I Race for District
teafhers in an all-black school, said Andrews,
who was raised in a poor mill-worker's family :
in Forsyth County, he realized why he wanted
to fcecome involved in politics.
4|When I went in the school as a teacher, that
was my first encounter with black people," Andrews
said. "And I saw that our situations were
the. same. The only thing was the color of the
skin."
From then on, Andrews said, he better
understood the plight of black people. After
two years of teaching, he earned his law degree
at predominantly-black North Carolina Central
University. In the last district attorney's race,
Andrews unsuccessfully challenged Donald K.
Tisdale. Though his campaign was hastily
organized, Andrews received endorsments from
the Chronicle and the Black Leadership Roundtable
and garnered the majority of the black
vote.
, Keiger: A Color-blind Candidate?
Because judges are ethically restricted from
addressing specific campaign issues or referring
to one another, both Keiger and Andrews have
fueled their campaigns with their personal
records.
"My past service indicates I have an
understanding and would be a better judge,"
Andrews said. "It's clear that 90 percent of the
victims are black people and black-on-black
crimes are some of the most serious in Forsyth
County. All of that will pass through the
District Court. It's very important for a judge
to be able to listen to both sides.
"I was born in the conservative white community,"
Andrews said, "but through circumstances,
I have become a part of the black
community."
Andrews does indeed appear to have close
ties with the black community. Before meeting
hiiti personally, one of Andrews' campaign
workers said he thought Andrews was a black
man. And when the black community has any
kind of function involving more than two people,
Andrews often is there. *
But Andrews' disadvantage is Keiger's advantage.
For the past eight years, Keiger has been a
District Court judge and before that he logged
Laverne E. Speas Democr;
for
Register of D
Expert technical skil
managerial experience
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Continued efficency
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Continued managemer
only candidate who kr
the job .
Vote Speas May 8th
BEST QUALIFIED BY ON-THE-JOB EXPERl
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16 years of private practice. In addition, he has
served as a former solicitor and judge in
Kernersville and as a city attorney for
Kernersville for 13 years.
"If it's nothing wrong with it, don't fix it,"
Keiger said, when asked why the black community
should support him. "My record has
been such that there is nothing to complain
about."
And Keiger said it's untrue that he has a
record of being harsher on black defendants. In
fact, he said, he considers himself a color-blind
candidate.
"The hallmark of my tenure as judge has
been trying to be fair and impartial and to give
people an equal share in the court, regardless of
color," Keiger said.
Keiger said his supporters, who appear
basically to be lawyers and people who deal
with the courts, should be enough to convince
voters of his impartiality.
"Talk to some of them. I think that's where
the truth is, really," he said. "It's a hard job
that you have w hen you have to make decisions
... during the course of presiding. There will be
people that disagree with your decisions ... but
I hope people who have been in my court have
been treated fairly."
Views From Supporters
Ask supporters of either candidate why they
feel their man is best-suited for the job, and
they'll gladly respond with a mouthful.
Bill Tatum, who served as Andrews' campaign
coordinator for the DA's race in 1982,
says Andrews is the only logical candidate to
support.
"Mickey is the kind of individual who is fairminded
and intelligent," Tatum said last week.
"I feel he can render a fair and just decision on
anybody who goes before him. Our problem
with Keiger is that he is very stringent with the
law and has no flexibility toward black people.
"Up until this year, Keiger has not stepped
foot in the black community to campaign,"
Tatum said. "1 think he (Andrews) would have
made a super DA and 1 think he will be a gooc
judge."
But Keiger's most vocal supporter, R. Lewi;
Ray, says Andrews, who used to work with hi;
law firm, does not have enough experience tc
leeds
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"1 feel that Keiger is better qualified to be
judge than Andrews," Ray said. "1 am a little
closer to his (Andrews') capabilities than most
people. I'm not saying he's not capable, but 1
know him.
"Keiger is the type of judge that will render
his convictions no matter who it might upset."
Ray added.
Ray said he has observed Keiger on many occasions
and finds no truth to the allegation that
Keiger is harsher on blacks.
"You and I both know that when you stand
before the judge ... and a person comes before
you with a good record, naturally you give him
more consideration than somebody who has
been in this, that and the other," Ray said.
"They've (Keiger's critics) got Keiger wrong.
Kason Keiger is color-blind."
Those who have watched Keiger in action,
Ray said, know without a doubt that he should
be allowed to remain on the bench.
"People closest to the court get to see
Keiger," Ray said. "People out in the street
listen to ignorant folk. They listen to Larry Little
and Pat Hairston, both who are away from
me euun.
"Keiger has a good background and a lot of
experience. Andrews doesn't have any experience
or any real experience as a trial lawyer.
He's a fine fellow, but 1 just don't want him on
the District Court bench."
Still, one of Andrews' supporters, who asked
not to be identified, said Keiger's supporters
endorse him publicly only for self-serving
reasons.
'They see an incumbent andjhey see an opportunity
to help themselves and their clients,"
the supporter said. "Some have told me that,
privately, they don't support Keiger."
Countered Michael Grace, a Keiger supporter:
"If we (black attorneys) wanted him off
the bench, we wouldn't work for him. We
would let him be unseated quietly. 1 have practiced
law here almost five years now and, of all
i the judges, Keiger has been fair to me and my
clients."
His first obligation is to himself and his
I clients, Grace said, and since Keiger has done
right by him, he sees no reason not to support
; him.
1 When asked if he is supporting Keiger for
personal reasons, Grace replied, "What is it all
? about if not that?"
5 Then he added, referring to the question,
r~ "That's a childish thing to say."
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