Todd Thompson

By 6News Staff on September 15, 2012

What are the top issues you’re campaigning on?

My commitment is to prosecuting crimes, protecting this community, thereby preserving our legacy. Law enforcement and citizens asked me to run four years ago. It was then that I set to the task of mending the relationships with social agencies and law enforcement. My goal is to help them understand our process, which in return causes the development of strong cases. Strong cases equal successful prosecution.  We have a rate of 40 percent more charged cases than the previous administration without receiving more reports; this includes twice as many domestic violence cases. We are now seeing twice as many trials.

What do you hope to accomplish if you’re elected into office?

Crimes rates have been going down in our county, and I want to work to continue that trend. We had a 30 percent backlog of cases when I took office, and we resolved that in six months. Serious offenses are now being reviewed within the first 48 hours, and all cases are being processed within the first two weeks of coming into our office. I want to continue to work closely with the victims and their families to help get the best results for their cases. I want to continue our fight on drug cases.

What are the most difficult challenges facing the nation/state/county/education system?

The economy will be everyone’s biggest struggle, particularly the budget to gain or maintain law enforcement personnel.  That could affect the proactive approach in community policing.   The budgets also concern me in regards to resources for rehabilitation programs, especially for our juvenile defendants. The budget does not affect how we pursue cases, but we are ever mindful of alternate ways to fund the office. We have gone paperless, we use grants for salaries, and have initiated an intern program. Budgets may not allow for DUI or Drug courts, but we make prosecuting those cases a priority.

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