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LOCAL
CHAMPION!
April 14- 20, 2016 » Page 10A
IWo coworkers seek to be
the next solicitor-general
compiled by Andrew Cauthen
andrew@dekalbchamp.com
Two coworkers in the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office are campaigning for
the solicitor-general’s position.
Nicole Marchand Golden, chief assistant district attorney, and Donna Coleman-
Stribling, a deputy chief assistant district attorney, will face each other in the May 24
Democratic primary in the race to fill the solicitor-general’s seat.
Each candidate was given a questionnaire by The Champion with instructions to
limit answers to 50 words. Answers that were more than the limit were truncated.
Name: Nicole Marchand Golden
Education:
Xavier University of Louisiana, Emory
University School of Law
Occupation:
Chief assistant district attorney
What political offices have you held in
the past?
None
Why are you seeking this office?
As a mother and wife, I have a vested
interest in the safety of our families
and the future of our young people. As
solicitor-general, I will continue my work
to protect families from predators while
creating programs to educate our youth
and prevent misdemeanor offenders from
progressing to felons.
What expertise do you have that will
help you fulfill the duties of this office?
I’m the only candidate who has served
as acting solicitor-general, chief assistant
solicitor-general, and chief assistant
district attorney. I’ve managed hundreds
of staff and million-dollar budgets while
prosecuting misdemeanor and felony
crimes. With 10 years of administrative and
policy-making leadership, I’m prepared to
be solicitor-general my first day in office!
Why should you be elected (or re
elected) to this office?
I will work to eradicate domestic violence
and crimes against women and children
through education, counseling, and
prosecution. I’ll create second-chance
opportunities for low-level offenders
through diversion programs aimed
at reducing recidivism. And I’ll foster
partnerships with nonprofits and schools
to educate and motivate DeKalb youth to
avoid criminal behavior.
What is your campaign website
address?
NicoleforSolicitor.com
Name: Donna Coleman-Stribling
Education:
Southwest DeKalb High School, 1992;
Xavier University of Louisiana, B.A. in
political science, magna cum laude, 1996;
Emory University School of Law, J.D, 1999
Occupation:
Deputy Chief assistant district attorney,
Crimes Against Children Unit
What political offices have you held in
the past?
None
Why are you seeking this office?
I am seeking the position of DeKalb
County solicitor-general because I want
to improve the quality of life for the
citizens of DeKalb by prosecuting and
deterring crimes that affect the education
of our children, the sustainability of our
businesses, the value of our homes, and
safety of our neighborhoods.
What expertise do you have that will
help you fulfill the duties of this office?
My 16 years as a trial attorney, daily
courtroom supervision and balanced
perspective of handling cases as a
prosecutor and defense attorney makes
me uniquely qualified for this position.
My experience has prepared me to
lead this office by holding offenders
accountable while offering opportunities for
rehabilitation and alternative resolutions.
Why should you be elected (or re
elected) to this office?
The preservation of DeKalb County is of
utmost importance. I have resided and
worshipped in DeKalb for 36 years. My
responsibility to the people of our county is
not simply professional, it is personal, and
I am dedicated to the safety and livelihood
of our citizens.
What is your campaign website
address?
www.DonnaforDeKalb.com
Qualifying begins April 18 for county
commission District 7 seat
The DeKalb County Board of Registration and
Elections has called for a special election to be held on
Tuesday, Nov. 8, to fill the Super District 7 seat on the
DeKalb County Board of Commissioners.
The special election will be held to fill the unexpired
term of Stan Watson, who resigned to run for tax
commissioner. The election will be held in conjunction
with the general election in all regular polling locations
within Commission District 7.
If a runoff is required, it will be held on Dec. 6.
Qualifying begins on Monday, April 18, at 9 a.m. and
ends at noon on Wednesday, April 20. The qualifying fee
is $1,151.24. Qualifying will be held in the office of the
DeKalb County Board of Registrations and Elections,
4380 Memorial Drive, Decatur.
Retired officer convicted of child
molestation
A DeKalb County jury on April 7
convicted a retired police officer of two
counts of aggravated child molestation
and two counts of child molestation,
according to news release by the
DeKalb County District Attorney’s
Office.
Kelless Twohearts Lory, 58, of
Stone Mountain, was sentenced to life
in prison. .
The jury found Lory molested the
girl, a family member, between July 2011 and July 2012.
The victim, who testified at trial, was 9 years old when
the abuse first began, according to the news release.
Lory, who was arrested in December 2014, retired
from the Chamblee Police Department and previously
worked for MARTA Police. He was retired when the
abuse occurred, according to news release.
When the verdict was announced, Lory drank a
poisonous substance from an over-the-counter vitamin
bottle he had with him in court. He was taken to Grady
Memorial Hospital when the substance took effect. Lory
was released April 9 and taken to jail.
Child struck, killed by vehicle in
Chamblee
A 3-year-old child was struck and killed by a vehicle
in a Chamblee apartment complex on April 6, according
to a recent police report.
The Chamblee Police Department released a public
statement following the incident on April 7.
“On Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at 6:18 p.m. at the
Huntington Terraces Apartments, located at 4727 Buford
Highway, a 3-year-old girl was tragically struck by an
SUV,” the statement read.
Although Chamblee police officers and emergency
management services arrived at the scene within five
minutes of the 911 call, the child was pronounced dead
at the scene.
“All parties involved are in our thoughts and prayers
during this time of horrific loss,” the statement read.
The incident occurred inside the apartment complex
in a parking lot and was captured on Hunting Terrace’s
security cameras, according to the news release.
Footage of the incident is now part of the investigation.
The report states reckless driving and excessive
speed were not factors in the incident and that the driver
remained on the scene and cooperated with Chamblee
police officers.
According to the news release, the overall layout
and geography of the apartment complex may have had
something to do with the incident.
“We know that the SUV was cresting up a steep hill
flanked by large bushes which may have prevented the
driver from seeing the child come out into the driveway,”
the report stated.