In November, voters in the 4th District (Ouachita & Morehouse Parish) will go to the poll to elect a District Attorney. We encourage all of the residents of the District to consider the incumbent Steve Tew.
Our community has been fortunate historically with respect to the DA’s office. It was the late Johnny Carl Parkerson in the 1970’s who broke tradition and hired minorities in the DA’s office. He then broke more ground by hiring the first African-American assistant DA’s. Among those was one who later became a state senator, Charles D. Jones.
Since then we have had a succession of DA’s who have been tough prosecutors, but merciful as well.
For 16 years, we felt that the poor and minorities had a listening ear when Jerry Jones became the DA. Jones wasn’t just fair to the poor, he gave every person a fair shot. He established a policy of giving every first offender not involved in non-violent crime, a second chance if possible.
These were people who were otherwise law-abiding citizens who did something really dumb. He would give them lectures, put them on his personal probation while they cleaned up their acts. He ordered some to finish college, others to make restitution or some type of penance.
If Jerry Jones prosecuted a suspect, he rarely received a complaint from our community because our leaders knew that the person must have been beyond the reach of judicial mercy.
When Jones retired, he met with many leaders in our community and told us that Steve Tew had the character and qualities necessary to continue where he left off.
Most of us were reluctant because Attorney Tew was unknown.
It didn’t take but a few months for the poor and working people of Ouachita and Morehouse Parish to learn that Attorney Tew was all that Jones said he was and more.
Despite handling thousands of cases that could have easily become names and file numbers of the poor and defenseless, the overwhelming majority of the time, District Attorney Tew has been firm, fair, and merciful.
In 2018, our community watched him correct a wrong that endeared him to thousands. That was the year that he used the influence of his office to speed up the release of Gerald Manning from Angola State Prison. Mr. Manning had served 40 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Even though DNA finally exonerated Mr. Manning, the DA could have appealed the findings for years. We watched him go out of his way to expedite Mr. Manning’s release. It was a merciful act that gave this man justice.
This year, we also saw him dispense justice. A police officer kicked a man in the face while the victim was handcuffed. Tew brought charges against the officer from his office. He could have dodged the bullet and passed it off to a grand jury, possibly allowing the suspect to avoid indictment. By bringing the charges himself, he assured that this rogue officer would face a jury.
Tew is accessible. He returns phone calls to pastors, community leaders, and attorneys. He listens, considers, and tries to find a way to strike a balance between justice and mercy.
The poor and those who represent the poor have come to know that if justice and mercy are possible; they have a listening ear with Steve Tew.
He has earned our respect and our support.
Like thousands in this district, we too, like Steve Tew and hope on election day, you will too.
