RICHMOND COUNTY — With early voting nearing its end, the primary and school board elections in Richmond County are underway. The Daily Journal contacted local candidates with a questionnaire to give voters insight into their positions ahead of the election.
Note: All candidates were contacted by email or phone. Candidates not featured did not respond to the questionnaire by publication time. Responses are published to inform voters and do not constitute an endorsement by The Daily Journal.
Richmond County School Board
Question 1: What are your top priorities for our schools over the next four years, and how would you work to achieve them?
Charles “Chuck” Dulin: I have three top priorities for our schools over the next four years. First, to ensure the safety of our children and staff members in every school building. Threats to student and staff safety not only come from outside the school building but also from within the school building. We guard against threats from outside the school building through consistent preparedness training, monitored entrances that require an official ID or code to enter, metal detector scanning prior to entrance at all schools and school sponsored events, and the utilization of school resource officers in all schools. In addition, we must protect our students from threats from within the school building in the form of student-on-student violence and student-on-teacher violence. We must rely on a strong code of conduct that is firmly, fairly, and consistantly implemented to hold violators accountable and create school environments where students and staff feel safe.
Second, to aggressively continue to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers to fill the classrooms of our schools. As a profession we see a national teacher shortage and to maintain student achievement we have to continue to aggressively recruit teachers from within our state and from outside our state. In addition, we must create unique ways to make teaching in Richmond County more attractive through partnering with community resources to help young teachers find affordable quality housing, low interest loan services, discounted services such as internet service, childcare service, and possibly other county and/or city utility services at discounted rates.
Third, to ensure that every child in Richmond County has the opportunity to participate in a quality Pre-K school program. I have worked in public education for 35 years and was the principal of two different elementary schools in another district. One of the elementary schools housed a Pre-K program and the other elementary school did not house a Pre-K program. As we monitored student achievement, it became very evident through our data that students who participated in Pre-K programs were more prepared to start kindergarten; and in many cases, preformed higher on basic skills indicators than students who did not participate in a Pre-K program. Furthermore, students who attend Pre-K programs have smoother transitions to kindergarten and are socially more mature than children who did not attend a Pre-K program. To increase these opportunities, we must seek funding through any sources including federal, state, local, and public and private grants to help increase the number of seats available to our children.
Amber N. Daniels: Strengthening our school system budget is one of my primary objectives for the next four years. While I feel certain that Superintendent Dr. Ferrell has done a great job reducing the amount of fund balance we are currently allocating to help balance our budget, as a Certified Finance Director, I know that we can not operate in the long term by depending highly on fund balance. We should be proud that our graduation rates are increasing, this demonstrates growth, commitment, and opportunities for advanced studies. To be able to support our students’ growth, we have to ensure they have the facilities and resources needed. Teaching is one significant portion of a child’s development, the environment in which they are learning is another. To protect and improve said environment, we must secure our financial operations while not devaluing our faculty and staff. I would utilize my experience working with $100 million plus governmental budgets, to identify where we have idle funds that could be shifted to more fruitful purposes, verify we are receiving our fair share of tax revenue from the county, and research and act upon funding grants and opportunities that we are not currently taking advantage of.
Another priority of mine is growing our own. I believe we have talent right here, and the resources available to implement a strategic plan that would set our teachers and students up for long-term success while contributing to our county’s betterment. I would love the opportunity to work directly with our staff to understand their needs in terms of professional development. Understanding their vision will allow us to locate available avenues for them to explore. To encourage retention, I would be open to reviewing our current longevity and merit systems to identify areas of improvement that signal a more rewarding commitment from leaders.
Scotty Baldwin: My top priorities are improving student achievement, supporting and retaining high-quality teachers and staff, and preparing every student for success after graduation whether that means college, a skilled trade, military service, or entering the workforce. We have made meaningful progress in recent years, but we must continue strengthening literacy and math outcomes at every grade level. I support investing in proven instructional programs, expanding career and technical education opportunities, and ensuring our schools have the resources they need to meet students where they are academically. Collaboration will be key. I will continue working closely with educators, parents, local businesses, and community partners to build opportunities that directly benefit students across Richmond County Schools.
