♪♪ >>> HELLO.

I'M DONNA LOWERY.

WELCOME TO THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK-YOUNG DEBATE.

THIS IS THE DEBATE FOR FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

LET'S MEET THE CANDIDATES.

CHRISTIAN WISE SMITH IS AN AUTHOR AND ATTORNEY.

FANI WILLIS HAS SERVED AS FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SINCE 2021.

MISS WILLIS DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATE AND IS REPRESENTED BY AN EMPTY PODIUM.

LET'S MEET OUR PANELISTS.

TAMARA HALLERMAN AND SAM GREENGLASS.

FOR COMPLETE RULES ON TODAY'S PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB WEBSITE.

TO START THE PROGRAM, THE CANDIDATE WILL BE ASKED ONE QUESTION BY EACH PANELIST.

HE WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

SAM, YOU GET THE FIRST QUESTION TO CHRISTIAN WISE SMITH.

>> THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THE FULTON COUNTY JAIL IS HOUSING HUNDREDS MORE PEOPLE THAN IT WAS DESIGNED TO HOLD.

LAST YEAR, TEN DETAINEES DIED THERE.

MOST HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED AND ARE JUST AWAITING TRIAL SOMETIMES FOR MONTHS OR YEARS.

THE D.A.

IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDITIONS AT THE JAIL.

BUT FULTON IS STILL TRYING TO DIG OUT FROM A MASSIVE CASE BACKLOG AFTER THE PANDEMIC THAT REACHED MORE THAN 200,000 CASES IN 2022.

WHAT'S YOUR PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT BACKLOG?

>> WELL, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOES HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BACKLOG.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT ENDING MASS INCARCERATION.

RIGHT?

WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE DYING IN A JAIL, WHEN WE SEE THE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS IN A JAIL, WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE SITTING THERE FOR TOO LONG UNINDICTED, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY A PROBLEM THAT THE D.A.

CAN TRY TO FIX.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE DO THAT IS WE CREATE DIVERSION PROGRAMS FOR CASES INVOLVING SUBSTANCE ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH, HOMELESSNESS.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN BRING THROUGH THE SYSTEM A LOT FASTER TO ALLEVIATE THOSE PROBLEMS IN THE JAIL AND ALSO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG.

>> PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTION.

>> FOUR YEARS AGO YOU RAN ON A CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM PROGRAM.

DO YOU STILL TAKE THAT POSITION TODAY?

>> I HAVE GROWN A LOT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

THE BIGGEST WAY IS UNDERSTANDING THAT CRIME IS AN ISSUE THAT IMPACTS ALL OF US.

WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

I WANT TO BE COMMUNITY-BASED IN BRINGING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON BOARD TO HELP PROVIDE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE SO THAT WE CAN BREAK THE CYCLE OF RECIDIVISM.

I WANT TO PARTNER WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN FULTON COUNTY TO BE PROACTIVE IN SHOWING UP FOR OUR KIDS TO HELP DISMANTLE THE PRISON PIPELINE.

HAVING COMMUNITY RESOURCE PROVIDERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ADDICTION.

THOSE ARE ALL THINGS WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY THAT WE AREN'T SEEING BEING DONE NOW.

IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT THOSE ARE PROGRESSIVE AND BOLD, I STAND ON THAT.

I DO STILL STAND ON NOT SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY AND OTHER PROGRESSIVE MEASURES TO MAKE SURE THAT FULTON COUNTY ENDS UP BECOMING THE SAFEST COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THAT CONCLUDES THE FIRST ROUND.

IN THE SECOND ROUND, THE CANDIDATES ASK QUESTIONS OF EACH OTHER.

SINCE FANI WILLIS DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE, YOU MAY POSE A QUESTION TO THE EMPTY PODIUM.

YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO PROVIDE A REBUTTAL TO HOW YOU FEEL YOUR OPPONENT WOULD HAVE RESPONDED.

>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?

MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, WHERE ARE YOU?

I'M HERE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE CITIZENS AND FAMILIES OF FULTON COUNTY.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU MAY HAVE ATTENDED THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER, YOU MIGHT BE FUND-RAISING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT WHAT ABOUT US IN FULTON COUNTY?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN THE JAIL, THE BACKLOG?

WHERE ARE YOU?

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW.

>> DO YOU HAVE A REBUTTAL.

>> I CAN'T SPEAK FOR MISS WILLIS.

SHE'S NOT HERE.

I THINK HER ABSENCE IS ALL THE RESPONSE THAT WE NEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT CONCLUDES OUR SECOND ROUND.

YOU ARE WATCHING THE DEBATE FOR FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

FANI WILLIS DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE AND IS REPRESENTED BY AN EMPTY PODIUM.

WE WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE PANEL TO ASK QUESTIONS TO MR.

WISE SMITH UNTIL WE RUN OUT OF TIME.

>> MR.

WISE SMITH, D.A.

WILLIS' OFFICE HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR DEVOTING SUBSTANTIAL TAXPAYER RESOURCES TO PROSECUTING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND 14 OF HIS ALLIES.

