Candidate Q&A: Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney
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Editor's note: In advance of the Nov. 5 general elections, the Henrico Citizen posed four questions to each candidate for the local and state offices that represent Henrico. Below is the second in a series of responses from those candidates; it includes the responses of each candidate for the Henrico Commonwealth's Attorney seat. Responses were limited to a total of 400 words. They appear alphabetically by the candidates' last names.
1. Why should residents of Henrico County vote for you?
CONWAY – Residents of Henrico should vote for me for Commonwealth’s Attorney because I am determined to improve our justice system by being present and accountable for the way all cases are handled. I will stop the arbitrary prosecution of crimes that shows no respect for those involved and bring stability, organization and compassion to the office and courtroom. I will rebuild the fractured relationship with our police department, communicate with victims and witnesses so that their voices are heard and the most just outcomes are always produced. I will invest time and energy into my assistants; they will be well trained and possess the knowledge, skills and trust to make difficult decisions in the courtroom, which impact lives of victims, families, and defendants.
TAYLOR – During my eight years as Commonwealth’s Attorney, I have kept our community safe. Crimes rates have fallen, especially violent crime. I have worked hard to provide alternatives to incarceration, to be out in the schools and community talking about bullying and social media dangers and working with the mental health and addiction recovery community. I want to ensure that returning citizens are productive and constructive members of our community.
2. What will be your top focus if elected?
CONWAY – I will return the office to a non-partisan environment of integrity, transparency, and cohesion, and truly focus on safety and justice in Henrico County. I am deeply troubled by my opponent's lack of leadership, loss of 37 attorneys which is over a 100% turnover, and focus on her political agenda that draw her attention away from justice in our community. With inclusive leadership and no political agenda, I will build trust within the office, creating an environment where employees will desire to stay, as they did when I worked in the office prior to my opponent’s term. I will value and work alongside my employees, retaining the best assistants so that we can produce consistent, excellent work that serves our community.
TAYLOR – I will continue to focus on keeping Henrico County safe, further reducing the crime rate, and looking for new, creative, and effective ways to help returning citizens become productive and constructive. In addition, I want to continue placing an emphasis on preventive measures to ensure that there are resources available before citizens reach the criminal justice system.
3. What are the most critical issues facing the commonwealth’s attorney’s office? How do you propose to address these?
CONWAY – The jails in Henrico are the most overcrowded they have ever been, resulting in inhumane conditions for our defendants and an incredible cost to our tax-paying citizens. I will reduce unnecessary continuances and correct the disorganization compounding the abysmal jail situation, and I will work with the sheriff to create a permanent solution. Secondly, the opioid epidemic continues to threaten our community. I will advocate for more affordable and accessible programs for indigent non-violent defendants struggling with addiction and mental health issues, and I will work with county officials and private sector providers to make them a reality.
TAYLOR – The biggest and always No. 1 issue is keeping our community safe. Within that, we are challenged daily by trying to find the best outcome for each offender and for the community while ensuring that victims' rights are protected. Some people have committed crimes that require incarceration, but others need services such as addiction recovery, mental health treatment, or simply the help, guidance, and opportunity to turn their lives around. Providing those services and determining the best course of action is the challenge as each case is different.
4. How will you involve citizens in local government matters?
CONWAY – I want to hear my community's concerns: I plan to hold regular, open community meetings to listen to citizens, and I will be accessible for private meetings as well. Additionally, the current Commonwealth’s Attorney is not consistently involving victims in their plea deals; I will include victims in the decisions that impact them.
TAYLOR – I am constantly present in the community and in schools. I have developed and present anti-bullying programs and programs about the dangers of social media for students. I attend community and neighborhood meetings and hundreds of Henrico community and faith-based events each year. My door is always open and I and my staff are happy to talk to citizens at any time. Our office is very engaged with the community and I promise to keep it that way.
