Matthew P. "Matt" Geary: The reintegration of the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office with local, state and federal law enforcement.
The need to give prosecutors the training and mentoring that will allow them to wisely use discretion in ensuring justice in each case.
Being proactive in the community to help other law enforcement agencies prevent crimes before they happen, thus making Henrico even safer.
Matthew P. "Matt" Geary: To reintegrate the CA's office with law enforcement will require meeting with each agency and determining what each needs from the other, what is currently working and what needs to be changed to make the community safer.
Setting up a system where all the prosecutors in the office are fairly compensated and well trained on the law and trial skills and to trust them to use discretion to ensure no "cookie cutter" one size fits all justice.
Having prosecutors go out into the community along with the police to be active in communities and community organizations, the schools and with businesses, to make sure that crimes are prevented before they happen.
Matthew P. "Matt" Geary: I have been a deputy sheriff for 6 years in the City of Richmond. I have been a trial lawyer, doing criminal defense and criminal prosecution, for 16 years. I was the Chief Deputy CA in the City of Richmond for 3 and a half years and supervised the day to day operations of the office, to include budget, HR, training and scheduling. I also prosecuted a full range of cases, focusing on murder and capital murder.
Matthew P. "Matt" Geary: I don't believe that the Commonwealth's Attorney has a role in this area, other than to budget well and to spend the tax payer's money wisely.
Matthew P. "Matt" Geary: I do. I want to have prosecutors assigned to each sector of the county. Each will be responsible for the activities in their sector. This will ensure accountability and the ability of law enforcement and citizens to have a single point of contact.
I also would put in place a new program to target violent offenders and those most likely to commit violent crimes. Our program in the City was hugely successful in reducing the violent crime rate.
I would form a group of law enforcement officials to meet every 45 days to intelligently determine the criminal problems in the county and determine ways to use our resources effectively.
Shannon L. Taylor: 1) Strengthen the ties between the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office and the residents of Henrico. To achieve this goal, we need to have the Office reflect the diversity of the County so that victims and witnesses will be more comfortable during tough times. I also would like to see Community Prosecution and have the prosecutors more visible in the community.
2) Making sure that all victims of spousal/relationship and/or child abuse have a safe place to go and that they know their perpetrators will be prosecuted.
3) Ensure that individuals with mental illnesses get the appropriate services and work on the cooperation between the courts and the mental health care system in the County
Shannon L. Taylor: I intend to hold at least two town hall meetings, one in Eastern Henrico and one in Western Henrico, to acquaint the attorneys in my office with the Community and to have the Community know my staff. In line with the Community Prosecution concept, attorneys will be assigned to neighborhoods and have ongoing relationships with them. To that end, the Office should reflect the make up of our community, including some who are bilingual. When we make these improvements, victims and witnesses will be more comfortable in coming forward to help prosecute criminals. The end result will be an improved conviction rate and a safer community.
Shannon L. Taylor: I have more professional prosecutorial experience than both of my opponents combined. I have spent my entire legal career in the criminal defense system, including twelve years as a prosecutor, and have covered almost every type of crime. The Independent candidate, Bill Janis, only has served as a law school intern in a Commonwealth's Attorney's office and has never worked professionally as a prosecutor. Matt Geary, the Republican candidate, has three years experience as a prosecutor.
Shannon L. Taylor: Although this question does not really apply to this office, I can assure you that I will run a frugal, lean office. There will not be frivolous or unnecessary spending nor inflated salaries in my office. These are tough economic times and I recognize that the citizens of Henrico struggle to make ends meet. My responsibility is to assist the citizens of Henrico--not to be a drag on the County's budget or revenues.
Shannon L. Taylor: As I mentioned above, I want the office to reflect the County and I will begin a strong program of interaction between the Community and the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. My lawyers will be out in the community and will be familiar faces to residents.
I will work more closely with the Department of Social Services and other program providers to ensure drug offenders get the treatment they need before they are released. We must also implement programs to effectively address substance abuse issues, particularly as they relate to the issue of underage consumption of alcohol. I would like to start a program to try to prevent youthful offenders from becoming lifetime criminals. We need to reduce the recidivism rate and, to accomplish that, we need to intervene when the first criminal behavior surfaces, not wait for a violent felony conviction. Lastly, I will establish the cross-jurisdictional relationships with our neighboring Counties and City, as well as with our federal counterparts.
