Wake County District Attorney Willoughby will not seek re-election

The Soviet Union was still a country, Reagan was president, and no one had ever heard of “twerking” when Colon Willoughby was appointed Wake County DA in 1983. He’s been one of the most powerful politicians in North Carolina for three decades.

Willoughby announced today that he will not seek re-election this year. For most of Wake County’s residents, Willoughby has been the only District Attorney they’ve ever known. His office has handled many of the high profile cases because Wake County is the capital county. Because of its location and his own political power, Willoughby has helped shape the development of criminal law in the state.