Anderson/Oconee 10th Circuit Solicitor Danny Fulmer

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

1. What do you see as the top priority of the solicitor’s office?

The top priority for the Solicitor’s office should be the aggressive prosecution of repeat offenders and violent offenders. Violent predators have no place in our society and belong in prison. In order to accomplish this, I will implement a violent crime task force within the office and commit the resources necessary to ensure that violent criminals are prosecuted to the fullest extent.

In homicide cases and other violent crimes, it is imperative the Solicitor’s office and law enforcement work closely together from the beginning of the case to ensure all relevant evidence is gathered and preserved and done so in such a way to ensure its admissibility in court.

Repeat offenders will be another area of priority. The revolving door has to stop for those offenders who have demonstrated they will not stop their criminal behavior. I will work hard to put repeat offenders in prison.

Seeking justice for victims is the heart of the Solicitor's Office. When a victim receives justice for crime, all of society receives justice. In South Carolina we are fortunate to have a Victim’s Bill of Rights embedded in our State Constitution. Every crime victim has a right to be kept informed about his case and to give input as to how he would like the case resolved. Victims also have the right to be heard in court and make their wishes known to the Judge. Victim advocacy is central to the mission of the Solicitor’s Office.

2. What are the key challenges facing the solicitor’s office in the near future?

A challenge we are facing now and will be in the future is the effect of illegal immigration in our judicial system. When illegal immigrants are charged with a crime, they are usually given a bond just like any other defendant. However, because they may not have ties to our community and are not documented, they often disappear and never face justice for their crime. I believe illegal immigrants should be punished just like anyone else who has committed a crime and then deported once they have served their time. As Solicitor I will oppose bail bonds for illegal immigrants on the grounds of being a flight risk and work hard to ensure they face the justice they deserve.

A perennial challenge facing the Solicitor’s office is attracting and retaining good lawyers. Given the level of funding we receive from State and County budgets, it is difficult to compete salary-wise with the private sector. New hires are usually fresh out of law school and apply to the Solicitor’s Office as their first job in order to get courtroom experience. After a few years, they typically leave the office for better pay at a private firm. Those of us who have made prosecution a career does so for reasons other than money. I do it because I believe in the mission of the Solicitor’s Office: aggressively prosecuting crime in order to make our community safer and allow citizens to live their lives without fear of criminals. I find fulfillment in seeking justice for crime victims and knowing that by making my community safer, I am also making my family safer.

Another challenge is the sheer volume of cases that we are tasked with prosecuting. Every year, here in Anderson County, we receive well over five thousand criminal warrants from law enforcement for prosecution. This includes cases from the Sheriff’s Office, Anderson City Police, every municipal police department, SLED, the Highway Patrol, and other agencies. We have eleven prosecutors currently in Anderson, so that works out to an average of almost 500 warrants for each prosecutor every year. Balancing the aggressive prosecution of crime against the pressure to dispose of the cases on your docket is always a challenge. Being able to manage a heavy caseload while achieving strong sentences in the courtroom is critical for a Solicitor.

3. How would you work with other county officials to coordinate efforts of the solicitor’s office?

As solicitors, every case we prosecute in court is built on the foundation of an investigation made by law enforcement. Therefore, it is essential that we work closely with law enforcement in developing evidence and building cases to ensure a successful outcome in court.

As Solicitor I will designate an on-call prosecutor available to law enforcement 24 hours a day to answer questions or provide guidance on critical issues that arise outside of the workday. I will also designate a prosecutor to attend preliminary hearings with officers to make sure cases are not inappropriately dismissed and officers are supported in the courtroom.

I will offer training sessions for law enforcement and prosecutors to keep each other abreast of the latest changes in the law and current investigative techniques. Meeting regularly with law enforcement will help build a team mentality that will result in better outcomes for more cases.

The Solicitor’s office will continue to work closely with the Clerk of Court to create court dockets that efficiently dispose of cases and make the most use of limited court time while ensuring each case is adjudicated fully and fairly.

4. What personal/professional skills and/or experience make you the best candidate for this office?

I am the only candidate that both lives and works here in Anderson. My wife and I have chosen to raise our family here in Anderson. Every day when I go to work, I know that doing a good job not only benefits my community, but also my family. That is the best motivator. I don’t consider myself a politician and don’t view being Solicitor as a stepping stone to some other office. It is simply the next step in the continuation of my service as a prosecutor.

I have been a lawyer for 25 years and a prosecutor for the past 16 years. I have had the opportunity to work for three Solicitors including Trey Gowdy who gave me my first job as a prosecutor. I know what works in an office and what doesn't, this is why experience matters.

I have prosecuted just about every type of crime from DUIs and shoplifting to aggravated assaults, armed robberies and murders. I have achieved success in the courtroom at trial and have years of experience managing a heavy caseload.

I have also spent 10 years working in the private sector, so I understand and appreciate that the taxpayers deserve to have their tax dollars spent wisely. I will work diligently to guard against wasteful spending while committing the resources necessary to ensure the safety of the public.

5. Why do you think you would be the most effective solicitor among those running for this position?

Having been the victim of an armed robbery myself, I can relate to crime victims who tell me they have lost their sense of security. I understand when they tell me the profound and sometimes permanent effect crime has had on their mental and physical health as well as their loved ones. This connection drives me to zealously seek justice for them and for the broader community.

While I have more experience as a lawyer and a prosecutor than the other candidates, I also have more life experience. The Solicitor holds a great deal of power and wide discretion as to how to use that power. It is important that whoever is elected uses that power wisely. As prosecutors we are referred to as “ministers of justice”. I have always thought that sounded rather grandiose or even corny, but it does hold a truth.

As prosecutors we are held to a higher standard. Not to seek a conviction at all costs, but only within the bounds of the law, and always impartially.

As Solicitor, I will aggressively prosecute crime, fairly and without bias. That is my duty to the people of Anderson County and to the Constitution of this State and the United States.