Veteran prosecutor Jason Parker is running for district attorney for the 25th Prosecutorial District.
The district consists of Catawba, Burke and Caldwell counties.
Parker is the first Democrat to enter the race.
Republican incumbent District Attorney Jay Gaither will face challenger Shawn Clark in the May 4 primary.
Filing closes today at noon and, unless another candidate files for the election, the winner of the Republican primary will be on the ballot against Parker in November's general election.
Parker is a long-time Hickory resident and a native of Alexander County. Twenty-four years of his 30-year law career have been as a prosecutor. He has been an assistant district attorney in Wake County and in Catawba, Burke and Caldwell counties.
He is currently serving as a prosecutor for Iredell and Alexander counties in prosecutorial district 22A.
"While I have enjoyed my tenure in Alexander and Iredell counties, Catawba County is my home, and I am committed to the people in this community," Parker said.
"I want the place where I live to be safer because I'm doing my part to make it that way."
Parker graduated from N.C. State in 1974 before going on to attend law school at N.C. Central. He got his law degree in 1979 and became a prosecuting attorney in the Wake County District Attorney's office.
He left the prosecutor's office and entered private practice from 1982 through 1988 and specialized in criminal defense and general law.
He joined the 25th district attorney's office as a prosecutor in 1988.
In his 10 years as a chief assistant district attorney for the 25th district, Parker was the lead prosecutor in all but one of eight capital cases resulting in a death sentence.
Parker estimates he has sent more than 30 men and women to prison for life for murder or sex offenses.
"I see the role of district attorney as the chief law enforcement officer in the district," Parker said. "My first priority would be to restore the confidence and trust of the community and law enforcement in the leadership in the DA's office.
"Once that's accomplished, I will utilize all of our resources to get the best possible result for the victims of crime, even if it means prosecuting the major cases myself."
BY THE NUMBERS:
$119,300: Base salary for District Attorneys in N.C.
36: Employees working in the office of the 25th Judicial District, District Attorney's office
18: Lawyers employed in the office of the 25th Judicial District, District Attorney's office
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