Murder is murder — unless it’s the murder of your loved one

Publicly sharing my thoughts about a political campaign is neither something I’ve ever done nor ever thought I would do. I think someone who voices their beliefs should have new information about the topic or a relevant experience to share with readers not just regurgitate old ideas. I have a relevant experience to share in regards to the Story County attorney. Before April, I couldn’t tell you who our county attorney was, but I didn’t like him. I had never personally met or even seen the county attorney, but I had heard unflattering rumors about him. Then, under the most horrible of circumstances, I met Stephen Holmes and became a life-long supporter. That three-week murder trial Holmes prosecuted over the summer and referenced at Oct. 2’s open forum was the murder of my aunt Val.

Reading challenger Stephen Howell’s criticisms regarding the amount of time Holmes spends in the courtroom, along with the quote, “There are procedural changes from time to time, but murder is murder, theft is theft, domestic abuse is domestic abuse,” is what motivated me to share my experiences. From what I read, Howell believes the county attorney position should be mostly about managerial and public relation. Admittedly Howell does not have prosecution experience but thinks it is good enough for the county attorney to just “understand the elements of the case, the elements of the crime and the burden of proof on the county.”

Based on recent events in my life, I disagree. I am not sure how a county attorney without prosecution experience would be able to lead and mentor assistant county attorneys or even make a sound decision about who to charge with what. I am convinced that Holmes’ personal involvement played a large role in my aunt’s murderer being held accountable for her death. Holmes has both the courtroom experience and the compassion victims need from their county attorney. When casting your vote for county attorney, I urge you to answer a simple question and vote your conscience: If your loved one was murdered, who would you want responsible for seeking justice? A county attorney office led by an attorney without prosecution experience or by an attorney with a proven track record?

I also invite people to visit my Facebook page to read about my experience.