Cory Satterfield: As you know, RCS received a 42 million dollar grant to build a new LJ Bell. This project is in its early stages, so this would be high on our list. Additionally, I would like to see the board make plans to replace other older schools. Other items that are always at the top of the list include school safety, training for our SRO’s and making sure they have the most up to date equipment. Furthermore, to continue to support the Superintendent by our monthly policy approval system, to continue to find ways to maximize our budget that will have a lasting impact on all of our students.
Bobbie Sue Orsmby: I am proud to have represented Richmond County Schools for the past 12 years as a Richmond County Schools Board member and previously for 37 years as a teacher and principal. I have worked tirelessly to promote our school system and help make it the best in NC. Efforts in the areas of school safety, student achievement, mental health and teacher retention are my priorities. Our current School Board worked diligently writing a North Carolina Needs-Based School Contribution Grant. We were thrilled to receive notification that we were one of only ten districts selected to receive the grant, an AMAZING 42-million-dollar grant!!! We also completed three major school construction projects along with upgrades to some of our athletic facilities. I want to continue being involved in the important areas of public school life, student safety, achievement, mental health, teacher retention and future initiatives with our facilities.
Question 2: How would you make sure decisions are fair for all students while staying within the budget?
Charles “Chuck” Dulin: First, we must all share the understanding that “fairness” does not mean that everyone gets the same thing. Fairness means providing everyone with what one needs to be on a level playing field with everyone else. For example, when considering the purchase of new laptop devices for students, a school that has newer or more devices that are still working properly will need less funding to purchase new devices than a school that has older or more devices that are not working properly. For decisions to be fair the school board needs accurate data to review how these decisions will affect all students within the county. Information must be provided that gives multiple scenarios in order to see how different options will impact all schools and students within the district. Once these are presented, board members have a duty to review, deliberate,
and ask questions about the effects of these decisions upon the budget, students, staff, and the community.
Regarding staying within the budget, school administrators and board members understand very well that one does not spend what one does not have. The school board is a steward of the federal, state, and county’s resources that are allotted to educate our children. As a good steward, school boards must monitor a budget like one does in our own household, not spending what we do not have.
Amber N. Daniels: Planning and Transparency. In my past profession as County Finance Director, we discovered that only certain schools were getting new furnishings and dedicated security. To quickly correct this issue, I had tough conversations with the school system leaders (not Richmond County) and required them to present a plan of improvement for all schools and the timeframe required to implement and the order in which the process would incur and why. Knowing the financial pressure and expectations from their stakeholders the school
system quickly produced this insight. I would love to see similar conversations occur here in Richmond County. While I may not be looking in all the right places, I’m only able to identify an improvement plan for educational purposes as it relates to Richmond County Schools. I would like to review our current Facilities Continuous Improvement Plan for the next 3-10 years. If we don’t have an updated one, I would like to work with our Superintendent and the appropriate leaders to update the CIP and begin identifying a transparent order of operation. Meaning we don’t focus and secure one location over another due to its location, but we identify factually the most devastating areas and begin correcting those. Being a Certified Local Government Finance Officer, I have years of experience building CIP’s and identifying how the budget can accommodate each phase. I also have experience working with leaders to inquire about funds sitting at the state for projects that have to be requested and not just announced and distributed. I would work hard to ensure RCS get our full portion of any funding available to help alleviate the financial burden. Possessing a Doctorate in Accounting, I truly appreciate numbers and budget conversations. The thing with math is it’s math. One plus one will always equal two. We know how many students we have enrolled in each of our schools, if there’s a program or opportunity that comes around with a price tag attached to it, I’d take the same approach I take for my two kids now. If I can’t divide the number out and have enough to cover all my kids, none of my kids get it. Simple math. Simple logic. As a mother, if the math shows that both my kids can’t have it, I make the efforts and dedication to save the money or go a different route so that both of them can have whatever it is we are securing (probably Pokémon cards these days). This is the same approach I would employ on the board and encourage others to do as well. If the math comes back and says we can’t afford it right now for everybody, let’s take that as a challenge and dedicate our time and energy to finding out HOW we can afford it for everyone. Where there’s a will, there’s, a way! It truly takes commitment, tough conversations, and research.
