I’ve known Seth Levy for 12 years, and recently we met to discuss his run for Cumberland County’s district attorney in the June 12 Democratic primary.

Seth is smart, wise, sensitive, articulate and has a good sense of right and wrong. He is a great father, and friend to many. This alone would get my vote, but I wanted to learn more about his platform.

I asked Seth about his vision for the office. He told me clearly that he believes some crime requires serious sentencing. He defined these as violent crimes and sexual abuse cases. He shared his own experience of being the survivor of a violent sexual assault. Seth’s predator had prior victims but avoided serious consequences until the right detective thoroughly investigated and was able to put the man away for 50 years. The support he was given as a victim helped him heal and become the person he is today.

We chatted about the problems facing Cumberland County, and about the drug epidemic and how issues stemming from substance use dominate the court docket. We spoke about restorative justice, which is a process that helps the victim of a crime and the perpetrator work toward outcomes that support the victim and respect their needs while helpings the perpetrator make things right. He feels that some crime can and should be handled this way, as this approach can be transformative, rehabilitative and frees up resources to go after more serious crimes.

The district attorney is a very important position, an elected office that most of us don’t pay attention to. Seth is more than willing to meet with anyone to discuss his candidacy, and we need a district attorney like that to be a leader in the community. Please vote for Seth Levy on June 12.

Gary Small

Portland

Copy the Story Link