Special to Iredell Free News

District Attorney Sarah Kirkman on Monday filed to run for a fifth term as district attorney for District 32, which includes Iredell and Alexander counties.

“I am seeking a fifth term to continue to work to keep our community safe, to stand up for victims and to work with other members of our community to ensure that justice is served and not delayed,” she explained.

A Republican, Kirkman was first elected in 2008, and took office on January 1, 2009. She had worked as an assistant district attorney from 1997 until taking office.

Candidate filing began on Monday and ends on Friday, December 15.

Kirkman is a graduate of Campbell Law School, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Statesville High School. She lives with her family in Iredell County and attends Northside Baptist Church.

She serves on several boards, including the Dove House Children’s Advocacy Center and the Drug-Alcohol Coalition of Iredell, as well as the N.C. Domestic Violence Commission and the N.C. Child Fatality Task Force, and the Domestic Violence Task Force of Iredell.

Kirkman said she is proud of her office’s work to keep court running during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We were able to maintain operations and even streamline and improve our court processes while other districts shut down,” she said. “We have handled large numbers of cases in H & I Felony District Court in a timely manner, and we have utilized all terms of Superior Court, including civil court, to handle serious felony cases.

“We have continued to focus on violent crimes, including those committed by juveniles, and have connected victims with services and resources,” she added. “We continue to work with law enforcement agencies and community partners to better our community.”

If she is re-elected, Kirkman said her priorities will be providing victim services, prosecuting violent crimes and habitual offenders, and working collaboratively with local law enforcement partners.