Donna Shumate for District Court Judge

I am proud to lend my voice in support of Donna Shumate in her quest to become District Court judge for Alleghany, Ashe, Wilkes and Yadkin counties.

In 1998, I was promoted to sergeant with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.  One of my areas of supervision was Alleghany County.  Within a couple of months I found myself in district court presenting cases for wildlife violations.  It was in the courtroom in Sparta where I first encountered Donna Shumate.

For those unaccustomed with the courtroom experience, it can seem chaotic and adversarial. In all fairness, both of those descriptions are accurate at times.  However, there are individuals in the courtroom who bring a sense of order to the proceedings and work to bring a resolution to cases that are fair to all parties involved.  Donna was one of those people and it is a role she continues to fill.

While a sense of fairness and impartiality are crucial for a district court judge, a firm grasp of the law and its application are vital.  Building on a law degree from Campbell University, Donna has spent 26 years handling criminal cases ranging from speeding tickets to capital murder cases.  She has handled countless child custody cases, all manners of civil disputes and juvenile cases.  In a one notable case some years ago, Donna assisted a father who was a citizen of Mexico, living in Mexico, reunite with his three children. This case drew international attention because of the complex entanglements of family and immigration law.  Donna was interviewed by the Los Angles Times and Washington Post concerning this case, and spoke at American Bar Association Family Law Convention in Washington, D.C. in 2013 on the topic “When Immigration and Family Law Collide.”

Perhaps equally important to the professional qualifications, Donna and her husband, Chris Walker, are active members of our community. They are ardent supporters of Hunters Helping Kids, an organization that helps get kids outside and introduced to hunting. They are also members of the National Wild Turkey Federation.  Donna often plays the piano during worship services at Peak Creek Church of the Brethren where she also teaches Sunday School and works with the youth of the church.

Donna Shumate’s campaign theme is, “Experience Matters.”  For a district court judge a broad foundation of professional experience, community engagement and a strong moral compass are crucial.  Not only does “Experience Matter”, Donna has the type of experience that matters most.

Please join me in voting for Donna Shumate on March 3^rd.