Scotty Baldwin: Responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars is one of the most important duties of a school board member. Every decision should be guided by what best supports student learning while remaining fiscally responsible. Fairness means looking at the needs of every school and every student including those who may need additional academic support or resources and making data-driven decisions rather than emotional or political ones. I believe in transparency, careful budgeting, and prioritizing classroom impact first. By regularly reviewing spending, seeking grants and partnerships, and listening to administrators and teachers who understand day-to-day needs, we can maximize every dollar while maintaining equity across the district.
Cory Satterfield: Each year, RCS starts planning on the following years budget in the early spring, I believe it is vital to our students that the budget process is followed and well represented by all schools and departments so every child’s needs are met. During this past year, RCS has done a tremendous job of utilizing funds allowing facility upgrades and much needed athletic updates. In both cases, these upgrade were extremely overdue. As the board prepares for our next budget season, I will continue to focus on the needs of all students, employees and communities making RCS a positive environment for students to learn and faculty to work.
Bobbie Sue Orsmby: Every student enrolled in Richmond County Schools deserves an exceptional learning opportunity, regardless of the financial resources available. Our county commissioners have graciously supported our schools. We have also received support from Amazon Foundations of the Carolinas and other generous resources. We are grateful for every dollar given in support of our students, teachers and staff. It is important that our board continues to make positive decisions for every child while being good stewards of the money allocated to our schools. Understanding our budget is important, so that the board can address immediate needs and long-term goals simultaneously.
Question 3: What steps would you support to keep students safe and support their mental health?
Charles “Chuck” Dulin: The first responsibility of school administration and the school board is to keep our children and staff members safe while at school. The short answer is that I will support any measure that will support and enhance the safety of our students and staff. I have already provided much of this answer to the question above. However, I readily support aggressive safety measures through consistent preparedness training, monitored entrances that require an official ID or code to enter, metal detector scanning prior to entrance at all schools and school sponsored events, and the utilization of school resource officers in all schools. In addition, school safety must also be a top priority within the school building through a firmly, fairly, and consistently implemented code of student conduct that holds violators accountable and creates a safe and orderly school environment for all students and staff.
Schools are a direct reflection of our society; as a result, student mental health has become a primary concern for districts across the nation. Support for student mental health must be considered within the context of school safety plans. While it is true that all schools have a school counselor on staff; however, too often these professionals are called upon to do needed but “non-counseling” tasks which take up much of his/her time during the school day. This is especially prevalent at the middle and high school levels. Therefore, I believe schools must have access to and utilize mental health professionals through creating partnerships with local mental health providers and/or contracted personnel that are available to school counselors and administrators when more in-depth mental health services are needed. In these types of relationships mental health professionals should be made available for individual student referrals and crisis intervention when school-wide events take place such as student or staff deaths or school-wide emergency events.
Amber N. Daniels: Partnerships! Partnerships! Partnerships! As they say, “it takes a village to raise a child”. As a girl scout troop leader and parent raising two small kids, I can attest to this statement being true. I am fortunate enough to be trusted by our youth, and they share with me firsthand the bullying rituals that they experience or have witnessed. I’m also aware of the challenges currently faced in many households that directly impact students learning. There’s no doubt there is a major crisis in our community and our country as it relates to mental health. So that said, what are we doing about it? I would love to see Richmond County School Systems participating in SMHI. This mental health initiative in NC allows connections to resources such as Project ACTIVATE, which is a group that provides three tiers of behavioral health support to public schools. Currently the initiative is in the pilot phase but has been successful in implementing/revising 91 mental health policies, and 48,531 school-based and related employees trained in different topics and protocols.
