Schuylkill DA candidates focused on opioids
Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman is seeking her second term in the office.
Holman, a Republican from Barnesville, faces a challenge from Pottsville Democrat Michael O’Pake. We asked them to discuss what they would bring to the office, as well as their response to the opioid crisis.
Their answers have been edited and condensed for clarity and space.
Christine Holman
Born in Frackville
Elected District Attorney in 2014. Served as part-time Assistant DA from 2002-05. Established solo practice in Frackville in 2001. Former associate with Rubright Domalakes, Troy and Miller, as well as Lloyd R. Hampton. Admitted to the bar 1995. Former full-time teacher at McCann School of Business and Technology.
Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Businesswoman of the Year, member of Schuylkill County Chamber, Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce, Tamaqua Business and Professional Women, Pottsville Kiwanis Club.
Michael O’Pake
Born and raised in Mahanoy City. Served as Assistant District Attorney 1992-2013; public defender, 2014-present. Solicitor for North Schuylkill, Shenandoah Valley and St. Clair Area School Districts, as well as Mahanoy City, Mahanoy City Sewer Authority, Norwegian Township Zoning Hearing Board and Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers. Worked for Law offices of James J. Curran 1988-2001; opened solo practice in 2001. Member of board of directors for Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers.
How will you improve the office of District Attorney?
CH: I have had 11 drug raids resulting in over 220 arrests. I will continue to increase the frequency of the raids.
I will purchase vehicles and surveillance equipment and hire detectives with forfeiture money. I will continue the quest to get to the source of the suppliers and knock out the top of the pyramid.
I promised to lead the fight against blight, hosting seminars for code enforcement officers and police. I will prosecute more public nuisance and municipal housing code violations. I prepared a pamphlet titled “Scams and Solutions,” and I’ve appeared at many senior centers to present on scams and elder abuse. I will offer all local schools a strategy to prevent drug addiction.
I will continue monthly bench warrant sweeps, keep photos of Schuylkill County’s most wanted on display in the courthouse, continue the semiannual circular of most wanted fugitives.
MO: The time it takes to process a criminal case through the system is far too long. The delay in bringing cases to trial or resolving those cases in some other manner contributes significantly to overcrowding at the Schuylkill County Prison. I will monitor the cases for each prisoner so that Schuylkill County is not paying approximately $1 million of taxpayer money to house Schuylkill County inmates at other prisons.
I would assure that the record number of bench warrants currently issued by our courts are resolved. At a point in time during this year, there were approximately 1,000 criminals walking the streets of Schuylkill County that had not been brought to justice for their crimes. I will ensure that sufficient personnel is dedicated to capturing these individuals.
How will you address the opioid crisis?
CH: Drug crimes represent approximately 40 percent of the crime committed in Schuylkill County in 2016, 77 individuals died of drug overdoses.
I have learned that you cannot arrest your way out of this crisis. I produced and disseminated a letter to all Schuylkill County educators, EMS personnel and municipal and community leaders informing all that I am working on a prevention strategy called ACE that consists of accountability — measuring and reporting program performance and results; capacity — increasing the availability of services; and effectiveness — improving the quality of services.
I would strive to form a task force consisting of parents, educators, law enforcement, pharmacists, doctors, commissioners who would be interested in developing programs targeting the problem before it begins. These programs would be after-school programs or evening programs for parents and students to attend together.
The message of “Can Do” needs to be sent and the right time to start talking with your kids about drugs is now.
MO: Education starts with our children at the elementary and middle school level. I pledge to visit every elementary and middle school in Schuylkill County, as well as every high school, in order to educate the children about the danger of all drugs, including opioids. It is essential to start at the elementary level because waiting until the middle school or high school level is too late.
Drug Treatment Court is an opportunity for opioid addicted individuals to turn their lives around. However, if they fail to avail themselves of the opportunity presented to them in that Drug Treatment Court, I will ensure severe and stiff penalties are handed out to those individuals that have failed to help themselves and continue to use, abuse and deal drugs in Schuylkill County.
I have had preliminary discussions with the Schuylkill County Commissioners and Law Firms in New York City and Pittsburgh so that our commissioners can authorize a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies similar to the one already filed in Beaver County. If the lawsuit is successful, it would relieve that taxpayers of Schuylkill County from paying the costs of the worst ever drug crisis to hit the United States.