District Attorney Race

[demopolite]

I would love to hear from some of you about how you might vote in the district attorney race in June. Seems so far that it's going to be Barron Lankster v. Greg Griggers (who took over when Nat Watkins left the job).

I'll leave my feelings for later. What do you think? :dunno:

[dave]

I would like to do some research, but I don't see where Griggers hasn't done his job well enough to retain office.

[Roxanne]

I went to high school with Greg Griggers, and he has always been a super guy. He does a great job as DA. He definitely has my vote.

[demopolite]

Thought I'd throw in a few of Barron Lankster's campaign quotes:

"It is vitally important, I think, if we are going to look at trying to reduce crime to be pro-active and try and make a difference on the front end," Lankster said. "We do that by trying to get to our juveniles and our youth."

- from the Demopolis Times.

"There is a passion for representing victims," he said. "There is a passion for trying to make certain that we have justice in our court system. . . I am very much involved in the trial of various cases," he said. "We tried very serious criminal cases while I was district attorney. I think we were firm, were fair....We plan to continue that."

- from the Demopolis Times

Compare to the record backlog of cases left by Lankster when he left office. . . cases that had been sitting around for YEARS!!! Ask any attorney in the tri-county area that did indigent criminal work, any courthouse staff who had to deal with Lankster, any of the judges who had to listen to him - if he ever showed up to prosecute anything. Heck, you can even ask some of the criminals who had to wait around for six or seven years just to go into court and plead guilty!!!

Additionally, Lankster had assembled what I have to say was the most incompetent law office staff I have ever dealt with in my LIFE!! I understand that a secretary is not a lawyer, but you would imagine that an office worker at the District Attorney's office might know that there was a little thing called "right to a speedy trial" that is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. I actually expected that anyone who made it through high school civics would know that. After talking to her for a few minutes, I would be amazed if this secretary knew we HAD a Constitution.

Lankster must have been sitting in the wrong courthouse if he was trying "serious" cases while in his position as DA. . . either that or he slipped into a Matlock time warp.

On the other hand, Greg Griggers is young, and does not have that much experience. He is in his first term. However, Nat Watkins HAS had lots of experience, and he hand-picked Griggers to fill the role. So far, he seems to have been doing his job.

I leave it to you fine people to help me sort this out....

[Rootsandwings]

Greg Griggers all the way.

[stickman]

My vote will be for Griggers unless someone more experienced and qualified comes out on the ballot. Lankster let case after case pile up and left a huge backlog of cases to be tried when he lost the last election. It took a couple of years working overtime for the Circuit Court to clear up this backlog of cases. Lankster is definitely not DA material. I just hope the black voting population realizes this too come election time. Remember, it's the votes from Green, Sumter, AND Marengo that put the DA into office.

[Bocephus]

Lankster is a joke.
I was in the court room when he, and I use this term VERY LOOSELY, tried a murder case. He did not call ANY of the investigating officers to the stand.
HE LOST THE CASE!
He does not have a CLUE.
Griggers get my vote UNLESS someone more qualified comes along.

[Bug]

Lankster was a joke. It was awful when he was in office.

[sgt501]

well i have to throw my opinion in here.... i have worked under both barron lankster and greg griegers as district attorneys and i have had much more success getting cases tryed and getting convictions. in the last two years i have had cases that i have arrested people on that went to trial or were disposed of within 6 months . that would have never happened before. i can say that it is a great pleasure working with greg from a law enforcement stand point..... he will have my vote.

[dave]

A few quotes from the Gazette interview with Lankster:

When asked about his back-log of cases from his last term as DA, Lankster stated he "would like to have a chief assistand district attorney with a more hands-on approach with cases." --in other words, he admits he still can't move cases through a docket on his own.

Lankster wants to blame the DA's office for the crime in the area. "I don't think enough is being done by the district attorney ofice as far as intervening in the front end." "I can be proactive, firm and tough when needed,". --More political BS-- Lankster gives no solutions to stopping idiots from robbing Elks every few weeks. He's just trying to spin recent robberies into somehow being the fault of the DA's office. Kind of like blaming doctors for not preventing more accidents and diseases instead of just treating them.

Lankster, "With the background I have, I think I can serve this circuit well." --- Hmmm..Ok then.

Considering there is no real complaints about the current administration, unless a big name like Rick Manley or Russel Burdett hits the ballot, Griggers doesn't have much to worry about.

[Bug]

Dave, I am afraid Greg has ALOT to worry about...and that "alot" is the fact that folks just don't get out and vote like they should. The DA race is the only big race to vote on this June and too many voters don't think it is worth their times to go to the polls for only one major race. PLEASE!!! PEOPLE GO VOTE!

[alamanda]

I totally agree Bug. With Lankster's name in the race, that's enough to worry about. The black voting population of Greene and Sumter is enough to carry Lankster over the top despite the excellent job that Greg Griggers has done. When Nathan Watkins lost before, it was because people sat at home and didn't worry about voting because they thought he had it "in the bag". Lankster's name on the ballot is a bad thing and people SHOULD BE scared. We don't need to let THAT happen again. Nathan Watkins and Greg Griggers have worked hard to get the cases caught up and current. Everybody needs to get out and vote or be sure and vote absentee if you can't get to the polls. Don't wait until it's too late and we have six more years of Lankster. Vote Griggers!!

[Roxanne]

Bug and Alamada are right. Griggers may be the most qualified and may do the best job, but that does not mean he will win. Many people will vote for Lankster regardless.

I have met Mr. Lankster, and I like him. However, the records of the two attorneys speak for themselves. We MUST keep Greg Griggers unless someone more qualified comes along. And if someone more qualified wants to run, he or she needs to make that decision NOW. We don't need to wait for April or May to start rallying the troops behind Greg Griggers.