In addition to getting training and policy support for our staff, the program offers access to counseling services for students. I would work with NC DPI leaders to inquire more about participation, while also working with the current school systems that have had success to learn more about how to shape this initiative into an effective support tool for our schools. In terms of securing our schools, partnerships have to occur at the School Board, City Council, and County Commissioner level. I would encourage our board to engage conversations with the other two groups to develop a plan for securing School Resource Officers in every school in our County. We can not solely rely on the schools to fund this protection, that is where partnerships come into place. Identifying where funding can be allocated and agreements can be maintained will allow us to expedite the process of securing our schools. Lastly, kids have to have a way of having fun and letting go outside the classroom. Not every child is fortunate enough to be able to leave school on a Friday and go down to the beach or watch a movie at the theaters to relax and refresh their tired growing little minds. Working with the community to establish more positive experiences for our youth outside the classroom will trickle back into their attitudes and performance within the class. So how do we do that? Personally, I’ve gone into the schools and recruited girl scouts during open houses over the years. The joy on those kids faces when they get out of their cars and run up to Mrs. Amber lights up my entire world. My own child somehow times it perfectly every meeting day and asks me, ” do we have Girls scouts tonight.” This shows me that her mental is ready for a fun link up with friends that doesn’t involve testing and staying still or quiet. I know everyone doesn’t have the resources available to get their children back and forth to extra events. However, maybe it’s time to entertain bringing the events back to the kids. I remember as a child, scout programs would come to the after-school programs at the schools and kids could participate that way. We have several community events that take place throughout the year. For instance, the City of Hamlet just announced their Main Street Movie Nights for the year. Kids are welcomed with concessions, it’s all kids’ movies! I would be in full support of a new program or team of leaders being designed to implement Mental Health Days or Reward Days, to where we either bus the students to these local events or arrange some sort of voucher system to reward them with access to these events for positive behavior. I’m only one voice and one vote, but I’m fully in support of any conversation, even if it’s not mine, that is going to help support the mental health and safety of all our students across the county.
Scotty Baldwin: Student safety and well-being must always come first. That includes both physical safety and mental health support. I support continued investment in school safety measures such as strong partnerships with local law enforcement, secure campuses, and clear emergency preparedness plans. At the same time, we must recognize that students cannot learn effectively if they are struggling emotionally. Expanding access to school counselors, behavioral support staff, and early intervention programs is critical. I also believe in strengthening relationships between schools and families so concerns can be addressed before they become crises. When students feel safe, supported, and connected, they are better prepared to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.
Cory Satterfield: As a board member, I will continue to advocate for having an SRO at every school and giving them the tools needed to do their job effectively. I will also advocate for using resources to continue to hire mental health experts. Additionally, continuous training for SRO’s and mental health experts are vital to meeting the ever growing needs within our school system.
Bobbie Sue Ormsby: As previously stated, supporting the mental health of our students and teachers is one of my utmost priorities. I support increasing the number of School Resource Officers, Counselors, and Social Workers in all our schools. Our students and staff need to feel safe and supported so learning can take place. The only way to achieve success is for the entire community to work together to support our schools, from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to local pastors, from city police to business owners. While challenges remain, I will continue to foster good relationships with our community partners and will always advocate for the well-being of our students and teachers.
I love our community, our students and our families. RCS teachers and support staff are the BEST. I remain committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity they deserve to be successful. I am committed to continuing the work that our board has started. I would be honored to have your support to serve our students and community for another term.
US House Of Representatives District 8
Question 1: What are your top priorities for our district if elected, and how would you work to achieve them?
Kevin Clark:
• Investing in education
• Lowering costs for working families
• Strengthening local economies
• Holding the government accountable
I would prioritize directing federal education grants to our district and Richmond county. I would attempt to get the state to comply with the NC Constitution and fully fund education, releasing local funds for local priorities and lowering property taxes.
