Crime Victim’s Fiance Turns Pain To Campaign

Ken Whitehall doesn’t have any competition for the Sept. 17 primary, but the young Republican is dreading that week anyway.

About that time, Jerry Boot will be on trial for the shocking 1994 murder of Whitehall’s fiancee, Felicia Reese.

“It’s a scary thought to me,” Whitehall said. “I know I have to testify again.”

Whitehall, 24, has tried to transform his anger and sorrow into a run for the statehouse.

More than perhaps any other legislative candidate, the Taco Bell shift manager is campaigning on the issue of crime.

“When I say I’m going to get tough on crime, I mean it,” he said. “It’s something I’m serious about. I’m driven by things inside of me that want to see some serious change. I want to get things done quickly.”

Whitehall vows to change a system that allowed Jerry and Kevin Boot - who had 18 prior convictions - to be on the streets the night of Dec. 27, 1994 when Reese was slain.

“When a kid like Kevin goes through the system 18 times, that’s ridiculous,” Whitehall said. Kevin Boot was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year for Reese’s murder.

On some other issues, Whitehall sounds almost like a Democrat. He wants to increase teacher salaries and sympathizes with welfare recipients who gripe they are penalized for trying to hold jobs.

, DataTimes