A Republican primary for District Attorney of the 12th Prosecutorial District (Lee and Harnett counties) will be held on Tuesday, March 3. Early voting begins on Thursday, Feb. 13 and runs through Feb. 29.

Registered Republican and unaffiliated voters in Lee and Harnett counties are eligible to participate in this election. Democrats are eligible to participate in a number of primaries for various statewide contests, but The Rant currently limits election coverage to local offices.

The Rant asked four questions of each candidate, and we’ve printed their unedited responses below. The winner of the primary will face Democrat R. Andrew Porter in November.

Suzanne Matthews

Suzanne Matthews is currently an assistant district attorney for the 12th Prosecutorial District of North Carolina, which consists of Lee and Harnett Counties. She has been an ADA for 13 years and has handled the prosecution of all manner of criminal offenses. Her primary area of prosecution has been felony drug offenses.

She attended Campbell University and earned an undergraduate degree in government in 2002. She then attended Seton Hall University School of Law, graduating in 2005. She worked in private practice for two years before joining the District Attorney’s Office in 2007.

Matthews and her husband Brian live in Angier with their 10 year old daughter, Rebekah. They are active in their church, C3 Church, and enjoy spending family time camping.

Matthews on Jan. 27 announced endorsements from Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter and Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats.

What is the single biggest problem facing criminal prosecutions in Lee County and how will your office work to address that problem?

There is a culture of silence in our communities that keeps victims and witnesses of crime from coming forward with their stories. This problem is not unique to Lee County, but it is apparent especially in cases involving violent offenses. The silence is born of real fear and I would never try to minimize that, but if witnesses don’t overcome that fear and speak out, the crime will continue. Without people who are willing to stand up and testify in court, our cases fall apart. On the other hand, if they will bravely come forward, the guilty will be held accountable for their actions. The District Attorney’s Office is committed to helping victims and witnesses understand and feel comfortable in the court process. We will continue to help victims access resources through the Victims Assistance Network, SAFE, and other programs to make their experience easier.

What are your plans to curb the opioid epidemic in Lee County?

There is no one “silver bullet” solution that will fix the opioid epidemic in Lee County. Rather, any solution must be collaborative. There certainly must be a law enforcement aspect. We must continue to investigate and prosecute those distributing dangerous drugs in the community. In addition, there must be treatment and rehabilitation options for those who are seeking help to defeat their addictions. Finally, there must be education. Our students, teachers, families, in fact all citizens, must be educated on the dangers and the reality of opioids. It is a difficult topic, but the ugly truth of overdoses must be discussed openly so that the risk is understood. I would absolutely support and assist in presenting educational programs to the community on these topics. We must all work together to overcome this epidemic.

What are your plans to fight regularly occurring gun violence in Lee County?

The District Attorney’s Office must continue to foster relationships with various law enforcement partners, to include state and local agencies and the federal government, to combat gun violence. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a fantastic program through which to build those relationships. PSN identifies those individuals who are involved in violent crime, seeks to enforce the laws against those responsible, and most importantly, through community involvement, offers a way out of that lifestyle with job assistance, education, and support. Furthermore, any successful program to curb violence must include an educational aspect. There are programs available that will teach our children how bad decisions, even one, can affect their futures. As District Attorney, I will not only continue to make the prosecution of violent offenders a priority, but I will work to present educational programs so that our students understand the consequences of their actions, whether good or bad.

Several attorneys have mentioned to us that traffic enforcement, particularly in DWI cases, has declined significantly in Lee County in recent years. How concerned are you about this and how will your office work to change that perception?

If there has in fact been a decline in traffic enforcement, I believe that it is simply a result of limited resources that causes a need to prioritize. Officers can only be one place at a time. If an officer who is responsible for traffic enforcement responds to a serious collision, that officer will be off the road for awhile. If additional officers are not available, then for that period of time, traffic enforcement will be in a lull. Furthermore, departments must focus their resources on priority cases: violent offenses, property crime, domestic matters. Those cases necessarily take officers away from traffic enforcement. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to seek and receive additional funding through local, state, and federal grants, as well as seek legislative action, to ensure that our departments have the resources they need to efficiently enforce the traffic laws.

Nicolle Phair

Nicolle T. Phair received her early education in the Harnett County school district. She later received her undergraduate degree in English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Attorney Phair then continued her education at North Carolina Central University School of Law, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Library Science and Juris Doctorate. Her campaign Facebook page is “The Fair Choice: Nicolle T. Phair for District Attorney.”

What is the single biggest problem facing criminal prosecutions in Lee County and how will your office work to address that problem? 

A huge problem is the lack of resources and staff to quickly and effectively complete serious felony cases such as murders, assaults and sex offenses. As District Attorney, I would address this by continuing to build relations with local lawmakers to get money, education, and community involvement to increase efficiency. I would work to Recruit interns from nearby Law schools to help.

What are your plans to curb the opioid epidemic in Lee County?

I will work with law enforcement, church and community leaders to address these issues. 

I plan to also work with the existing Opioid Commission in Lee County to get practical ideas and solutions. I support Drug treatment programs and clinics to help educate victims. It is so important to administering programs for children and families impacted by the epidemic. I will continue to Work with people addressing underlying issues such as mental health to stop the cycle of criminal behavior.

What are your plans to fight regularly occurring gun violence in Lee County? 

It’s important to reach out to community leaders, schools, and to partner with law enforcement to mentor kids. I will support programs to have incentives for people turn in illegal guns and get them off the streets. I will be Proactive with schools on dropout prevention so children can finish High school and take advantage of employment opportunities in this community. We need to all come together create positive alternative for the children and young adults of Lee County.

Several attorneys have mentioned to us that traffic enforcement, particularly in DWI cases, has declined significantly in Lee County in recent years. How concerned are you about this and how will your office work to change that perception?

I am not part of the current establishment in the District Attorney’s office related to statistics on DWI’s. However, If there is a decline in traffic offenses being presented, I support law enforcement in Lee County is doing an adequate job on the streets. There are so many other important issues to focus on such as helping to enforce the new laws for 16-18 year old first offenders. In addition, being the wife of a retired Veteran, I would focus on making Veterans Court more active in Lee County to give alternative to prison and help make our community better. I will have a direct line of communication with people in the community and families affected by crime in Lee and Harnett Counties.