County prosecutor to step down in October, ending 26 years of service

Don McLennan, Presque Isle County?s longest serving prosecutor, announced his resignation at Wednesday?s Presque Isle County Board of Commissioner?s meeting.

He will continue to serve the prosecutor?s office the next three months, and then put his entire focus on the November general election and his bid for probate judge.

?That last four weeks before the election, my time will be my own, and it will be dedicated to the campaign,? said McLennan. ?I won?t have this conflict between work and campaigning.?

McLennan intends to step down October 15. He has been the county prosecutor for 26 years, winning the 1980 election against incumbent Larry Farmer, and then taking office in January 1981. Before taking office, McLennan was in private practice with his wife Julie.

?IN FAIRNESS to the responsibilities of my present office, I believe it necessary to now announce my intent to resign,? stated McLennan?s resignation letter dated July 12.

?I have given this board a lot of opinions over a wide range of issues for many years,? he said while passing out copies of the letter to board members. ?It is now my opinion that I should be submitting my formal resignation to you, with the reasons I have set forth in this letter.?

He said that three months may seem like a lot of notice, but the prosecutor?s office has a lot of irons in the fire and this period of notice will help make the transition to a new prosecutor go smoothly.

Chairman Allan Bruder thought there might be a chance McLennan would step down to turn his attention to the campaign, but was surprised it came so soon.

AFTER READING through the correspondence, board members were complimentary of McLennan.

?We may have had our differences, but I always valued your opinion,? said District 1 commissioner Bob Schell.

Bruder said, ?When you said something, it was always easy to understand. You always did a very good job of explaining positions, and both sides of the story.?

Circuit Judge Scott L Pavlich will appoint a replacement to finish the rest of McLennan?s two year term.

?I am grateful,? McLennan said, ?because it has been a great experience.? McLennan also thanked the board for the many professional courtesies ove

r the years.

?We have been able to work as a team for the benefit of al who depend upon local government, and for that I am appreciative of each of you personally,? stated McLennan?s letter. ?It has been a privilege to work with you!?

MCLENNAN WILL be trying to unseat incumbent probate judge Ken Radzibon in early November. Both already were stumping for votes earlier this month as they walked in the Fourth of July parade in downtown Onaway.

?Starting next January, our local justice system faces new challenges with the combination of probate, district and family courts,? stated McLennan.

?The judge who is elected to preside over this fresh blend of responsibilities will need broad experience and solid administrative skills. This is an opportunity to have a ?county court,? which will truly be responsive to the wide-ranging needs of our citizens, and I hope to lend my best efforts to making it successful.?

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