Candidate Biography (submitted by candidate):

JAMES C. "JAY" GAITHER, JR GRADUATED FROM NEWTON-CONOVER HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE HE WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE FOOTBALL AND WRESTLING TEAMS. HE RECEIVED HIS UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE FROM DAVIDSON COLLEGE AND RECEIVED HIS JURIS DOCTORATE FROM CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW IN SAN DIEGO, CA. WHILE ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL, JAY WAS AWARDED THE AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE AREA OF CRIMINAL LAW. AFTER GRADUATING FROM LAW SCHOOL, JAY RETURNED TO HIS HOMETOWN AND BEGAN HIS PRIVATE PRACTICE WHICH WOULD SPAN 10 YEARS.

JAY WAS ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF THE 25TH PROSECUTORIAL DISTRICT IN NOVEMBER OF 2002 AND RE-ELECTED IN 2006. SINCE TAKING OFFICE JANUARY 1, 2003, JAY HAS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE BACKLOG OF PENDING CASES, IMPLEMENTED INFRACTIONS COURT, THE ALIVE AT 25 PROGRAM, THE WORTHLESS CHECK PROGRAM WHICH HAS RETURNED OVER $1,000,000 TO LOCAL MERCHANTS AND INDIVIDUALS, THE HABITUAL FELON TASK FORCE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT AND SPECIAL DWI COURTS. JAY SUCCESSFULLY DRAFTED AND HELPED PASS RACHEL'S LAW IN 2005 WHICH INCREASED THE PUNISHMENT FOR SHOOTING INTO OCCUPIED DWELLINGS AND VEHICLES AND JAY IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE ON INITIATIVES AND LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER.

JAY AND HIS WIFE BETH LIVE IN HICKORY AND HAVE 4 CHILDREN, AMELIA, ANDREW, WILLIAM AND NICHOLAS. JAY IS A MEMBER OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN HICKORY AND VOLUNTEERS HIS TIME WITH THE GRANDVIEW PTA. JAY IS ON THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HICKORY SOUP KITCHEN, THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF CATAWBA COUNTY, THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF BURKE COUNTY, THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER, THE CHILD PROTECTION COUNCIL, OPTIONS OF BURKE COUNTY, CALDWELL COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TASK FORCE, CATAWBA COUNTY REPAY, CALDWELL COUNTY REPAY AND THE DRUG TREATMENT COURT TO NAME A FEW.

I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO  REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF BURKE, CALDWELL AND CATAWBA COUNTIES AS THEIR DISTRICT ATTORNEY. I HAVE DEVELOPED A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND UNDERSTAND THE TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND COMPLEXITY OF THIS OFFICE. I HAVE ALSO FORGED CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LEGISLATORS IN RALEIGH AND AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THEM TO STIFFEN PENALTIES AND PUNISHMENT FOR CRIMES SUCH AS ASSAULT ON A FEMALE AND SPEEDING IN EXCESS OF 100 MILES PER HOUR. I BRING A HANDS ON APPROACH AND HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY FOR THE PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. I AM AVAILABLE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTACT MY OFFICE REGARDING ISSUES THAT THEY FEEL ARE IMPORTANT. I CAN BE REACHED AT 828-466-6156 OR AT 828-455-9107.

THE FOCUS OF MY CAMPAIGN IS TO SPEAK NOT ONLY OF THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE DURING THE LAST 4 YEARS, BUT ALSO TO SPEAK OF THE FUTURE. IT IS SATISFYING TO LOOK BACK AT THE HARD WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, BUT MY FOCUS IS ALSO ON THE FUTURE AND WHAT I CAN DO AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO PROTECT OUR FAMILES AND ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES ARE SAFER PLACES TO LIVE AND RAISE OUR FAMILIES.