Ingham County Candidates for Prosecutor

Provided by the League of Women Voters

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Billie Jo O'Berry

Party: Rep Biographical Info: Campaign Web Site: http://billieoberry.com Education: WMU Cooley Law School - J.D. MSU Justin Morrill B.A.-Social Relations LCC Assoc.-Paralegal

Q: 1.Please provide biographical information and experience, and explain why you are running for the Ingham County Prosecutor.

A: The people of Ing. Co. have been betrayed. As a public servant for this community for the last 30-years I am angry about the hypocrisy that has gone unreported and am uniquely qualified to lead the Prosecutor’s Office to a place of integrity and pride. I have been married to Rick for 42-years; our daughter Jolina is a defense attorney and granddaughter, Grace is 9 years old. My mother who worked in a factory for 42-years still lives in the house her father built after saving money he earned as a coal miner and migrant worker in Mich. I inherited a strong work ethic. As a Lansing Asst. City Attorney for the past 30-years, I have prosecuted and supervised staff attorneys in thousands of cases. I have the administrative experience to lead the Prosecutor’s Office. I am the past President of the Mid-Michigan Women’s Law Assoc.; past member of State Bar Representative Assembly and union T-214 steward. I will hold those who violate the law accountable while upholding constitutional rights.

Q: 2. What are the priority issues facing Ingham County and what actions would you take to address them if elected?

A: Our legal system has been undermined and the community’s confidence must be earned back. I will attend public forums to hear their concerns. We will review prosecution policies and procedures and ensure they align with the public’s concerns and the law. The best deterrent to crime is communication. In some instances it's in the best interest of the community to use alternatives to traditional prosecution which include diversion programs and specialty courts. I helped implement the first diversion program in Ing. Co. which is still in effect today. There is an opioid epidemic and we must focus on education and substance abuse treatment but prosecute those to the fullest extent of the law that are manufacturing/distributing. Violent crimes have risen, we need to take a proactive stance to protect our community and our children. I'm known in the community as tough but fair prosecutor with a passion for justice. I will lead this community forward and I am the best choice for Prosecutor.

Thomas English

Party: Dem Biographical Info: Campaign Web Site: http://www.voteforenglish. com Education: Juris Doctorate w/ honors 1988, BA Political Science magna cum laude 1985

Q: 1.Please provide biographical information and experience, and explain why you are running for the Ingham County Prosecutor. A: My life is driven by dedicated public service with a strong history of facing and meeting community challenges. I started my service as an 17-year-old private in the Army (Military Police) then putting myself through college and law school. I served for over 25 years as a police officer, prosecutor, senior military leader and administrative law judge. I worked as a deputy sheriff and state police officer including a homicide investigator. I set my mind to putting myself through college, working second shift and going to school during the day. With kids it was hard but I graduated with honors. As a police officer, I was fre quently frustrated by a system that failed to understand how the law impacted people. As a homicide investigator I saw first hand that the system did not fully consider the victims or the families. I decided the best way to change this system was to become an attorney myself. I put myself through law school becoming a federal prosecutor and then an ALJ.

Q: 2. What are the priority issues facing Ingham County and what actions would you take to address them if elected?

A: Restore integrity to the Prosecutor’s Office. There is a cloud of mistrust hanging over the office. I will take full responsibility for all employees in the office and their actions. I will earn the public's trust in this office. I will ensure that Prosecutors use discretion in seeking justice, thinking about what best serves the victim, our communities and the defendant while seeking a fair outcome. Lead with Accountability and Compassion. There are legitimate questions if crimes are being addressed. I am concerned about rape kits from sexual assault victims not being processed in a timely manner and minimal communication from the office to the community. The Prosecuting Attorney must be a leader in the community and among law enforcement agencies addressing the needs of crime victims. Serve with honor, protect with passion. I have dedicated my entire career to these principles. It is why I am running for this office. I will ensure justice for us all and not just a few.

Brian T. Jackson

Party: Dem Biographical Info: Campaign Web Site: http://www.votebrianjackson.com Education: J.W. Sexton H.S. B.A.- PSCI; M.A. - Criminology Indiana State Univ. J.D. Howard Univ. School of Law

Q: 1.Please provide biographical information and experience, and explain why you are running for the Ingham County Prosecutor.