Question 2: How would you approach making decisions that balance the needs of our district with national issues?
Kevin Clark: I do not find a conflict between local and national issues. If I am sent to DC to represent District 8, I will be there to represent your local interests.
Question 3: What steps would you take to stay in touch with people in the district and hear their concerns?
Kevin Clark: I will open as many offices across the district as the congressional budget will allow. I fully understand my reelection will depend on how much I improve the lives of the people, not campaign contributions.
Richmond County Commissioners:
Question 1: What are the biggest challenges facing our county, and how would you address them?
James Daniels: One of the more vocal conversations lately has been around the opioid crisis faced in our community. Recently we shifted from being the highest county for overdoses to the third highest. While it could indicate efforts locally, it could also point towards increased deaths in other areas. Either way, this isn’t a top list we should be achieving to be on. We should continue to make strides towards eliminating and preventing this crisis. In my current profession as an Instructor, I have the privilege of going into prisons throughout South Carolina and learning about the resources they have implemented. At one of the facilities, there are Narcan Vending Machines installed throughout. Recently it was brought to my attention that Richmond County’s Hotspot for overdoses is at Morrison Correctional Facilities. To my knowledge, there are no Narcan Vending Machines installed at this facility. NC local governments have become the recipients of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually through the NC Opioid Settlement Fund. I would work with our board and public safety officials to design a strategic plan to allocate resources to install these machines into the institute. While that is only one sector, it is of large capacity. In addition, I would work to locate partners in our community that have established relationships with those needing services and collaborate on further distribution methods for support. Everyone doesn’t go to treatment centers or has access to commute to the services they need, therefore, working with those community groups that are willing to go out into areas beyond their comfort zone will allow us to reach and serve more. In terms of our youth, I would work with the school system to support current programs that inform students of preventive measures while encouraging them to have the confidence to say no. Many youth come from households that are subject to substance abuse, educating while supporting the child to understand they have other options than what they’ve been exposed to would be another aim of my term. Another challenge facing our county is trust and transparency. Many citizens have lost trust in our elected leaders and the decisions they make. Several things can contribute to this, and transparency is one of the key metrics. Working on the board for the next four years would involve rebuilding community trust. Once that is rebuilt, we can make strides towards economic development with more effective conversations. Rebuilding trust is going to involve having uncomfortable open conversations, while not dwelling on the past but analyzing how we can navigate through it to positive productivity.
Laverne Schultz: ( A ) Richmond County has several challenges ahead. As County Commissioners, we are charged with preparing for controlled growth in our community. We must continue to start in the school systems as well as our community college to prepare our student population with the skills and ability to adapt to the jobs which will be available in the coming years for our area.
( B ) The people of Richmond County will need to buy into a Vision for what they want their community to look like in the future. We must welcome and seek out new businesses to locate or relocate to our area. Increased population, following the new jobs, would lead to greater demand for housing, shopping, restaurants, and more…
( C ) The need for a plan to help law enforcement address the drug and homelessness problems in our county is essential. This problem won’t disappear quickly, but we must shift from being reactive to being proactive. This problem is outside of my expertise but we must find a proper way to deal with this issue by listening to people who understand these problems. We must deal with some of these problems by helping law enforcement better prepare to handle them. We can’t continue to let these people commit crimes, only for law enforcement to see the criminals released before the officers can complete their reports. This is a very discouraging part of their jobs.
Richard Robinson: Many citizens feel disconnected from county decision-making. Open books. Clear communication. Decisions made in the open.
Robin Roberts: The biggest challenges for Richmond County as an elected official and a citizen of Richmond County are and always will be for me are our veterans the future of our children and taking care of our elderly. The quality of life and a bright future for every citizen is a must. It takes a village and I want to continue to be a part of that village. Advocate and support is and has always been my motto.
