Governor McCrory Announces Appointments | Eastern North Carolina Now

For Immediate Release:

    Raleigh, NC     Governor Pat McCrory announced the following direct appointments today:

Governor's Crime Commission

    Chris Swecker (Mecklenburg County) - Governor McCrory has selected Swecker as chairman of the Commission. Swecker is an attorney for his own general law practice, focusing on criminal and civil litigation. Prior to this, Swecker worked as the global security director for Bank of America. He is also a retired FBI assistant director and special agent in charge of NC FBI operations. Before becoming a special agent, Swecker was an assistant district attorney for the First District of NC. He has been appointed the Governor's Designee.

    James "Jay" Gaither Jr. (Catawba County) - Gaither serves as district attorney for Prosecutorial District 25, which encompasses Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties. Prior to being elected D.A. in 2002, Gaither ran his own private law practice. As D.A., Gaither has reduced the backlog of pending cases and implemented several programs, including the Alive at 25 Program, the Infractions Court and the Domestic Violence Court. Gaither is a member of the Caldwell County Domestic Violence Task Force, the Children's Advocacy Center of Caldwell County, the NC Conference of District Attorney's Legislative Committee and is on the Board of Directors of the Hickory Soup Kitchen. He has been appointed to a seat designated for a district attorney.

    James Blanton (New Hanover County) - Blanton is an attorney at White & Hearne L.L.P. and has extensive litigation experience in the North Carolina and federal criminal justice system. Prior to his time at White & Hearne, Blanton was a judge advocate for the U.S. Marine Corps. He was appointed as a special assistant U.S. attorney. Blanton began his career as a solo practitioner with a concentration in indigent defense. He has military training and attended the Naval Justice School in Newport, RI as well as the USMC Officer Basic School and Officer Candidates School in Quantico, VA. Blanton has been appointed to a seat designated for a defense attorney.

    Sheriff Alan Cloninger (Gaston County) - Cloninger is the sheriff of Gaston County. He began his career as a police officer for the Town of Dallas and with the Gaston County Police Department. Prior to becoming sheriff, he served as jail administrator for the sheriff's office. Cloninger has also worked as a prosecutor with the Gaston County District Attorney's Office. He has been a charter member of the Dallas Rescue Squad since 1974. He serves as the vice chairman of the squad. He has been reappointed to a seat designated for a sheriff.

    Sheriff BJ Barnes (Guilford County) - Barnes is the sheriff of Guilford County. During his time as sheriff, there has been a 46% reduction of crime in the county. His office has won The Best Large Office in the State for two years, and he was recently nominated for the National Sheriff's Association's Sheriff of the Year. He began his career working in patrol for Guilford County, helping develop the county's Sheriff's Office Vice Division. He has also served as a non-commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. He has been appointed to a seat designated for a sheriff.

    Ivan McLaughlin (Mecklenburg County) - McLaughlin is a day treatment counselor QMHP/QDDP (Qualified Developmental Disability Professional/Qualified Mental Retardation Professional). He works to increase the individual ability to cope and relate to others and enhance the child's capacity to function in an inclusive setting. He has been appointed to a seat designated for someone with a knowledge of juveniles.

    Fred "Chip" Hughes (Craven County) - Hughes is the commissioner for the Town of Trent Woods, where he has lived since 1970. Hughes served three years in the U.S. Air Force. Afterward, he worked for the NC Highway Patrol. He is currently the director of sales for a public safety technology company. He is a member of the Craven County Community College Foundation Board of Directors. He has been appointed to a seat designated for someone with a knowledge of juveniles.

    Sheriff Donnie Harrison (Wake County) - Harrison is Wake County's sheriff. He was first elected in 2002. He served on the NC Highway Patrol for 26 years. He also served as chief of security for the NC lieutenant governor in 1988-92. Harrison is one of Wake County's top canine search and rescue handlers. He has been appointed to a seat designated for a county government official.

    Gail Mills (Durham County) - Mills is the co-founder and CFO of the Durham Rescue Mission, a holistic shelter for homeless and addicted men, women and children. Mills recently opened the Center for Hope, a multi-purpose building for the mission's men's campus. She has been appointed to a seat designated for an advocate for victims of all crimes.

    Keith Stone (Nash County) - Stone recently retired as a captain of the N.C. State Highway Patrol, where he was assigned as the school director of its training academy. He began his career as a jailor with the Robeson County Sheriff's Office. Afterward, Stone began working for the NC Highway Patrol, where he was recognized as a leading trooper in DWI arrests for 10 consecutive years. Stone is a recipient of the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate of North Carolina. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Nash County Health Department. He has been appointed to a seat designated for a citizen at-large.

    The Governor's Crime Commission advises the governor on matters related to the criminal justice system and makes recommendations for improving the justice system, protecting individual rights and promoting public safety. The commission has 38 voting members and six nonvoting members.


    Contact: Crystal Feldman     govpress@nc.gov