transit and why or why not? The current draft transit plan, I do not support. It’s my understanding that Triangle Transit is revamping the transit plan. There’s clearly a difference of opinion between the plan and some of the advocates as well as the business community – the Regional Transportation Alliance – on whether the effort is toward light rail or toward bus rapid transit. The methodology there is significant.
Joe E. Teague, Jr.
Republican
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Age: 67
Occupation: Professional Engineer
City: RaleighVery few people actually know what the Clerk of Court does, what information should voters know about this office in order to cast an informed vote? I think most people have no idea what Clerk of Court does. And they don’t know who the current Clerk of Court is or who served before her or what the history of the job is. There’s a Clerk of Court for Superior Court as well as the Appellate right on up to U.S. Supreme Court. The Clerk of Court here in North Carolina for Wake County is an elected position and essentially I guess the two primary things that I’m expecting is, and I have some other interests, the primary things I’m expecting is the file system for the court records.
Nancy Lorrin Freeman
Democrat
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Occupation: Wake County Clerk of Superior Court
What is the central role of the district attorney? The role of the District Attorney’s Office is to make sure that the important work our law enforcement officers do in the community doesn’t fall apart when it gets to the courthouse. We file over 100,000 criminal matters here a year, there’s over 80 people in the DA’s office, and so the office needs a strong manager who can make sure that those cases are handled in a way that first and foremost promotes public safety, but that also seeks justice and is fair. Some judicial districts around the state make use of special courtroom procedures or pleas for minor offenses like traffic violations. How would you handle cases like these in Wake County?
Craig Croom
District 10
Party: Non-partisan race
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Age: 46
Occupation: Administrative Law Judge
City of Residence: Raleigh
Charles Gilliam
District 10
Party: Non-partisan race
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Age: 63
Occupation: Teaches legal classes at North Carolina State University
City of Residence: Raleigh
Jennifer Knox
Republican
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Age: 39
Occupation: District Court Judge
City: RaleighVery few people actually know what the Clerk of Court does. What information should voters know about this office in order to cast an informed vote? The Clerk of Court’s office is responsible for all of the legal filings in Wake County. All 100 counties in North Carolina have a Clerk of Court. And, of course, Wake County is the second biggest county in the state.
