MACON, Ga. — A long-time attorney in Central Georgia is putting his foot in the ring for the race for Houston County District Attorney.
Eric Edwards currently works as the chief assistant district attorney for the Houston County District Attorney's Office, according to a press release from the candidate. Now, he's hoping to helm the district attorney's office.
If elected, Edwards says he hopes to help continue making the Houston County Judicial Circuit the state's "most trusted and productive District Attorney's Office," the press release said.
"I'm proud to have worked alongside our current District Attorney, Will Kendall, to ensure our community is served with excellence," Edwards said in a press release. "I'm dedicated to keeping high standards and providing Houston County with the safety and security our residents deserve."
This is not the first time that Edwards has positioned himself for the top job in the DA's Office.
He previously had stepped down from the Macon Judicial Circuit to put his hat in the ring when the former Houston County DA, George Hartwig, announced his retirement back in 2021.
Kendall would be appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp as the district attorney after Hartwig's retirement. But in 2024, Kendall is not running for District Attorney since he is instead vying for Houston County Sheriff.
Edward's history with the district attorney's office starts when he was a law clerk for the Houston Judicial Circuit. According to his LinkedIn, Edwards was a judicial law clerk and staff attorney from February 2013 to January 2015.
Then, from February 2015 to May 2020, he spent five years as a senior assistant public defender in the Houston County Public Defender's Office, his LinkedIn shows.
After that, Edwards jumped back to prosecution when he joined the Macon DA's Office as an assistant district attorney for about 6 months before coming back to the Houston County DA's Office to serve as chief assistant district attorney under Kendall, where he's been for almost 2.5 years.
In the press release, they emphasizes Edward's focus on human trafficking trials, tackling complex homicides and prosecuting crimes committed against women and children.
"My focus will continue to be advocating for victims, holding criminals accountable, ensuring Constitutional rights are protected, and feverishly pursuing justice," he said in the release.
Edwards, who lives in Perry, said that his goal is to keep the Houston County community safe.
"I consider it a privilege to live, work and raise a family in Houston County," Edwards said in the press release. "Serving this circuit has been an honor and I hope to earn your vote so I can continue to defend the community we proudly call home."
Edwards received a bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University and would go on to earn a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University, the press release said.
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