A: I was born and raised in Lansing, I completed 10 years of higher edu. before returning home and marrying my wife, Arielle, who I met at Howard Law School. I worked as an assistant Prosecuting attorney in Eaton Co. and as an assistance City Attorney in Lansing. Now, I own Jackson Law PLLC and specialize in criminal defense. I am running for Ingham Co. Prosecutor because I noticed that the criminal justice system is broken and I want to help fix it. America has the most incarcerated people and recidivism rates are high. It costs tax payers more to lock a person behind bars than it would to invest in them upfront. The collateral consequences of convictions can devastate people and their families. I want to use better prosecutorial discretion and bring fewer offenders into the formal criminal justice system. I will create a Restorative Justice diversion program that invests into communities and allows for non-violent offenders the opportunity to receive appropriate rehab.

Q: 2. What are the priority issues facing Ingham County and what actions would you take to address them if elected?

A: 1. Opiate epidemic. Heroin has hit Mid-Michigan hard. Drug addicted offenders need appropriate medical solutions to kick addiction. When I am prosecutor, I would identify addicted offenders and work with the Dept. of Health and other agencies to provide proper medical treatment to cure the illness instead of treating the symptoms. 2. Lifting up the Underclass. The criminal justice system creates an underclass of people with criminal convictions. Once a person has a conviction, it becomes difficult to re-enter society as a contributing member. Many times a person loses his/her license, job or home because of the consequences of convictions. When I am prosecutor, I will consider these negative effects when I am fashioning an appropriate resolution for the case. I will reduce the number of people ushered into the underclass by not "over prosecuting" nonviolent non-violent offenders. A better balance will free up resources that will be invested in the more violent crimes against people.

Carol Siemon

Party: Dem

Biographical Info:

Campaign Web Site: http://carolsiemonforprosecutor.com/

Education: SUFFOLK UNIV LAW SCHOOL Boston JD : June 1981 MSU: BA 1978 James Madison high honors

Q: 1.Please provide biographical information and experience, and explain why you are running for the Ingham County Prosecutor.

A: Born and raised in Lansing, I am running for Prosecutor to promote increased fairness, justice, and equality in our criminal justice system and all aspects of the Prosecutor's Office, including child support and juvenile justice. I served over 11 years as an Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor, prosecuting criminal offenses in district and circuit courts and was promoted to serve as Chief of the Juvenile division where I oversaw child abuse and neglect, juvenile justice, and involuntary mental commitment cases. While in the criminal division, I specialized in the "vertical prosecution" of sexual assault cases- taking the case from warrant to circuit court trial- to minimize the trauma to the victim. Since 1995, I have served in various state level positions with the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, the Legislature, the State Court Administrative Office, Office of Children's Ombudsman, MSU College of Social Work, Department of Human Services, and Public Policy Associates.

Q: 2. What are the priority issues facing Ingham County and what actions would you take to address them if elected?

A: I am working for progressive changes in the criminal justice system and believe that the priority issues facing Ingham County include: 1. Addressing the opioid/heroin epidemic by focusing prosecution on criminals who profit from addiction and death while partnering with law enforcement, the courts, service providers, and community groups to expand treatment for addicts instead of incarceration. 2. Maximizing diversity and race equity in our community through prosecutorial hiring practices, charging policies, training in explicit and implicit bias issues, working with our law enforcement and community partners to learn from the lessons of Ferguson and other jurisdictions while promoting fairness, justice, and equality in Ingham County. 3. Vigorously prosecuting crimes of violence and exploitation of vulnerable citizens while exercising prosecutorial discretion to avoid the inappropriate incarceration of the mentally ill, juveniles, persons of color, and human trafficking victims.

Monica Stephens

Party: Rep Biographical Info:

Questions: Q: 1.Please provide biographical information and experience, and explain why you are running for the Ingham County Prosecutor.

A: - no response -

Q: 2. What are the priority issues facing Ingham County and what actions would you take to address them if elected?

A: - no response -

Patrick O'Keefe

Party: Dem Biographical Info:

Questions: Q: 1.Please provide biographical information and experience, and explain why you are running for the Ingham County Prosecutor.

A: - no response -

Q: 2. What are the priority issues facing Ingham County and what actions would you take to address them if elected?

A: - no response -


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