IF YOU WIN, WILL YOU CONTINUE THAT CASE, THE ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE?

IF YOU DO, WILL YOU CONTINUE PURSUING D.A.

WILLIS' STRATEGY OF USING THE STATE'S RACKETEERING LAW TO DO IT?

>> THAT ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO US HERE IN FUTON COUNTY.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6.

WE HEARD THE PHONE CALL.

YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

YOU PAY ONE ATTORNEY NEARLY $1 MILLION TO HANDLE ONE CASE, THAT LEAVES THE REST OF US VULNERABLE.

THAT HURTS EVERYONE ELSE IN FULTON COUNTY.

I WORKED IN THAT OFFICE.

MY SALARY WAS LESS THAN WHAT THAT ATTORNEY WAS PAID.

I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING A LOT MORE CASES THAN ONE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE THAT CASE THROUGH IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IMPACTS US IN FULTON COUNTY.

WEAPON DON'T FEEL SAFE STOPPING AT THE GAS PUMP AT NIGHT.

I KNOW VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WHO FEEL LIKE THEIR CASES ARE BEING NEGLECTED AND OVERLOOKED.

WE NEED A D.A.

WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT WE CAN PURSUE THE BIG HIGH PROFILE CASES WHILE NOT LEAVING EVERYONE ELSE BEHIND.

>> SAM?

>> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN ATHENS CLARK COUNTY IS A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE WITH A BACKGROUND IN ACADEMIA AND MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT LAW BUT NO EXPERIENCE AS A PROSECUTOR.

SINCE TAKING OFFICE, SHE'S BEEN PLAGUED BY ACCUSATIONS OF MISMANAGEMENT, WHICH SHE'S DENIED.

WHY SHOULD VOTERS TRUST THAT YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO MANAGE THE BUSIEST D.A.

'S OFFICE IN THE STATE?

>> FIRST, MY LIFE EXPERIENCE SEPARATES ME FROM ANY OTHER D.A.

IN THE COUNTRY I WOULD ARGUE.

I GREW UP SEEING MY MOM AND GRANDMA AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS GET ARRESTED.

AT 15, MY MOM LOST CUSTODY OF ME.

AT 17, I WAS HEADED TOWARD A LIFE OF CRIME.

MY LIFE EXPERIENCE FAR SEPARATES ME AND GIVES ME INSIDE INFORMATION ON THINGS THAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN MANAGEMENT.

OBVIOUSLY, IN ADDITION TO MY LAW DEGREE.

I HAVE WORKED IN GRADY HEALTH SYSTEM.

IT'S THE LARGEST IN THE SOUTHEAST.

I LED A $70 MILLION PROJECT THERE.

I WORKED AS CHIEF OF STAFF IN ATLANTA CITY COUNCIL.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO COLLABORATE AND WORK WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND AGENCIES TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO BEST HERE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF FULTON COUNTY TO MAKE THIS THE BEST JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

>> A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

DO YOU HAVE THE EXPERIENCE TO TRY A HIGH PROFILE FELONY CASE?

IF YOU BELIEVE YOU DO, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT A PAST EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE THAT WOULD INFORM HOW YOU WOULD HANDLE SUCH A CASE?

>> I WAS A PROSECUTOR FOR SEVEN YEARS.

FIVE YEARS IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT LEVEL, NEARLY TWO ON THE FELONY LEVEL.

I UNDERSTAND COLLABORATION.

I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BRING IN ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE THE CASES IN OFFICE WHERE WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS TO HIRE SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF OFFICE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT KIND OF CASE.

THAT'S TIES BACK TO MY EXPERIENCE OF LEADING 70 MILLION PLUS DOLLAR PROJECTS AT GRADY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO DELEGATE AND COLLABORATE TO ACCOMPLISH A COMMON GOAL.

>> YOU RECENTLY HELD A CAMPAIGN FUND-RAISER WITH THE MUSIC EXECUTIVE KEVIN LYLES.

THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CRITICAL OF D.A.

WILLIS' USE OF RAP LYRICS IN THE YSL GANG CASE.

IF YOU WIN THIS RACE, FIRST, WILL YOU CONTINUE THE YSL CASE?

SECOND, WOULD YOU CONTINUE TO USE LYRICS OF ANY KIND AS EVIDENCE AGAINST PEOPLE IN CASES?

>> THE TRIAL IN THAT CASE IS ONGOING.

I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE OR SAY ANYTHING THAT COULD TAINT THAT JURY OR BE UNFAIR TO EITHER SIDE IN THAT CASE.

WHAT I WILL SAY WITH THE BACKGROUND THAT I HAVE, HIP HOP WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE.

I KNOW IN THIS COUNTRY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF PROSECUTIONS OF BLACK MEN, HIP HOP ARTISTS, USING THEIR LYRICS.

ONE IN PARTICULAR, A RAPPER IN THE '90s WAS SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS WITH NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

NO GUN, NO DNA, NO BLOOD.

THEY USED THE LYRICS TO ONE OF HIS SONGS.

THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT'S DANGEROUS.

IF LYRICS LEAD TO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, PHYSICAL EVIDENCE IS FAIR GAME.

