Editor’s Note: Iredell Free News invited candidates for District Attorney in the March 5 Republican primary election to share their qualifications, relevant experience and vision for the DA’s Office with our readers. Early voting began February 15.

BY DAVID ADDISON

I am a candidate for District Attorney for Iredell and Alexander counties. I decided to run for district attorney after seeing the prosecutorial statistics for this judicial district.

I began my legal education at North Carolina Central University’s School of Law in 2012 and graduated in May of 2016 with my juris doctor in Law and participated in Moot Court. I was admitted to the bar in August of 2016. Beginning in 2017, I began volunteering with Legal Aid of N.C. in Durham. I represented clients in civil cases and assisted the Pro Se Divorce Clinic for individuals who needed assistance but could not afford an attorney. In 2018, I was awarded the Pro Bono Award from the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center for the hours dedicated to serving those who could not afford an attorney.

I started my law enforcement career in May of 1997 when I joined the Durham Police Department. Some of the positions spanning many ranks at the DPD include homicide investigator, police information officer, juvenile investigator, and eventually juvenile sergeant, CrimeStoppers coordinator, special events coordinator, patrol sergeant, patrol assistant commander and eventually commander, commander for the special projects and logistics division, commander of the special services division, and executive officer to the deputy chiefs, among others. After my tenure with the Durham Police Department, I was hired as the chief of police for the City of Statesville.

AWARDS

Listed below are the awards I was honored to receive during my career:

• 2003 North Carolina’s CrimeStoppers Program of the Year
• 2004 City of Durham Employee of the Year
• 2004 Durham Police Department Community Service Award
• 2004 Louis J. Carver Officer of the Year Award (Community Service)
• 2006 Jaycee’s Durham County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
• 2006 Jaycee’s State of North Carolina Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
• 2007 Squad of the Month (Received four times)
• 2016 Lynwood Best Award (Community Service)
• 2017 Pro Bono Award – North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center
• 2018 Making a Difference for Durham Families Award (Community Service)

VOLUNTEER

Here are some of the professional and civic organizations I have served in:

• 2021–Present – Governor’s Crime Commission Subcommittee Racial & Ethnic Disparities Chair
• 2021–Present – N.C. Association of Police and Sheriffs’ Attorneys Board Member
• 2021–Present – Iredell County United Way Board Member
• 2021–Present – Iredell Health System Board of Trustees Member
• 2018–Present – Appointed by Governor Cooper to the Inmate Grievance Resolution Board
• 2017-2019 – Attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina Inc.
• 2011-2013 – Chairman for Durham County’s Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
• 2009-2011 – Vice Chairman for Durham County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council
• 2006-2009 – President of the Durham County Police Benevolence Association

WHY I AM RUNNING

After reviewing the prosecutorial statistics for Iredell and Alexander counties, I discovered that between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, some 27,894 cases were closed during this period. Out of the 27,894 cases that were closed, 23,630 were dismissed or disposed of. That means 84.7% of the cases closed were dismissed or disposed of (which is not a guilty plea).

During the same period, there were only 240 trials in this judicial district with 93 cases ending with a not guilty disposition. Trials can vary from a couple hours to a week or longer. That is an average of about 14 cases per district attorney. This calculates out to one trial per attorney approximately every three weeks.

Currently, the district attorney manages the court calendar. If I am elected, we will work with our judges to devise a way to increase the number of trials for persons incarcerated in jails and those out on bond. By increasing the efficiency of our justice system, we can begin to reduce the population at our jails to house our habitual career criminals who are also flight risks or possess the desire to commit additional crimes.

I plan to introduce transparency to the Iredell/Alexander District Attorney’s Office by participating in community meetings with law enforcement agencies to see where our focus needs to be regarding crimes impacting our communities. We plan to meet monthly with law enforcement leaders to discuss issues impacting our service to the community.

If I am elected, we will share our prosecutorial statistics with the community annually. We will acknowledge our deficiencies and work to improve them. It is time for a change, and it begins with you!

David Addison is a candidate in the March 5 GOP primary election for District Attorney for Iredell and Alexander counties.