BURNSVILLE — Former Rowan County Assistant District Attorney Seth Banks is running for the district attorney post in the 24th Judicial District.
Banks will run to succeed outgoing District Attorney Jerry Wilson. The 24th District is comprised of Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties.
“My wife Gretchen and I are excited to officially announce my candidacy for District Attorney,” Banks said in a press release. “Over the last several months I have traveled throughout the 24th Judicial District and talked with many hard-working folks about the qualities they expect from their next District Attorney.  
“The people of Avery, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, and Yancey counties want their District Attorney to share the same values that sustained our ancestors when they first settled these mountains.  The values of honesty, hard work, and integrity characterized them and are the same values I will bring to this office.”
Banks is a Yancey county native who grew up in the Prices Creek community.  He graduated from Mountain Heritage High School and attended college at N.C. State University. He later earned his law degree from Wake Forest University.
After completing law school, Seth became an assistant district attorney, the release said, handling large caseloads with cases ranging from first degree murder to crimes against children to felony assaults.
He has successfully tried numerous trials to verdict before North Carolina juries. As of late, Banks has worked as a partner with the firm Bailey and Banks, PLLC, located in Burnsville.
Banks’ candidacy for District Attorney has been endorsed by former Congressman Charles H. Taylor, former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr, and Yancey County Sheriff Gary Banks, the release said.
“In the coming months I look forward to talking with many people throughout the district about my candidacy,” Banks said. “My extensive experience prosecuting cases at the highest levels, and my desire to be a conservative voice in the courtroom, make me uniquely qualified to serve as the next District Attorney.”