2020 is a big election year. We all know there is a significant national election to consider, but what about the local elections that can change the way our community runs? It’s essential to be informed about everything you vote for, so you can vote for your values across the board. One of the local races on the ballot this year is for Forsyth County District Court Judge. Deputy Commissioner Mike Silver is one of the candidates running in this race.
What Is A District Court Judge?
District Court Judges are elected judges that hear civil, criminal, and juvenile cases. They must reside in the district they are elected in, serve four-year terms, and voters elect them in their district. According to the NC State Constitution, these judges have to be attorneys, though they can’t practice law privately during their term.
Mike Silver wants you to know that he is ready to take on this elected position’s responsibility and brings the right experience for the job to the table.
Raised and Educated in NC
Mike Silver was raised in Durham, NC. His parents grew up in Hollister, NC, his mother on a sharecropping farm and his father in a very rural area. They moved to Durham before he was born, looking for more opportunities. Mike went to public schools in Durham through high school and then attended North Carolina A&T State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. He spent the next year teaching 5th grade in High Point, NC. During that time, he saw the hardship of the students in the classroom and wanted to aid families and children’s lives on a larger scale. It was then that he decided to go into law. He returned to school and earned his law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Community Involvement
In 2007, Mike and his wife Dara moved to Winston-Salem. After interviewing with the DAs office in several areas, he knew that Winston-Salem would be the best place for him to make a difference in the community and grow professionally. And that is what he has done. His record of service is incredible. He has worked with organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Forsyth County and the YMCA. He has also served on several boards and committees. He feels his calling is to help youth understand that there exist opportunities that they may not see and prevent them from ending up in his courtroom. Silver said, “If I can help a child learn to make good decisions and understand the consequences of bad decisions, I can keep them from ending up in the court system. So much of my work revolves around this theory. In my work with The North Carolina Domestic Violence Commission, the Forsyth County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC), and my volunteer work at Ashley Elementary and Carver High School, I focus on this. It is what I believe can bring the most change to the lives of people in our community.”
Mike and his family love being a part of this community. His wife, Dara Silver, is the Vice President of Grant Programs and Partner Relations for The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. They have two children, six-year-old daughter Miriam Rose and one-and-a-half-year-old son Israel Ceozey, whom they enjoy raising in Winston-Salem, which he describes as “a wonderful place to raise a family.”
Experience You Can Count On
There is no doubt that Mike Silver has a record of experience that speaks for itself.
- 4 Years as Deputy Commissioner
- 8 Years as an Assistant District Attorney
- 45 Prosecuted Felony Trials
- 99 Opinions written as an Administrative Law Judge
- 750 Felony Convictions
Silver shared, “The way my career has developed since I began in 2007 is what makes me the right candidate for Forsyth County District Court Judge. I have been able to work with leaders statewide, and they have become my mentors. I have learned to listen, how to get things done, and how to collaborate. Having these mentors as resources and using the tools they have helped me develop has prepared me to handle this position’s responsibility and make me the best candidate in this race.”
If you would like more information about Mike Silver and his campaign, you can visit his website at mikesilverforjudge.com. There you will find lots of information about Mike Silver, his experience and qualifications, and you can learn more about supporting his campaign.
