But you also have an election for Commonwealth's Attorney between Brad Finch and Dennis Nagel. I've come to know Dennis Nagel recently through the Virginia Tech Young Democrats, and I've got to tell you that this guy is dynamite. I've never seen a man work so hard to win an election.
Mr. Nagel's opponent, Brad Finch, is a carpterbagger who moved to Montgomery County mere months before taking his office. Not only that, Mr. Finch has been completely ineffective. From July 19, 2005, to July 18, 2006, the number of defendants awaiting trial in Montgomery County rose by 30% despite no corresponding change in the crime rate. That's a failure to prosecute, people. Seeing as the office is Commonwealth's attorney, that's a failure for Brad Finch to do his job.
The jail facility was built for 60 inmates, yet houses 170 on average. Some of those sitting in jail include Zach Linkous (in jail 2 years awaiting trial for murder) and William Morva (sitting in jail over a year awaiting trial for attempted robbery and use of a firearm before his escape). The Morva case strikes me personally. As a student at Virginia Tech, I experienced a day earlier this year knowing that there was a murderer lose on campus. A murderer who, with responsible leadership, would already have been prosecuted. Those cases should have been tried a long time ago.
Dennis Nagel has the experience and the integrity necessary for the job. Finch does not. It's not just me saying this. The Roanoke Times endorsed Dennis Nagel for the office of Commonwealth's Attorney in Montgomery (http://www.roanoke.c...).
So, if you live in Montgomery County, or happen to know somebody who lives in Montgomery County, do what you can to get out the vote for Dennis Nagel, and great Virginian and soon-to-be a Great Commonwealth's Attorney.
Check out Dennis' website here:
http://www.votedenni...
There is truly no comparison between the two candidates. Finch (an incumbent in name only) has only served a matter of months in the place of Joey Showalter, who was appointed a judge. And Finch has only tried one jury trial from beginning to end. That was the second retrial of a murder case. So Finch didn't really do all the work of building the case from the first instance. Two previous prosecutors did much of the work.
A system which overrelies on plea agreements, to the near-elimination of jury trials, is a system citizens should worry about. We all appreciate monetary savings by plea bargaining. However, a system overlying on pleas to the extent in our county is dangerous. It's only too tempting to heap charge upon charge to "break" an accused. Even the wrongfully accused can get swept up in a plea under the pressure. This is not how our system of justice was intended to work.
You bring up the backlog. This is really serious. And it suggets a general lack of effectiveness on the part of the prosecutor's office. But worse, as Nagel reminds, there's the saying: "justice delayed is justice denied." And he has a point.
Moreover, Finch has moved the domestic abuse victim's advocate within the prosecutors office. This does not serve the interests of victims of domestic abuse. And could actually work against victims' willingness to come forward.
Nagel has had extensive experience in all kinds of cases, including the whole range of crimes. He's had significant jury trial experience. He brings cases to trial efficiently and effectively. He also gets that innovations such as Drug Court for first offenders which he once presided over) and The Bridge, which prevents the mentally ill from being swept up the the crimial system, are important innovations which increase the likelihood of fairness.
Dan is right. This is a really important vote. It's a matter of experience and effectiveness (Nagel) on the one hand, or the utter and complete lack of it (Finch). Dennis Nagel is the only choice.