N&O endorsements: Our choices in Wake County judicial and commissioner races

District court primaries

Voters in parts of Wake County will see Democratic primaries in four district court races. (See a map of court districts here.)

District court judges serve four-year terms. They hear civil cases seeking less than $10,000, misdemeanors, juvenile proceedings and other matters.

DISTRICT 10A, SEAT 03: Judge Cindy Kenney, a former prosecutor and legal consultant for the Employment Security Commission, was appointed as a district court judge by Gov. Roy Cooper in July of 2022 and elected the following November.

“My 37 years working with people from all walks of life dealing with both criminal and civil legal issues, family law and unemployment has uniquely qualified me for the bench,” Kenney told the Editorial Board.

Kenney is being challenged by Douglas Brown, a former Wake County assistant district attorney now in private practice. He says “seeing legal matters from the perspective of a prosecutor, defense attorney and general practitioner” prepares him well for the district court bench.

We recommend Judge Cindy Kenney in the Democratic primary.

DISTRICT 10C, SEAT 03: Judge Anna Elena Worley has served on the district court bench since 2009. Worley began practicing law as a corporate attorney, but shifted to family law before becoming a judge.

“I have great empathy for families and children experiencing conflict and change,” Worley told the Editorial Board. “I understand that family law issues are not simply legal issues, but societal issues.”

Judges with direct experience in family law are helpful at the district court level. Worley’s fluency in Spanish is also an asset.

Worley is being challenged for the Democratic nomination by Renee Jordan, a Wake County criminal trial attorney.

We recommend Judge Anna Elena Worley in the Democratic primary.

DISTRICT 10D, SEAT 05: Kevin Boxberger would bring an unusual mix of public service to the bench. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Iraq and a former Raleigh firefighter.

Boxberger, a criminal defense attorney, has focused on serving those who lack resources. He oversees the system for appointing lawyers for indigent defendants in seven counties. Boxberger’s background and concern for the underrepresented would strengthen the district court.

Also running is Blair Williams, an attorney and the clerk of Wake County Superior Court.

We recommend Kevin Boxberger in the Democratic primary.

DISTRICT 10E, SEAT 03: Judge Eric Chasse was appointed to Wake District Court in 2007 by former Gov. Mike Easley and is approaching two decades on the bench.

Despite his long tenure, Chasse says he continues to encounter and learn from new situations. He brings a strong mix of experience and open-mindedness to his work.

Chasse is facing an impressive challenger in Crystal Grimes, a longtime public defender. She seeks to have a broader impact on the judicial system as a judge.

“Being a public defender and representing the underserved and underrepresented members of our community has taught me not to lose my humanity for them and their situations,” she told the Editorial Board.

Grimes is well-qualified, but Chasse’s experience is worth keeping on the court.

We recommend Judge Eric Chase in the Democratic primary.

Wake County Board of Commissioners

There are two primary races on the March 5 ballot for the Wake County Board of Commissioners, one Democratic, one Republican.

In the Democratic primary, Commissioner Tara Waters is being challenged by DaQuanta Copeland, who lost her bid for Raleigh mayor in 2022.

Waters, a former vice chair of the Wake County Board of Education, was appointed to the Board of Commissioners on Jan. 2 to fill the seat left vacant by the death of longtime public servant James West.

Copeland is a strong advocate for affordable housing and for low-income residents, but Waters shares the same priorities and has experience in public office.

We recommend Tara Waters in the Democratic primary.

In the Republican primary, candidate Darren Eustance told the Editorial Board he plans to suspend his campaign for the nomination, leaving Jacob Arthur, a North Raleigh attorney, as the likely GOP nominee.

This story was originally published February 25, 2024 at 7:53 AM.