Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly has a challenger in the November election: attorney David R. Fox of Port Angeles.
Fox, who is running on the Democratic ticket, announced his candidacy last week.
He is challenging Kelly, a Republican, who said she would seek a third term as county prosecuting attorney at the Clallam County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day fundraising dinner last month.
Kelly was first elected in 2002 when she ran against incumbent Chris Shea, a Democrat. Kelly was re-elected in 2006 when she ran unopposed.
Fox, who ran unsuccessfully against County Commissioner Mike Chapman in 2008, has practiced family, criminal and public service law for 15 years in Port Angeles, he said in a prepared statement.
He received a juris doctorate degree from University of Idaho College of Law in 1994.
Fox criticized Kelly for employee turnover in the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and for an age discrimination lawsuit filed by former employees in fall 2008. The lawsuit has not been resolved.
“If elected prosecuting attorney, I would seek a staff of excellent attorneys who demonstrate a desire to root in the community, treat them as professionals and probably keep them around for a while, better serving the expeditious administration of justice,” he said in the statement.
This year’s candidate filing period is June 7-11.
The primary election is Aug. 17. The general election is Nov. 2.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