Jesse McQueen: Our county struggles with lack of transparency and weak accountability. Too many decisions happen behind closed doors. I will follow the law, hold proper public meetings, and end back-door deals. Real leadership challenges the status quo — and I have the courage to do it.
Jason R. Gainey: The biggest challenge in our county is awaking the strength of those asleep in apathy and sobering those drunk on envy. My prayer is to unite leaders across the community to breathe life, preach hope and provide opportunity for our people.
Question 2: How would you make sure the county’s money is spent wisely and openly?
James Daniels: Coming in as a new board member there is no question that I would have to learn and I intend to do so quickly. My first action would be to ensure that I become familiar with NC General Statues which is the legal rule book of what we can do as county government. When engaging in conversations of new or improved business, I would be sure to refer to those statues to ensure we are navigating legally. While getting acquainted with our guidelines, I would commit to registering for the NC Association of County Commissioners in efforts to network at conferences that provide resources and information on current challenges and new initiatives that can then be plugged into our community. Another action I intend to take is reviewing our county budget and operations plan to see where we need to direct our efforts for improvements. My approach would be to ensure funding is readily available for those immediate detrimental services combined with a long-term perspective of where we are trying to go and ensuring we have the financial stability to support the structure. The budgeting process has to be transparent and announced just as loudly as everything else. I would advocate for sharing upcoming budget sessions and meetings online, via the paper, and utility bills. I would encourage surveys in advance so that we know what the people want and once budget is adopted clearly communicate why allocations were made.
Laverne Schultz: ( A ) The County Commission’s job is to ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely and according to the set budget. I do feel the county has managed the money well. Anyone who looks at where Richmond County was several years ago compared to where we are now should be able to see the progress that has been made. The budget is a public document detailing exactly how the money is spent.
( B ) With my first statement being said the county must be more open to the public. The County Commissioners are elected officials responsible to the people and have been entrusted to always make decisions that are in the community’s best interest. We must become more involved if we are truly concerned about these decisions. The County Commissioners meetings are open to the public and the Commissioners are available to help answer questions but not to be attacked over everything we may not necessarily agree with.
Richard Robinson: Taxpayer money should be treated like your household budget — carefully and responsibly. I support open books, independent audits, competitive bidding, and zero-based budgeting where possible. My goal is simple: responsible spending that lowers the tax burden and restores trust in county government.
Robin Roberts: The money and all business of Richmond County begin with transparency; I have learned that all of our department heads and employees are hired to do a job and in my opinion do a great job. Checks, balances and accountability are the key to any successful business or entity.
Jesse McQueen: Every dollar counts. No checks without discussion. No spending without budget approval. No shortcuts around the law. I will demand open meetings, recorded votes, and sustainable budgets that protect our county’s future.
Jason R. Gainey: This is one of our most important jobs. I’ve already shared with our commissioners that we should begin having a budget retreat with department heads and see and hear their individual budget requests. This allows commissioners to also participate in the fiscal responsibilities of the county. These meetings are also done in open forum, as they should be. This way citizens can ask questions about the budget. Afterward we make the finalized budget easily accessible online.
Question 3: How would you make sure people in the county have a voice in important decisions?
James Daniels: The entire purpose of my campaign is to ensure the citizens’ voice is heard and employed to the length in which the county can legally and financially support. To do this, I would continue to attend community events that allow me to directly engage with the people to hear and witness the needs which could be serviced. Requesting citizen feedback would be another priority. In efforts to reach as many people as possible, I would encourage the board to have county staff arrange surveys accessible via social sites, the county web page, as well as included with bills for return, and in office submissions. These surveys would be aimed at determining which services are in demand and what areas the community would like to see us improve. When making economic decisions about growth and development, I would also promote surveys so that the community can have a say in how they would like to see the communication and process evolve. That’s not to say we can achieve every person’s wants, but we can listen and find strategical ways in which to try to encompass them into the plan.
Laverne Schultz: ( A ) The very simple answer to this question is for people to get involved and participate with their ideas to make things better or work best. Everyone has an idea of how things should be done but you must present those ideas to have them considered.
