CHARLESTON, W.Va.—- Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney is one of the positions voters in the county will be voting on this November election.
There are two candidates and Kanawha County natives that are vying for the position: Lawyer John Mitchell Jr and Assistant Prosecutor Debra Rusnak. They both aim to make Kanawha County a safer place for families by getting criminals off of the street.
With the experience Mitchell has as a lawyer, he believes that will be enough to make an effective prosecutor.
John Mitchell Jr.
“If you want somebody with 40 years of prime experience, and somebody who wants to do a darn good job to make Kanawha County a better place, I’m your man,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell says the prosecutor needs to take initiative day in and day out.
“The most vital role is, of course, anytime a crime is committed, he is the one that brings the charges forward, he is the one that presents it to the court, he is the one that takes the role of representing the role of West Virginia, in this case getting a conviction,” Mitchell said.
Debra Rusnak said that she’s running for prosecutor because that’s where she found her calling after wanting to practice civil law.
“I went to work for Judge (Jim) Stucky out of law school and I was offered a job by Chuck Miller, my former boss here at the prosecutor’s office and when I got here. I fell in love with the work, I feel in love with the ability to help and to be able to make a difference in my community,” Rusnak said.
Debra Rusnak
Rusnak, who was appointed lead prosecutor in June when Miller retired, said it would be an honor to continue serving.
“It’s an honor to be able to stand in this seat for now obviously, but also to be able to have the opportunity to make the difference to hold people accountable that need to be held accountable and protect the people in our society that need to be protected,” Rusnak said.
Rusnak says the job requires a certain level of character.
“It’s a very important job. It’s a job that requires integrity, a job that requires you to do the right thing even if no one is watching.” Rusnak said.
Residents will have the opportunity to vote on November 5th.