W. R. "Bill" Janis: 1) To protect and serve the citizens of Henrico County.
2) To preserve the integrity and professionalism of the Office of Commonwealth's Attorney.
3) In this challenging budgetary climate to work with our local, state and federal partners in public safety to secure the resources necessary to keep our kids safe at school, our businesses safe by day and our homes safe at night.
W. R. "Bill" Janis: The Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney Office has a reputation for professionalism, integrity and results. The three most senior attorneys have over 130 years of collective service and experience prosecuting crimes in that office and keeping Henrico County safe.
The other candidates in this race, who have promised to “clean house,” or “makeover” the prosecutorial staff by firing several current career professional prosecutors to make room for their personal friends and political supporters. I want to preserve and enhance the integrity, professionalism and effectiveness of the office, setting the tone, providing the leadership, and obtaining the additional resources and policies necessary for the current staff to be even more effective at what they do.
I am the only candidate who will arrive on day one with the network of professional relationships necessary to ensure that the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office continues to work closely with our partners at the local, state and federal level to keep Henrico safe. On my first day in office I will be able to go to our local, state and federal legislative, executive and judicial branch partners in the criminal justice system to secure the policies, resources and funding necessary to keep Henrico safe.
W. R. "Bill" Janis: I have the background, education and experience, the character, integrity and proven record of results, and the vision, leadership and management skills to lead the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney and keep our kids safe at school, our businesses safe by day and our homes safe by night.
I am the only candidate with the leadership, management and administrative skills honed at sea in submarines and destroyers as an eleven year Navy veteran.
Having graduated from the UVA Law and represented clients in criminal and traffic manners throughout Central Virginia, I have known and worked with the career professionals of the Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney Office for over a decade-I know and trust them and they know and trust me.
Having been elected to represent Henrico in the House of Delegates for ten years where I have served on the Courts of Justice and Militia, Police & Public Safety Committees and where I currently serve as the House Republican Whip, the third ranking elected leader in the House of Delegates, I have sponsored legislation to ensure “deadbeat dads” pay their court-ordered child support, to take a “zero tolerance” stand on teenage drinking and driving, and to protect our kids from violent sexual predators on the internet. Mothers Against Drunk Driving has twice-recognized my work to keep our highways safe. For ten years I have stood for re-election by the voters of Henrico. They know they can trust me because I have a proven record of personal honor, integrity and results.
That is why I have been endorsed by Eric Cantor, Ken Cuccinelli, Bill Bolling, Walter Stosch, Jimmie Massie, Manoli Loupassi, John O’Bannon, Patricia O’Bannon, David Kaechele, Dick Glover, Lisa Marshall, Diana Winston, Mike Wade, Yvonne Smith, Toby Vick, Tom Bliley and Wade Kizer.
W. R. "Bill" Janis: While the Commonwealth's Attorney has no role in setting tax rates, I have a longstanding reputation as a fiscal conservative in the House of Delegates who has led the effort to reduce the size and cost of state government while ensuring that we fund core essential services such as public safety.
W. R. "Bill" Janis: I would appoint an experienced attorney to oversee an “incorrigibles program.” This deputy would work with the assigned prosecutor to review the criminal histories of all defendants with pending “show cause” hearings. They would research how much suspended jail time the defendant may have from previous convictions, confer with all police and prosecutors who have previously investigated or prosecuted the defendant, obtain details about the nature, seriousness and harm caused by their previous crimes, and obtain their testimony for the pending hearings. They will meet with victims of the current and previous crimes.
They would present to the Court a detailed and comprehensive narrative of the past criminal acts of “incorrigibles,” as well as a sense of their future potential for wrong-doing, and seek the toughest possible sentencing to incapacitate them from future criminal misconduct. This will focus our maximum effort on the “troublemakers” who invariably cause the most trouble.
As I have throughout my ten years in elected legislative office, I intend to actively seek out input from my constituents and make myself available at all times. I understand that as an elected public official, in every aspect of my life, both public and private, I am at all times fully accountable to those whom I serve, the citizens of Henrico County. I understand that public service requires the highest possible standards of professionalism, integrity, ethics and accountability. I have been held to and met that standard every day of my life since I took my first oath of office as a Navy Officer.
Campaign Address:
Friends of Matt Geary
P.O. Box 3480
Glen Allen, Virginia 23058-3480
Campaign phone:
(804) 399-9398
Campaign Email:
info@mattgeary.com
Incumbent?:
None.
