PORT ANGELES — Deborah Kelly, Clallam County’s elected prosecuting attorney since 2003, has announced that she will step down for personal reasons at the end of this year.
Kelly, 60, made the announcement in a Friday letter to the Board of County Commissioners. Her term was scheduled to expire at the end of 2014.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve this community as Prosecuting Attorney for the past 11 years but it is time for me to step down,” Kelly wrote.
Prosecuting attorney is one of two partisan positions in county government, the other being commissioner.
Since Kelly is a Republican, the Clallam County Republican Party will select three candidates for the commissioners to interview after Kelly’s resignation.
County Administrator Jim Jones said the commissioners’ tentative plan is to interviews candidates at the Jan. 6 work session and make an appointment at the Jan. 7 board meeting.
The person appointed to serve out the remainder of Kelly’s term will face election in November 2014 or step down Dec. 31, 2014.
Kelly recently prosecuted the seven-week retrial of Darold Stenson in Kitsap County Superior Court in Port Orchard.
Stenson was found guilty last Tuesday of two counts of aggravated murder for the 1993 shooting deaths of his wife and business partner near Sequim.
Meanwhile, Kelly’s husband has been battling health problems.
“As you are aware, personal matters developed last year which competed for my focus on the job and community,” Kelly said in her letter to the board.
“Despite this, when the Stenson case returned for retrial, I felt I had a duty to see the case through to completion. That is now done and it is time to give my family my entire attention.”
An acting prosecuting attorney will oversee the department until Kelly’s replacement is appointed.
“I am comfortable that my Chief Deputy, Mark Nichols, can manage the transition while the process plays out to select your choice for this office and hope that you will select him as acting Prosecuting Attorney,” Kelly wrote.
Nichols said his first reaction to Kelly’s impending departure was “gratitude to Deb for her years of service to the county.”
“She’s been a person I’ve admired,” said Nichols, who started working for Kelly 9½ years ago and became her second-in-command in 2006.
“She’s been steadfast in her pursuit of justice and a truly exemplary public servant.”
Nichols, who prefers the Republican Party, said he would “absolutely” be interested in being the appointed prosecutor and would consider running for election in 2014.
“I’m very committed to continuing my service to the community,” Nichols said.
Regardless of what happens, Nichols said his priorities are “maintaining business as usual in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and moving forward.”
“We’ve got some fabulous people up here who do great work,” he added.
Clallam County Republic Party Chairman Dick Pilling said party members will discuss the vacancy at a central committee meeting Monday.
“I can assure you this will be high on the agenda,” he said.
Pilling said it would be premature to comment on potential candidates to recommend to the commissioners because he hadn’t had a chance to speak with his fellow party members.
Although the candidates likely would be Republicans, Pilling said political affiliation is “not necessarily the key ingredient.”
“We are intent that our county is represented by good, strong attorneys,” he said.
“We will choose a number of people we think would be good candidates.”
Pilling said he was “delighted” about the Stenson verdict, adding, “I think Deb has done a very good job.”
Kelly began her legal career at a civil rights and general practice law firm in Louisiana.
She served as a District Court judge and was elected as Clallam County prosecuting attorney in 2002.
Kelly ran unopposed in 2006 and defeated Sequim attorney Larry Freedman in the 2010 election.
The Clallam County prosecuting attorney represents the interests of the citizens of the county in criminal trials and in all legal matters involving the county.
The prosecutor also serves as county coroner and legal adviser to all county officials and school districts.
“I have taken my duties seriously and striven to act for the benefit of our citizenry and the good of the county,” Kelly said.
“My only regret is in leaving the outstanding folk who work so incredibly hard in this office.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
