<body><div>(This story was updated to add new information.)Assistant District Attorney Jason Smith is challenging District Attorney Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson for her position as top prosecutor, heading New Hanover and Pender counties.Donaldson was appointed to the position of district attorney by Gov. Roy Cooper in early September 2024, following the departure of former District Attorney Ben David from office.In-person early voting runs for a little over two weeks, beginning on Oct. 17, and ends at 3 p.m. on Nov. 2. Absentee ballots must be requested by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 and returned to the local board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5.Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Voters planning to cast their ballots in person will be required to show photo ID at check in. North Carolina residents can check their voter registration status on the North Carolina State Board of Elections webpage.<h2>Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2OVvXY_0vmD1HSe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2OVvXY_0vmD1HSe00" width="960" height="1499" ><figcaption>Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson, candidate for District Attorney serving New Hanover and Pender counties.</figcaption></figure><ul><li>Age: 34</li><li>Occupation: District Attorney of New Hanover and Pender counties</li><li>Family: Scott Donaldson (husband) is a former law enforcement officer, having held the rank of Lieutenant with the New York City’s Sheriff's Office. Scott is currently a partner at the law firm Cline Donaldson in Wilmington, with a practice focused on estate planning. Two daughters, Kennedy (5) and Saylor (4).</li><li>Education: Bachelor of Arts from the University of Miami. Juris Doctor from American University, Washington College of Law.</li><li>Political affiliation: Democrat</li></ul><h2>Jason Smith</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1LxOnk_0vmD1HSe00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1LxOnk_0vmD1HSe00" width="558" height="361" ><figcaption>Jason Smith, candidate for District Attorney serving New Hanover and Pender counties.</figcaption></figure><ul><li>Age: 50</li><li>Occupation: Assistant District Attorney for New Hanover and Pender counties since 2014</li><li>Family: Wife, Tamara Smith (for 25 years); three daughters, Vivian (21), Martha (17) and Evelyn (11) Smith; one son, Tucker Smith (15)</li><li>Education: Bachelor of Arts in business/economics from Virginia Military Institute (1996). Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University (1999).</li><li>Political affiliation: Republican</li></ul><h2>What priorities do you have for the District Attorney's Office?</h2>Donaldson: As district attorney, my priorities are to prevent crime and pursue justice. We need to hold violent criminals accountable, support our police officers, while also making sure programs proven to prevent crime, like investing in mental health services, at-risk youth programs, and affordable housing, have the resources they need.Smith: My priorities will be similar to those I have displayed during the last 14 years while serving with the District Attorney's Office, including 10 years as an assistant district attorney. I will continue to focus ongoing after career criminals and those who commit the worst crimes. That means swift and severe justice for victims of homicides, violent crimes, crimes against children and elderly, sexual violence, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and drunk driving. While continuing to prosecute lower-level felonies and misdemeanors and attempting to fashion punishments to address the root causes of those crimes, we will not ignore those career criminals who refuse to change their ways.What strategies will you implement to ensure trust between the District Attorney's Office and residents of New Hanover and Pender counties?Donaldson: Trust between the District Attorney’s Office and our community is essential. As district attorney, I will prioritize transparency, community engagement, and excellence in prosecution. I will host town halls and listening sessions across New Hanover and Pender counties to address residents’ concerns. I’m committed to collaborating with leaders at all levels throughout the Cape Fear region, including our law enforcement officers and first responders, to prevent crime and ensure safety. My office will maintain fairness in prosecutions, enhance public access to case information, and focus on restorative justice, victim support, and diversion programs for nonviolent offenders.Smith: Trust between the District Attorney's Office and the community is imperative. When the community trusts the district attorney to do the right thing, it is less likely to use violent protests and vigilante justice. This often happens in instances like officer-involved shootings or sensationalized cases. The keys to building mutual trust are communication and showing the community that I, as their elected district attorney, will seek to do the right thing no matter the outcome. I have gone into all parts of our community to speak with citizens in order to understand concerns about crime in communities and how I can assist.Can you provide an example of a challenging case you've handled and how it has prepared you for the role of district attorney?Donaldson: I handled a rape prosecution that required navigating sensitive issues involving the victim’s trauma and bringing together women who had previously been victimized by the defendant. I worked closely with the victim to ensure her voice was heard while balancing the need for a strong legal strategy that would result in a conviction. The