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One election out of the way, another right around the corner in city Date published: 11/15/2008
BY KEITH EPPS Fresh off one historic election, Fredericksburg voters won't have to wait long for another. City residents will elect a new commonwealth's attorney in a Dec. 16 special election. It is the first time in at least 82 years--and probably ever--that the position has been contested. The winner will complete the remaining year of the Charles Sharp's unexpired term. Sharp recently became a circuit court judge after holding the city prosecutor's position for 18 years. So far, three people--two experienced prosecutors and a defense attorney with deep Fredericksburg roots--have announced they are seeking the position. Eric Olsen, LaBravia Jenkins and Joseph E. Hicks are the candidates currently trying to persuade some of the 9,600 city voters who turned out for the Nov. 4 election to turn out in support of them. The winner will have to seek a new four-year term next November if he or she wants to serve more than a year. City Registrar Juanita Pitchford said any other interested people have until Monday at 5 p.m. to submit the required signatures that would make them eligible to be on the ballot. Anyone not already registered to vote has until Dec. 2 to do so in order to vote in the special election, Pitchford said. Hicks, known as "Jeh," is a partner in the law firm Jarrell, Hicks and Sasser. His father also was an attorney, and his mother served on the city's Electoral Board. Hicks is a fourth-generation area resident who played football at James Monroe High School. He and his wife, Shannon, have an infant son. Jenkins is the current commonwealth's attorney in Fredericksburg. She was appointed to the position after Sharp left. Jenkins has been a prosecutor for 13 years and also has experience as a defense attorney in the Public Defender's Office. She has been a prosecutor in both Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County. Jenkins and her husband have two children. Olsen, a lifelong city resident, has been a prosecutor in Stafford County for 19 years. He has tried all types of cases and has particular expertise in crimes against children. He and his wife, Tina, live in the College Terrace area and have two children.
Southwest--You are correct that it is the City's responsibility, in the case of zoning and nuisance violations, to bring these cases to the CA. It is up to the CA to prosecute. I would like to know if the candidates would go on record that the CA’s office would be a bit more cooperative in taking these cases on in the future.
It is not the job of the Commonwealth Attorney's Office to go out into the City and look for criminal violations. The Commonwealth Attorney can only work to make the streets safer after "the police department" has done its job by arresting the criminals. For those who want safer streets you need to start with your police department and your zoning office for allowing those over crowded houses. If arrest aren't made, the Commonwealth Attorney can't prosecute the case.....Start with you police department.
I agree with the assessment about the budget, but I can't imagine what could be done about it. RIght now, there is a lot of room for improvement in the CA's office downtown and Olsen is the type who will not let things fester until they bloom into a full-blown problem. His best attribute is his aggressive work ethic. Even his critics will attest to that.
Every year the City's portion of the CA's budget gets larger. While the focus of the CA should be on more serious crime it would be nice if the CA would assist the City with some neighborhood issues such as more than (3) unrelated persons in a house and the nuisance problems that go along with it. The resent case in Morningside is the first I can remember the CA taking on. Not looking for a crackdown but when they become a problem they need to be addressed.
This is in response to "justlooking" post. You obviously are opposed to two of the candidates (Olsen & Jenkin). Are you stating that the public should elect someone without any experience prosecuting cases? On what basis should we elect Hicks? I can only think of two: Family has deep pockets and he really knows how to throw a great party. Come on "justlooking" get real. Lets elect a qualified individual that can show up for work on a daily basis. One that is organized. One that has a passion for the law.
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