Thursday, April 24, 2008

Stegall will file for county attorney office

by Davis Publications staff

Perry attorney Caleb Stegall announced Monday his intent to seek the office of Jefferson County Attorney on the Republican ticket.

Stegall is a life-long resident of Jefferson and Douglas counties. He and his wife, Ann, have five sons and reside a short distance north of Perry on 39th Street.

The candidate has appointed former state Senator Bob Lyon as his campaign treasurer.

“I am pleased and honored that someone as well regarded in the county as Bob Lyon has agreed to be part of our campaign team. Sen. Lyon’s stellar record of public service to the people of Jefferson County is certainly something I intend to emulate,” Stegall said.

The attorney graduated in the top 1 percent of his class from the Kansas University School of Law in 1999, served on the Kansas Law Review, and was awarded the Order of the Coif.

Upon graduation he clerked for the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit and practiced civil litigation and government relations at the state’s largest law firm.

In 2005, Stegall fulfilled his goal to open a small, community based law practice in Perry.

In announcing his bid for Jefferson County Attorney, Stegall said, “Too often in rural America we tell ourselves and teach our kids that success means getting out—the job in the city, or the scholarship far away. For me success means staying home and making this a place people don’t want to leave.

“Jefferson County is already that kind of place, but there is always more work to be done. This is why I’m running for county attorney. The office should be the people’s law firm. It should have an open door, ready to listen to the concerns of the citizens. It should enforce the law—all the laws—and it should treat everyone equally and fairly under the law. It is this fundamental rule of fairness, law, and order that is at the heart of peaceful and prosperous communities. Our communities deserve nothing less.”

Stegall is uncontested for the office. The present county attorney, Michael Hayes, a Republican, has not filed for re-election or indicated he would.