RALEIGH, N.C. – Gov. Bev Perdue Tuesday appointed District Attorney Scott Thomas as chair of the Governor’s Crime Commission. Perdue made the announcement while speaking to the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association, where she emphasized the important role the crime commission plays in North Carolina’s justice system.

“The Governor’s Crime Commission will be an active voice in my administration, advising me on the best ways to prevent, deter and fight crime,” said Perdue. “As a district attorney, Scott Thomas has put criminals behind bars while working closely with sheriffs, police chiefs and law enforcement officials on a wide range of criminal justice issues. He chaired the Senate Justice and Public Safety Appropriations Subcommittee, so he understands clearly the mission of every facet of North Carolinas criminal justice system. Scott Thomas will be a strong leader of the crime commission.”

Scott Thomas was elected in 2006 to the 3B prosecutorial district comprising Carteret, Craven and Pamlico counties. From 2001-2006, Thomas served as a state senator. He was appointed chair of the Justice and Public Safety Appropriations Subcommittee and vice-chair of the Judiciary Committee. As a state senator, Thomas also served as a member of Governor’s Crime Commission. He earned his J.D. from the N.C. Central University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree in political science from East Carolina University. Thomas, 42, is from Vanceboro and is married with three children.

“It is an honor to be chosen by Governor Perdue to chair the Governor’s Crime Commission,” said Thomas. “I am confident that we will make North Carolina a safer place to live, work and raise a family.”

New members of the Governor’s Crime Commission include:

Richard L. Shaffer, Jr., district attorney 27B prosecutorial district, Cleveland and Lincoln counties
James Wilson Pierce, Jr., executive director of Kids Making It, Wilmington
Rodney D. Monroe, police chief of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department
Judge Carl Fox, district 15B Superior Court Judge, Chatham and Orange counties
Jennifer Roberts, chair of Mecklenburg County Commission

Reappointments include

Sandra Reid, juvenile justice and criminal justice lecturer at Elon University, Graham
J. Wayne Sears, police captain, Rocky Mount
Sharon G. Sadler, superior court clerk, Swan Quarter
James Carlton Cole, judge, 1st judicial district, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank and Perquimans counties
James L. Knight, sheriff, Edgecombe County