Amy Fite Answers Questions on Campaign for Christian County Prosecutor
The following is an interview with Amy Fite conducted by the Christian County Sun via email. Amy is currently seeking election to the office of Prosecuting Attorney for Christian County as a Republican. Her only opponent in the race is Ron Cleek, who is challenging Amy for the Republican nomination. You can find interviews for other candidates for county office in Christian County at the August 3 Christian County Election Central Resource.
SUN: Why are you running for Christian County Prosecutor?
Amy Fite: Christian County needs an effective and efficient Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. I have the skills and attitude to lead such an office. I am a career prosecutor. In fact, it was publicly witnessing an incident of child abuse that led me to law school with the goal of prosecuting those who commit crimes against children. In my 11 years of prosecuting cases, I have prosecuted a range of crimes from speeding tickets to murders, and I have specialized experience in domestic violence, gang violence, narcotics, sex crimes and child abuse. I have experience leading and training new attorneys, both internally in an office, as well as at the statewide level. This is experience gained working in different jurisdictions – Christian County, the City of St. Louis and Greene County. It is this breadth of experience that gives me the skill set needed to effectively and efficiently oversee a high volume office and successfully prosecute a range of crimes. I very much want to serve the citizens of Christian County.
SUN: Now that we know why you’re running? Why are you running as a Republican?
Amy Fite: I am a Republican because I believe in small government, less taxes, more control at the local level, that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right, and that life begins at conception.
SUN: What do you believe is the most important part of the Prosecutor’s job?
Amy Fite: The most important part is to seek justice and only justice. I believe the prosecutor can never lose sight of the fact we are there to seek justice, it must be the controlling factor in every decision. In order for our judicial system to work, people must have confidence in the discretion being exercised by the prosecutor.
As the elected prosecutor, you serve as the chief law enforcement officer for the county. You have the absolute discretion as to what gets filed and how criminals are brought to justice. This is an enormous power that the Prosecutor’s office has and must be applied fairly and consistently to all cases and defendants. If this discretion is not exercised efficiently and effectively, then community safety and the integrity of the entire justice system suffers.
SUN: If elected, how would you improve on the way the Prosecutor’s office is currently run?
Amy Fite: First and foremost, the Prosecutor’s office needs to have a “can do” attitude with dealing with the increased growth and caseload. Community safety cannot allow an attitude of “[w]e lack enough people to get the job done” as the incumbent has recently suggested. One of the immediate changes we can make in the office is implementing a paperless file system. The State of Missouri, through the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, has made a huge push in the past few years to standardize the business of prosecution statewide by offering extensive resources and a standardized case management system at a significantly reduced cost.
Both Greene and Taney Counties have taken advantage of this new computer system and have already begun implementing a paperless file system that simply allows the existing staff to handle an increased workload. Christian County currently uses the same case management system as Greene and Taney Counties but does not use it to its fullest potential. This system allows for such things as: e-discovery, electronic document storage, and digital court docketing. With a couple of minor modifications, along with a small initial investment for two high-speed scanners, printers and wireless equipment, the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office could be better equipped to handle the existing caseload.
Another change that can be made is requiring all employees to commit their full focus and attention to the Prosecutor’s office. In 2006, the citizens of Christian County voted to make the position of prosecutor a full-time one, and the voters of Christian County deserve a full-time prosecutor. I will give the position my full focus and attention. Unlike my opponent, I will not leave twice a week in the middle of the work day to travel to another county to a part-time job, teaching a college class. Those who serve with me will also not engage in outside employment during their regular work days. The full focus and attention of the office will be to the duties and responsibilities of the office.
SUN: What is your vision for the future of the Christian County justice as a whole & how far do you think we are from achieving that vision?
Amy Fite: My vision as a whole is to run an effective and efficient office. The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will be known for fairness and consistency. It will also gain a reputation for being a formidable opponent in the courtroom who holds criminals accountable. While it takes time to earn a reputation, I would immediately implement procedures that will help in gaining that reputation. One procedure will be immediately laying the ground work for transitioning to a paperless system. I believe this will help to improve the efficiency of the office. That is necessary in order to gain time for trial preparation. The second procudure will be immediately making the duties and responsibilities of the office the full focus and attention of all who serve in the office, including the prosecutor.
SUN: What is the primary difference between you & your opponent in the Prosecutor race?
Amy Fite: Attitude and Experience. I believe that community safety demands the Prosecutor run an efficient and effective office. There is no room to take the position “[w]e lack enough people to get the job done”, or to believe “[t]here’s a lack in the ability to get our trials put together because there is not enough staff” as the current prosecutor was quoted in the News-Leader as saying at the June 29th candidate forum. I have the energy and commitment necessary to perform the duties of this job.
I have experience with high volume having spent eight and a half years in the Circuit Attorney’s Office in the City of St. Louis, which is the jurisdiction that tries the most jury trials of any jurisdiction in the State of Missouri. We had to have multiple cases prepared every other week for jury trial, including murders, robberies and rapes. Between 2003 and 2009, the entire Christian County Prosecutor’s Office tried 42 jury trials. In that same time period, I participated in over 100 jury trials.
SUN: Why should voters in Christian County cast their ballot for you?
Amy Fite: Because I can lead an effective and efficient office. The citizens will see fairness and consistency in the charging and handling of cases. The resources of the office will be used responsibly and will be directed at prosecuting violent and habitual offenders. The office will be more efficient by further utilizing technology and streamlining existing practices. Finally, we will be ready and prepared to use the jury trial weeks to the fullest extent.
You can learn more about Amy Fite at http://www.fiteforprosecutor.com.
