Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

I was born and raised in Cumberland County. I attended North Carolina State University, where I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. While at N.C. State, I was a four year member of the golf team. I was Valedictorian of my graduating class and was named an Academic All American and The Atlantic Coast Conference's Outstanding Male Scholarship Athlete. I received my Law Degree from The Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, where I received the Fred O. Dennis Award for outstanding representation of the School of Law to the community, the profession, and the public.

After graduation, I took a job as an Assistant District Attorney for District Attorney Ed Grannis, Jr. where I have worked for nearly ten years. While at the District Attorney's Office, I have worked in every aspect of the office to include Juvenile Court, District Court, and Superior Court. In the last several years, I have been in a leadership role as a Senior Assistant District Attorney with supervisory responsibilities. I have tried numerous Superior Court jury trials to include narcotic cases, armed robberies, sexual assaults, homicides, child homicides, capital murder cases, as well as various other felony cases. I have tried several high profile cases such as State vs. Joan Shannon, which was featured on the Oxygen Channel's show, "Snapped".

I am married to Suzanna West, a lifelong resident of Cumberland County. Suzanna is a reading teacher in the Cumberland County School System. We have one son, William R. West, III. I am a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church and I am the son of Iris and Bill West, Sr. of Fayetteville.

During the last ten years prosecuting cases on a daily basis, I have come to understand the importance of protecting the integrity and independence of the District Attorney's Office. I intend to bring my own energy to the office and can assure everyone that I will provide the citizens of Cumberland County with a strong District Attorney's Office. I will have a District Attorney's Office that is fair to all citizens of Cumberland County and free from any outside influences. My decisions will be made based on the law and facts as well as the circumstances of each case. I will provide a District Attorney's Office in which the people of Cumberland County can be proud.

I was born and raised in Cumberland County and Suzanna and I are raising our family here. I care about this community, its success, and its image. I believe in the staff of the District Attorney's Office, our local law enforcement agencies, and the citizens of Cumberland County. I believe a strong independent District Attorney's Office has a positive role to play in the quality of life and growth of Cumberland County.