case presented complex evidence and legal challenges, but it reinforced the importance of empathy, meticulous case preparation, and collaboration with law enforcement and victim advocates. This experience prepared me for the role of district attorney by teaching me how to handle sensitive, high-stakes cases with both care and precision.Smith: I have been with the District Attorney's Office since 2010. From 2014 to 2023, I was assigned to be the assistant district attorney in charge of the Pender office. With that responsibility, I maintained a caseload of all the violent felonies, crimes against children and homicides. At the same time, I supervised personnel, mentored young attorneys, advised law enforcement officers and heads of their agencies and engaged the community. In essence, I was the mini-district attorney during that time. There was not one case that prepared me for this role. It has been a culmination of all these tasks. I have been a leader in the courtroom, office and community.How will you balance prosecuting crime effectively while also focusing on diversion programs and rehabilitation for offenders?Donaldson: As district attorney, I will strike a balance by focusing on aggressive prosecution for violent crimes and serious offenses, while expanding diversion programs for nonviolent offenders. By prioritizing public safety, we can ensure that dangerous criminals are held accountable. For low-level and first-time offenders, I’ll advocate for rehabilitation, mental health support, and drug treatment programs to reduce recidivism and give individuals a chance to reintegrate into society when that is the appropriate course to take. This approach ensures that we address root causes of crime while reserving our toughest measures for those who pose the greatest threat to the community, creating a more just and effective system.Smith: Crime fighting can be broken down into two efforts: prosecution and prevention. We cannot lock up every criminal and throw away the key. Our sentencing guidelines do not allow incarceration for all. Crime prevention measures should focus on the root cause of the action like mental health, drug addiction, poverty, desperation, and home life. This is where judgements tailored for rehabilitation are a must. These may include supervised probation with mental health or drug treatment, work requirements, community service requirements, curfews, etc. Many first-time offenders are given deferred prosecutions with similar requirements to try to change behaviors and prevent recidivism.What are the top three issues impacting crime in New Hanover and Pender counties and how do you plan to address them?Donaldson: The top three issues impacting crime in New Hanover and Pender counties are the fentanyl crisis, online predators, and violent crime. To address the fentanyl epidemic, I’ll collaborate with law enforcement to target traffickers and expand prevention programs. For online predators, I’ll strengthen resources to identify and prosecute offenders while promoting community education to protect children. In combating violent crime, I’ll prioritize swift prosecutions and work with local agencies to enhance crime prevention efforts. By focusing on these areas, we can reduce crime and build safer communities for everyone.Smith: Drug trafficking, youth violence/gun possession, and crimes against children/exploitation impact our communities most. We will address our drug epidemic by disrupting the supply chain of traffickers through enforcement and reducing demand through rehabilitative means. Recently, youth have been charged with homicides, armed robberies and gun possessions. We must continue our community efforts and conversations and strict enforcement. Finally, easy and unfettered access to the internet has changed the playground for children from a physical one to a digital one. Education of our youth and parents is paramount to prevent children from being enticed online from unknown assailants.<h2>Are there any unsolved cases that you would prioritize?</h2>Donaldson: Yes, I would prioritize unsolved cases involving violent crimes, particularly homicides and sexual assaults. These cases are crucial to bringing justice to victims and their families, while also ensuring public safety. Cold cases, especially those with new evidence or technological advancements in forensic science, would receive renewed attention. My office will work closely with law enforcement to allocate resources, re-examine evidence, and pursue leads. Solving these cases not only provides closure to victims but also helps restore community trust in the justice system by demonstrating our commitment to ensuring accountability for all offenders.Smith: I would not prioritize one unsolved case over another because all victims deserve justice. While I have been involved in many of the unsolved cases in our community, I have not been involved with all of them. We have teams of law enforcement that continue to focus their efforts on solving these cases. I will continue to encourage and support their efforts in any way I can.This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Candidates for New Hanover and Pender district attorney, 2024 election</div></body>

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Election 2024: Meet the candidates for district attorney of New Hanover and Pender counties

(This story was updated to add new information.) Assistant District Attorney Jason Smith is challenging District Attorney Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson for her position as top prosecutor, heading New Hanover and Pender counties. Donaldson was appointed to the position of district attorney by Gov. Roy Cooper in early September 2024, following...