Jeff Nieman is set to succeed Jim Woodall as the district attorney in Orange and Chatham counties.
Nieman, who is a Chapel Hill native and is currently an assistant district attorney in Woodall’s office, earned 60 percent of the vote with 100 percent of precincts reporting. Kayley Taber, who works in the same Orange/Chatham office, earned 40 percent of votes.
Nieman has served in District 18 office since 2006. Beyond his work in the courtroom, he created the Outreach Court in Orange County which helps divert those experiencing homelessness to community resources instead of jail. Additionally, Nieman helped co-found the Driver’s License Restoration Project in the state and helped create a juvenile crime rehabilitation court for 16- and 17-year-olds so they are not prosecuted as adults.
One priority Nieman told Chapelboro after his win is ending the criminalization of poverty.
“We do have a criminal justice system that often disproportionately punishes the poor,” Nieman said. “That is an issue I feel like has resonated with the electorate. We need to put systems in place so that poor people are not unfairly caught up in the criminal justice system, in a cycle that is basically punishing them because they don’t have enough money.”
Woodall announced in March 2021 he would be stepping down at the end of his term. He’s served District 18 since 2005 and his term will officially expire on December 31, 2022.
Due to there not being any Republican candidates in the primary election cycle, Nieman’s victory on Tuesday means he will not have an opponent during the general elections in November.
“We’re really lucky because there is no Republican opponent in the general, we have a chance to have a nice landing strip between now and when I would assume office so that Jim and I have a chance to really work a very strong transition,” Nieman said.
Photo via Jeff Nieman for District Attorney.
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