JEANI STONE WANTS TO KEEP HER JOB AS CAMPBELL COUNTY ATTORNEY

Before she was first elected to office in 2002, County Attorney Jeani
Stone put a lot of footwork into her campaign. Because she was running
as an independent, she first had to collect enough signatures to
simply get on the ballot. Once she'd secured enough signatures, she
knocked on doors and attended events like the county fair to get her
name out.

That's going to be more difficult this year. Stone's caseload has her
swamped and the upcoming murder trials threaten to take up all her
time.

These difficulties notwithstanding, Stone announced Wednesday that
she'll be running for a second term as county attorney, this time as a
Republican. She said her views align more closely with the Republican
party and last time the filing date had passed when she decided to
run.

"I love being in the courtroom," Stone said. "I guess that's why you
become an attorney."

Stone, a fifth-generation Campbell County native, hopes her record
will speak for itself when people head to the polls. She said she came
into the office with goals such as improving communication with law
enforcement and working on drug and alcohol issues, which she said
she's been successful at working toward.

With substance abuse in particular, she said she's been taking a
creative approach to solve the problem, focusing on treatment, as well
as incarceration.

"I think we've tried to extend what we do at the County Attorney's
Office from just prosecution to more on the preventative side," Stone
said.

Not everyone has approved of Stone's performance. Kenneth DeCock,
Stone's opponent in the Republican primary, has criticized the County
Attorney's Office for not seeking tough enough penalties and for being
to quick to come to plea agreements.

Stone said the accusations are unfair and not backed up by her record.
In 2005, for example, her office prosecuted 201 misdemeanor marijuana
possession cases and got 146 guilty verdicts. Of the remaining 35:

Five were dismissed and refiled in juvenile court or recharged as a
felony.

Three were extradited to their home state to face felony
charges

Two were dismissed when a witness failed to show up

Three were dismissed because evidence was suppressed

A handful pleaded to multiple other counts

"I know my opponent wants to say that my office has been quick to
plead out and dismiss cases," Stone said. "That simply hasn't been the
case."

Going into her next term, Stone wants to work on establishing more
intense supervision of addicts convicted of misdemeanor crimes in the
hope of keeping them off meth. She also wants to wrap up the
high-profile cases that are already under way.

"I want to finish what I've started," Stone said. "In particular, I
want to see the murder cases through."

Those cases will consume Stone's time, and she won't be able to be out
in the public eye as much as the last election. But she encourages any
one with questions or concerns to call her at 660-2700 or e-mail her
at stonelaw@vcn.com.

"Certainly, my campaign strategy is going to have to be different than
last time," Stone said. "Given the upcoming trial schedules, I'm not
sure how much I'll be able to get out there, but rest assured I will
be working diligently to ensure that justice is served and my duties
as your county attorney upheld."