Governor taps Mike Bonfoey to be western counties' district attorney

By Lynn Hotaling

Bonfoey, 53, will fill the vacancy created by the Feb. 28 death of Charlie Hipps, who had served as district attorney for the state's westernmost counties since 1990.

"Mike Bonfoey has the experience, judgment and temperament needed to lead the District Attorney's Office during this difficult time," said Gov. Mike Easley, who appointed Bonfoey to the post last week. "In addition to ably handling a wide variety of civil and criminal cases, Mike has provided years of public service to the legal community and his local community."

Bonfoey currently serves as attorney for the town of Waynesville, a position he will have to relinquish to accept the district attorney's post. "I am very honored to have been selected by Gov. Easley to be the district attorney," Bonfoey said. "I believe the governor's decision to appoint me expresses his confidence in my abilities and my integrity.

"I intend to live up to the expectations of the governor and the expectations of the people of the 30th district by working extremely hard for the citizens of Western North Carolina as their district attorney," Bonfoey said. "The people of the 30th district deserve a district attorney with unquestionable credentials and impeccable integrity, and I will live up to the expectations of the public."

Bonfoey said he thinks his experience as both an assistant district attorney and a private attorney in general practice give him a solid foundation to be district attorney.

"Crucial to the job of district attorney is the ability to be both a trial attorney and a manager," Bonfoey said. "After all, the 30th district is the largest prosecutorial district in the state."

Bonfoey expressed gratitude last week to Chief Assistant District Attorney Alan Leonard, who has served as interim district attorney during the six weeks since Hipps's death, for leading the district attorney's office through a difficult time.

"(Leonard) is a professional career prosector and public servant, and I thank him for his excellent service and leadership."

Bonfoey plans to take the oath of office April 21 at 3 p.m. at Haywood County Courthouse and has issued an invitation to all citizens of the 30th district to attend.

Bonfoey was one of four area attorneys who expressed interest in the district attorney's job in the week following Hipps's death. Others were Sylva attorney Frank Lay, a former assistant district attorney now in private practice; Sylva native Bill Jones, a current assistant district attorney; and veteran Waynesville attorney Roy Patton, a former district attorney who was defeated by Hipps in 1990.

Bonfoey will hold the district attorney's post until the next state election cycle. He will be required to run in the May 2004 primary. If his bid is successful, his name will be placed on the ballot for the Novermber 2004 election.

Whoever wins the seat in 2004 will be elected to a two-year term and will have to run again in 2006.

In addition to Jackson and Haywood, the 30th district includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon and Swain counties.