LYRICS ALONE, I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS.

WE DON'T SEE THAT BEING DONE IN MOVIES OR FILM INDUSTRIES OR ANY OTHER GENRE OF MUSIC.

IT'S ONLY BLACK MEN IN HIP HOP.

I THINK THAT'S DANGEROUS.

>> THANK YOU.

A FOLLOW-UP?

>> NO.

>> IN GENERAL, D.A.

WILLIS IS KNOWN FOR HER FONDNESS OF GEORGIA'S RACKETEERING LAW, INVOLVING DOZENS OF DEFENDANTS, SWEEPING IN LOWER LEVEL PEOPLE SUCH AT THE APS CHEATING SCANDAL, YSL, ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASES.

DO YOU THINK RICO IS OVERUSED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE ATLANTA TEACHER CASE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THE RICO ACT WAS DESIGNED IN MIND WITH ORGANIZED CRIME AND MOBSTERS AND GANGSTERS BACK IN THE '70s.

TO BE OVERBROAD AND USE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN TRYING TO SWEEP ACROSS A LOT OF TEACHERS, I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN OVERREACH AND MISUSE OF THE D.A.

'S OFFICE.

ONCE I TAKE OFFICE, WE WILL MAKE SURE WE USE THAT IN THE APPROPRIATE WAY AND NOT USING IT FOR EVERYTHING.

>> MR.

WISE SMITH, WE HAVEN'T SEEN A TON OF POLLING IN THIS RACE SO FAR.

THE ONE POLL WE DID SEE RELEASED, FOX 5 REPORTED IT, HAD YOU AT 9% SUPPORT OF THOSE POLLED.

DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A PATH TO VICTORY AT THIS POINT?

WHAT IS THE COALITION YOU THINK COULD DELIVER YOU THERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I'M PRETTY SURE THAT POLL DIDN'T SEEK OUT FIRST-TIME VOTERS OR YOUNG VOTERS OR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE FRESH ENERGY AND NEW IDEAS IN THE D.A.

'S OFFICE.

I'M SURE THAT POLL ONLY FOCUSED ON A SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE.

I UNDERSTAND THE GAME OF HOW POLLS WORK.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL EXCITE A LOT OF FIRST-TIME VOTERS AND YOUNG VOTERS, PEOPLE FROM THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY WHO AGREE WE SHOULD LEGALIZE.

A LOT OF FOLKS WHO JUST WANT TO SEE CHANGE.

THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS TO DO THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND EXPECT A DIFFERENT RESULT.

I'M CAMPAIGNING ON SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE IN THE SOUTH BEFORE.

I THINK WE WILL EXCITE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL COME OUT AND VOTE TO SEE THOSE CHANGES.

>> A FOLLOW-UP?

>> YEAH.

IF YOU DO NOT WIN THIS PRIMARY RACE, WILL YOU ENDORSE MISS WILLIS?

ARE THERE CONCESSIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE FROM HER?

>> RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT FOCUSED ON LOSING.

I'M FOCUSED ON GAINING YOUR VOTE.

I'M ASKING EVERYBODY WATCHING THIS TO VOTE CHRISTIAN WISE SMITH FOR FULTON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

WISE UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS.

CHRISTIAN WISE SMITH WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> FULTON COUNTY, I'M RUNNING TO MAKE US THE SAFEST JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

I WANT THE PRESIDENT TO CALL US AND LOOK AT US AS THE MODEL AND HOW YOU DO LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

WE DO THIS BY FOCUSING ON VICTIM-CENTER PROSECUTION, ENDING MASS INCARCERATION AND DISMANTLING THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE.

I HAVE SEEN THESE SO I KNOW THEY WORK.

I DIVERTED A 17-YEAR-OLD FOR POSSESSION WHO WENT ON TO GRADUATE.

MY MOTHER SUFFERS FROM A MENTAL DISABILITY.

I HAVE SEEN HER GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM WHERE IF SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN PARTNERED WITH FOLKS, IT COULD HAVE CHANGED HER LIFE AND CHANGED MY LIFE.

DIVERTING -- DISMANTLING THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE IS WHY I'M HERE.

IT WAS A POLICE OFFICER NAMED BILL DEAN WHO STEPPED IN FOR ME AND SPOKE POSITIVITY IN MY LIFE AND SHOWED UP FOR ME.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR NOT ONLY MY KIDS, BUT YOUR KIDS.

THAT'S HOW WE MAKE FULTON COUNTY THE SAFEST AND BEST JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

AGAIN, VOTE CHRISTIAN WISE SMITH FOR FULTON COUNTY D.A.

THANK YOU.

>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR PROGRAM.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS APRIL 29th.

ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, MAY 21st.

OUR THANKS TO CHRISTIAN WISE SMITH AND OUR PANEL OF JOURNALISTS.

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB AND GEORGIA PUBLIC BROADCASTING FOR ARRANGING TODAY'S PROGRAM.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB DEBATES, VISIT ATLANTAPRESSCLUB.COM.

THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR THE ATLANTA PRESS CLUB LOUDERMILK-YOUNG DEBATE SERIES.