HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Houston County is getting a new district attorney soon as the current DA Will Kendall runs for Sheriff.
The only candidate who qualified for the ballot is Eric Edwards.
For the last 12 years, Edwards has worked his way around the Houston County Courthouse.
"I worked as a staff attorney for our judges in this circuit for a couple years, then I moved across the hall to the DA's office," Edwards said.
He's worked as the Chief Assistant DA for about 2.5 years.
He says he's found great joy in that role.
"I think I'd been a prosecutor for all of two weeks when I realized this is all I want to do for the rest of my career," Edwards said.
He is a Houston County native. He still lives in his hometown of Perry.
"It was a great safe place for me to grow up. I want it to be a great safe place for my kids to grow up too," he shared.
With two young daughters of his own, he says he's got a passion for prosecuting people who harm children.
"Child molestation, child abuse, and working with kids, is my calling as far as a prosecutor," he shared.
He says his main goal stepping into the role is to continue to support the team at the Houston County Judicial Circuit.
"The Houston County District Attorney's Office is the best prosecuting office in the state of Georgia, and I plan to keep it that way," Edwards said.
He says he wants to maintain efficiency and relationships.
"Empower [the staff] to do their jobs, maintain our fantastic relationships with our wonderful local law enforcement agencies, all of which have been so supportive of this office," he said.
Edwards said he also wants to build community engagement.
"I've always been involved in the community here, growing up here. I want our office to be out front and center here as well," he shared.
His wife is an educator and says education is very important to them.
He is interested in engaging school teachers, faculty and students too.
"I would love to have some proactive endeavors take place in the schools, especially with an uptick we've seen nationally in youth violent crime," Edwards shared.
He says he doesn't go about his job looking to seek convictions, but instead to seek justice.
"As long as we know that we are endeavoring to prosecute ethically, within the bounds of the law, and what's the right outcome, it's easy to go home and lay your head on the bed knowing that you've done a great job seeking justice," he said.
Edwards says the state may add another superior court judge to their circuit within the next year. He says this will give them a chance to speed up trials that may currently be considered low priority.
While he is the only candidate who qualified for the ballot, it is possible someone could still run a write-in campaign against Edwards.
Edwards is a Republican. You can find his official campaign page here.