Richard Robinson: County government works best when citizens are informed and involved. I will make sure people have a voice by increasing transparency, expanding public input opportunities, and making leadership accessible. The people shouldn’t find out about decisions after they’re made. They should help shape them before they are.
Robin Roberts: Richmond County citizens including myself have every right to ask questions and be heard. The Information Act ensures that for every citizen and American. We all have the right to all information. I am and always will be available to answer questions and concerns. We The People are in this together and together we will make the future of Richmond County a better place today tomorrow and in the future. God bless America and God bless Richmond County.
Jesse McQueen: Government must answer to the people, not operate above them. I will promote open meetings, encourage public input, and communicate clearly. Decisions belong in the light — not behind closed doors.
Jason R. Gainey: I make it a point to be accessible and listen, take notes and help on matters submitted to me. This week, for example, I helped with a matter in Hamlet, one matter in Rockingham and a matter that helps many of our students who are homeless – we have 150 homeless students in our county by the way. Where I commit to do more is to post online and share openly the solutions the citizens have helped us reach. I think it’s important to note finally, that commissioners are not elected to meet every wish. If elected, I commit to doing what’s right as best I understand in order to benefit and bring peace to our people.
District Attorney District 21
Question 1: What are your main goals for public safety and the justice system in our county?
Jamie Adams: As your District Attorney, my top public safety priority is to make our community safer by holding violent criminals accountable while addressing the root causes of crime. Our community has felt the devasting impact of fentanyl. While we are no longer number one in fentanyl-related deaths, that shift shows we are making improvements but there is still a lot of work to be done. One life lost is too many. District attorneys can play a critical role in holding accountable those who profit from this crisis. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively prosecute high-level traffickers and those who knowingly distribute fentanyl in our community. We must support prevention, education, and treatment efforts that address addiction before we loss more community members.
We must also confront head on any increases in violent crime with urgency and consistency. The District Attorney’s office prioritizes gun violence, repeat offenders, domestic violence, child abuse, and crimes that threaten the safety of families across the district. When violent offenders face real consequences, communities are safer and victims have confidence in the system. True public safety goes beyond the courtroom. If we want lasting change, we must address the root causes of crime such as poverty, substance abuse, lack of opportunity, child abuse, and trauma. That means strengthening partnerships with schools, law enforcement, community organizations, and treatment providers to prevent crime before it happens. If I’m given the opportunity to continue serving, I will remain focused on strong accountability for those who harm our community and meaningful collaboration to tackle the underlying issues that cause crime. Together we can build a safer future for everyone. Safer homes equal safer communities.
Herman Little: My main goal for public safety is to work to decrease the crime rate plaguing our community. Richmond County is ranked number six out of 100 counties as having the highest crime rate in the state of North Carolina. That’s not good.
• The old way of doing things has not worked. It’s time to get outside the four walls of the district attorney’s office and L.E.A.D. This means, LEARNING the community. ENGAGING with the community. Assuring ACCOUNTABILITY is encouraged within the community and DEVELOPING a coalition.
• If we address the community’s needs head on—we will not just make an impact but a generational impact with this model.
• In addition, our jail remains overpopulated. Currently, there are approximately 142 defendants awaiting prosecution in our county jail. Our county jail only holds approximately 72 beds. This is a direct reflection of inefficient case management by the district attorney’s office. It’s inexplicable how a person remains in jail after 2, 4, 6 or more years—charged with homicide or sexual assault and has not been prosecuted. When this happens, victims and witnesses disappear, and it jeopardizes the pursuit of justice for those victims.
• Jail overpopulation also puts a strain on our law enforcement personnel. This leads to potential altercations in the jail, which further puts our law enforcement personnel in danger. A county jail is a pre-trial confinement facility. My goal would be to pursue prosecution of defendants charged with a crime within four months of their arrest.
Question 2: How would you balance holding people accountable with fairness and giving them a chance to improve?
