Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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24 MARCH 2-8, 2016 ELECTION GUIDE 2016 ELECTION 2016: NC District Court Judge Mike Hardin District 12 I have dedicated my life and my career for nearly two decades to public service. I have been a child sex offense prosecu- tor for 17 ½ years. I have worked with children from the day they told someone they were physically or sexually abused, until years later when their cases went to trial. I have seen these same children later as adults and know personally the impact these cases have had on their lives and the lives of their families. Cumberland County has over 900 cases of abuse, neglect and dependency pend- ing. Many of these children are in foster care. Eventually a district court judge will have to decide where these children end up. Cumberland County has a high number of domestic court filings, including divorce and child custody. A district court judge will have to decide which parent these children will live with, visitation and other important decisions that will affect these children for the rest of their lives. I believe my experience and my commitment to children and families are the reasons I can make a difference as the next Dis- trict Court Judge in Cumberland County. I am the only candidate that has a family of his own. A district court judge will have to resolve family issues on a daily basis. Al- though, it is not necessary to have a family to be a judge, I believe that having a family gives me unique insight into how a family works on a daily basis. Cumberland County has had a steady violent crime rate. A district court judge has the power to set higher bonds to keep the public safe from repeat and violent offenders. I have been a violent crimes prosecutor for over 19 years trying cases involving rape, robbery, kidnapping and murder. I am the only candidate with this type of experience. I believe I have unique insight into how to protect the public. A district court judge must be able to understand what the victims of crime experience. My family and I have also been the victims of crime. My wife and son were assaulted by a sexual predator in a parking lot downtown. My family experienced the court system from the magistrate's office to a jury trial. I believe myself and my family have unique insight into what the general public often experiences. A district court judge essentially presides over trials and the courtroom. A judge should therefore have substantial trial experi- ence of their own if they are going to tell other lawyers how to try a case. All lawyers learn the law in law school, but you don't have real experience until you have practiced law. I unquestionably have more trial experience than any other candidate. I believe that my extensive experience inside and outside of the courtroom makes me the best choice for District Court Judge. I am committed to continuing my career as a public servant, serving the citizens of Cumberland County. Sanya Eller District 12 To answer the call to serve is one of the most honorable things any individual can do. To have a functional yet compas- sionate society, service is a necessity. While judges are often seen as leaders and not servants, they are present to serve the citizens. I believe judges should use the servant leadership model. This means that al- though they know the duties and services that they carry out are important, they realize they are not the primary focus. It is the litigant, the family, the victim, the children and yes, the defendant, that demand attention. Not only will I bring my belief of the servant leadership model into the courtroom but I also bring 21 years of experience as an attorney with an extensive courtroom practice and court adminis- tration experience. Professionally, one of my proudest moments was learning that the grant I authored to begin our Veterans' Treatment Court was funded and that this county's veterans would have another oppor- tunity for assistance and accountability. Cumberland County has long had a reputation for progressiveness in developing treatment courts and alternative court programs. I want to continue the progressive tradition. I love Cumberland County and I believe I have served her well in volunteer service through my church, my sorority, The Junior League of Fayetteville, the Cape Fear Regional Bureau for Com- munity Action, Inc., J.D. Fuller Place Housing, Inc., and the Demo- cratic Party. I want to become your next District Court Judge because the residents of this county deserve someone with my heart for ser- vice, my wealth of experience and my dedication to the families of Cumberland County, North Carolina.