Tripp
HelmsThank you for voting for...
Tripp
Helms
District Court Judge
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I am asking for your vote for DISTRICT COURT JUDGE FOR UNION COUNTY.
District Court Judges Affect the Lives of Our Children and Families
When most people think of judges, they think of CRIMINAL COURT--which is an important part of our job--but did you know that 75 percent of our time is spent handling cases involving children and families in our community? We handle cases involving juvenile offenders, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, along with other family court matters. As a FAMILY COURT JUDGE I hear cases involving child custody, divorce, child support, alimony, and equitable distribution (division of marital property.)
I also serve as TRUANCY COURT JUDGE, where I hear cases involving parents and juveniles, enforcing our school attendance laws, and trying to address the root causes of truancy in individual cases.
Why Should You Vote for Tripp Helms?
As a husband and father with three children, my family is my number one priority. When I hear a case that is going to affect the life of a family, particularly the best interest of the children, I take it with the utmost seriousness. I know that what I do and how I rule in a particular case is going to affect the children for the rest of their lives. I put as much time and attention into my cases as I would want a judge to do if he or she were hearing a case involving my own children. I also bring to the court the insight that comes from facing the day-to-day challenges of parenting: showing love and support, spending quality time, discipline, and juggling school, homework, church, soccer, ballet, and, now, with our oldest, making plans for college!
Involvement in Our Community
Why should my involvement in our community matter to voters? Because it tells you who I am, what my personal priorities are, and it shows you that I am firmly committed to making Union County a better place for our children and families.
My most important work outside the courtroom and my home takes place in my church. I am an active member of my church, serving on our governing board, as a Sunday School teacher, and a volunteer in other areas. My church and my faith commitment give me a grounding that helps me face the difficult, and often tragic, matters that come before me in court every day.
Education has always been a priority for me. I grew up as the son of a school teacher, and I am now proud to be the parent of three children in our schools. I served on the School Board for Union County for five years as an at-large member from 2000-2005, and two of those years, I served as the Chairman of the School Board. That experience carries over into my work as a judge, both with the insight I gained dealing with student discipline issues that sometimes became juvenile cases, and with my work in school truancy cases as the presiding judge over our TRUANCY COURT. My years on the School Board, and my years as a parent of three children in our schools, also taught me the importance of family stability and the role school plays in family lives and schedules--I use this experience in every custody case I hear.
Experience
When the Governor of North Carolina appointed me as one of Union County's four district court judges, I had been an attorney for nine years. During that time, I had a general practice, with experience in helping my clients with a variety of legal problems. In 2005-2006, I served as the Clerk of Superior Court, and in that position, I served as a judge in vital matters like foreclosures, incompetencies and guardianships, and estate matters.
Since becoming a judge, I have handled thousands of cases in all our courts, and I have received extensive training from the North Carolina Judicial College and the North Carolina School of Government.
Other Community Service and Involvement
Community Health Services of Union County
Union County Youth Ballet Board of Directors
Health Quest Pharmaceutical Assistance Program
State Board of Education's Compliance Commission on Accountability
My Educational Background
I earned my undergraduate degree from Davidson College, where I majored in Religion and served as Student Body President. After graduation I traveled to Kenya as a mission volunteer with the Methodist Church, and worked in a school and a mission hospital for seven months. I earned my Master of Theological Studies degree from Duke Divinity School, and before and during Divinity School worked with youth and children in Methodist Churches.
I earned my law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1997.
I grew up in Union County, where I was active in my church and earned my Eagle Scout Award in Troop 109 at First Baptist Church in Monroe. My family and I have lived in Monroe, Weddington, and Waxhaw, and currently live in historic downtown Monroe. My wife Amy is a lawyer, ballet teacher, graduate student, and mother to our three children.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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Paid for by the Judge Tripp Helms Committee, Kristin Smith Harris, Treasurer