Jamie Adams: Balancing accountability with fairness is one of the most important responsibilities of a District Attorney. Justice is not just about punishment; it’s about making our community safer while recognizing that not everyone who enters the system is beyond redemption. When someone commits a serious or violent offense, accountability must come first. Victims deserve to be heard, and public safety has to remain the priority. Fairness also means recognizing when someone needs diversion instead of incarceration. Not every case should be treated the same, especially when substance use is a root cause of the behavior. That’s why I’ve worked to build partnerships that give people a real opportunity to turn their lives around. One example is our collaboration with Safer Communities to connect eligible individuals with drug treatment and support services. This approach holds people accountable while also addressing the underlying issues that often lead to repeated contact with the justice system. I believe in being both firm and fair. The District Attorney’s office is tough when we must be, but thoughtful when we can be. When we give people the structure and support to improve, we reduce repeat offenses, strengthen families, and make our communities safer in the long run. True justice means protecting the public while also creating pathways for people to make better choices and build better futures.
Herman Little: A holistic approach to prosecution is what’s needed to ensure that this balance is maintained. I do believe in restorative justice for some individuals depending on the crime committed. I believe that people make mistakes, but some people should not be defined by those mistakes. If a person, is intentional about rehabilitation and has shown accountability for their actions—depending on the crime committed I believe that person may be a good fit for restorative justice.
• An example of restorative justice would be deferred prosecution or conditional discharges as it relates to some drug offenses for first time or even second time defendants who possessed certain drugs. Upon completion of drug education classes and/or a period of probation—if that defendant satisfies those conditions, I believe this provides proof that this defendant deserves a second chance.
• This approach assures accountability is realized because it forces a person to choose rehabilitation or resistance—which would lead to collateral consequences such as a criminal record and possible prison time.
Question 3: What steps would you take to build trust between your office and the people in the community?
Jamie Adams: Building trust between the District Attorney’s office and the community starts with people being able to see you, know you, and feel heard. That’s why the most important step I’ve taken and will continue to take is being visible and present in the community. Trust isn’t built from behind a desk. I’ve made it a priority to attend community events, visit schools, speak with civic groups, and engage directly with residents across our district. When people can have real conversations with their District Attorney, it breaks down barriers and creates transparency about how decisions are made. Clear and honest communication is vital. People deserve to understand what our office does, why we make certain decisions, and how the justice system works. Whether it’s through community forums, media engagement, or everyday conversations, I believe in explaining our role in a way that is open and accessible. We also build trust by being consistent and fair. That means applying the law evenly, treating people with dignity, and ensuring victims feel supported throughout the process. When the community sees fairness in action, confidence in the system grows. Lastly, partnerships matter. Working alongside law enforcement, schools, faith leaders, and community organizations helps ensure that public safety is a shared responsibility, not just the work of one office. Trust is earned over time through visibility, transparency, and consistency. The District Attorney’s Office has started laying that foundation, and I remain committed to strengthening that trust by continuing to show up, listen, and serve with integrity.
Herman Little: The public deserves the right to know what’s happening in the district attorney’s office. In a campaign season, press releases are provided to give this façade that the district attorney’s office is tough on crime. That destroys the trust that a community has with the office because the community sees it as just political.
• A district attorney’s office should be apolitical. Crime is not registered as a democrat, republican or unaffiliated. It affects all of us. Therefore, consistent transparency is the key.
The other thing that builds trust is leading with integrity. This means making sure cases are prosecuted fairly and equally no matter what neighborhood the crime occurred in or no matter who the defendant or victim was. For far too long, we’ve seen a justice system being led by the district attorney’s own personal desires rather than the community’s. This must stop. • I’m a firm believer that fake promises of programs, organizations, grants, etc., just to get votes impairs the focus that the district attorney’s office is supposed to have. The district attorney should not be about making profits but about protecting the people he or she serves. If that focus is maintained—the community’s trust would be kept.