Age:
41
Career:
Deputy Sheriff City of Richmond
Criminal Defense Attorney
Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney City of Richmond
Campaign Address:
P. O. Box 71685,
Henrico, Virginia 23255
Campaign Email:
TaylorforCA@gmail.com
Incumbent?:
No
Age:
43
Career:
1996-2004 Prosecutor with the City of Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney's Office
2004-2008 Special Counsel to the Richmond Metropolitan Multi-Jurisdiction Grand Jury
2008-Present Attorney with Boone Beale Law Firm
Campaign Address:
Bill Janis for Commonwealth's Attorney
Post Office Box 3703
Glen Allen, Virginia 23058
Campaign phone:
(804) 728-0572
Campaign Email:
info@billjanis.com
Phone (direct):
(804) 728-0572
Age:
49
Career:
Bill Janis has spent his life in the arena of public service. As the grandson of immigrants, Bill was the first member of his family to graduate from college, attending the Virginia Military Institute on a Naval ROTC scholarship.
In May 1984, Bill answered the call of duty and entered the United States Navy as a Commissioned Officer, serving as a Russian Linguist and Special Intelligence Officer in a variety of difficult and demanding assignments ashore and afloat. A veteran of the Persian Gulf War, Bill served at sea in submarines and destroyers, as well as in staff assignments at the National Security Agency and Commander Naval Surface Forces Atlantic Fleet.
After 11 years of service, Bill left the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander and entered the University of Virginia Law School. While studying, he worked as an intern in the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s offices of both Albemarle and Henrico Counties. Bill was admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia in January 2000.
Since being admitted, Bill Janis has been a defense attorney who tries cases in Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland, Louisa and throughout Virginia. As a defense lawyer, Bill has successfully represented his clients in a variety of criminal and civil lawsuits.
In 2001, Bill once again answered the call of duty, entering the race for the House of Delegates. Bill Janis has been elected by the voters of Henrico to represent them in the Virginia House of Delegates since 2002, where he has served on the House Courts of Justice, Commerce & Labor, and Militia, Police & Public Safety Committees. He has served as Chairman of the House Sub-Committees on Judicial Systems and Homeland Security.
Bill Janis has researched, authored, introduced and passed several complex pieces of legislation to protect children from violent sexual predators, reduce teenage drinking and driving, and reform the special grand jury system, that are now the law in Virginia. In November 2010, the House Republican Caucus elected Bill as the Majority Whip, the third ranking elected officer in the House.
Bill Janis has been on the forefront of efforts to reduce the size, scope and cost of state government while ensuring the delivery of core essential services such as public safety. As Vice Chairman of the Virginia Code Commission, Bill Janis meets on a monthly basis with fellow legislators, judges, attorneys, and legal scholars to update and amend the DUI, traffic, criminal, and civil procedure statutes in the Code of Virginia.
Bill Janis has been recognized for his outstanding legislative service with the 2011 Century Council Award for Outstanding Commitment to Fight Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking, Eagle Forum 2009 Distinguished State Legislator of the Year Award, Washington Regional Alcohol Program’s 2008 Outstanding Service Award, KOVAR of the Knights of Columbus’ 2008 Service Award, Century Council’s 2008 Award for Outstanding Commitment to Fight Drunk Driving and Underage Drinking, the Virginia Council for Private Education’s 2005 Child Advocate Award, the National Federation of Independent Business’ 2005 Defender of Small Business Award, and MADD Virginia’s Award for Outstanding Leadership in the General Assembly to Reduce Drunk Driving.
Bill Janis routinely teaches continuing legal education courses for his fellow attorneys, and has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at the College of William & Mary Marshall-Wythe School of Law, and Adjunct Lecturer at the Public Safety University of the University of Richmond, and the L. Douglas Wilder School at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Bill is active in veteran’s organizations such as the VFW and American Legion, and is a member of the Virginia War Memorial Board of Trustees. An Eagle Scout, Bill has served as Scoutmaster of Troop 720 and on the Executive Committee of the Heart of Virginia Council, Boy Scouts of America, and in 2011 was recognized with the NESA Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
Bill has been married to the former Rose Ann Hunter for 24 years and they have two children, Rachel and Robert. Bill is a parishioner at Saint Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church in Richmond.
Biographical Information
