Athens County Assistant Prosecutor Keller Blackburn announced yesterday he will run for county prosecutor in next year's election, touting his record against drugs and of protecting child victims.
Blackburn made the announcement at a news conference yesterday morning in the Athens County Courthouse, following current County Prosecutor C. David Warren's announcement Jan. 27 that he would not run for re-election.
Though the petition date to run for prosecutor is 48 weeks away, Blackburn said he wants Athens residents to know he will be running now and is dedicated to becoming the next prosecutor.
At the conference, Blackburn said he has protected child victims, convicted the most violent of Athens' criminals and created a drug intervention program for low-felony drug users during his four years as assistant prosecutor.
Athens deserves a prosecutor with this kind of experience in the courtroom
Blackburn said.
Blackburn is a graduate of Nelsonville-York High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Ohio State University and a master's degree from Ohio University.
He also attended law school at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He then returned to Athens, where Warren encouraged him to run for assistant prosecutor.
Warren has served as prosecutor since 2001.
As prosecutor, Blackburn said he promises to continue working with the Athens County Sheriff's Office and other organizations to fight the drug problem in the region.
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Marika Lee
