The race for Appalachian Judicial Circuit District Attorney is heating up. The current District Attorney Joe Hendricks, from Pickens County, has two challengers-both from Fannin County. The Appalachian Judicial District consists of Fannin, Pickens, and Gilmer.Attorney B. Alison Sosebee and former Judge Harry Doss seek to replace Joe Hendricks as District Attorney. That was the message Joe Hendricks tried to get across at a campaign kick off event May 10th.

At the Pickens County community center Hendricks told supporters his opponents were running for office only to unseat him, not because they wanted to be District Attorney. They want the D.A’s office so they could possibly help some of their friends, said Hendricks. Hendricks stressed that he has been tough on crime and the area has seen a decrease in Meth labs in North Georgia. Hendricks appeared noticeably emotional when he referenced a case where a woman was kidnapped in the Wal-Mart parking lot in East Ellijay and sexually assaulted. He stated that he refuses to back down on being tough on crime and says his record reflects this stance.

On May 17th Ronnie Thompson hosted a meet and greet for B. Alison Sosebee. During his introduction of Sosebee, Thompson said he normally does not get involved in politics but believes we need a change in the District Attorney’s office.

Sosebee told her supporters that they deserved a District Attorney’s office that could work and cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the district. She gave examples of cases that the District Attorneys office was unprepared for when they went into the courtroom. Sosebee referenced a case in Fannin County where a man was accused of sexually assaulting a child. Sosebee said she took a sexual assault case involving a child very serious but in this case the District Attorney knew from the start he had nothing but he proceeded anyway. The District Attorney had the man arrested and held without bond. The man sat in jail for nine months waiting for trial. Once on trial the man was found not guilty on all charges. Even though the man was found not guilty he still has the mark of the “scarlet letter.” She said the District Attorney knew the man was not guilty all along.

Harry Doss, former Judge in the District, resigned from the bench in 2009 in the midst of a Judicial Qualifications Investigation. He said the investigation was brought on by Hendricks after Doss reprimanded an Assistant District Attorney in the courtroom, even though Doss said he later apologized to the Assist. District Attorney. Doss said Hendricks is vindictive, immature, and unqualified for office.

One thing is for sure, the flag has been dropped and the race for the District Attorney is under way.

FYN is planning video interviews with all candidates soon.