Kelly Cunningham is currently an Assistant County Attorney for Muscatine County. And she's running as a Republican to succeed current Scott County Attorney Mike Walton when he retires at the end of the year.
"I've been a prosecutor, as well as a litigator, for 31+ years. For most of my career, I was here at the Scott County Attorney's Office, working as an Assistant County Attorney and First Assistant County Attorney, prosecuting felony cases involving narcotics, involving gang-related crimes, crimes of violence."
Cunningham says she has "very close relationships" with law enforcement, but she worries that officers are leaving the force in large numbers.
That's partly because of tensions with parts of the community.
"When I was growing up, we were taught to respect authority, and we did. As society has progressed, one of the things that we are seeing is that there are individuals who no longer respect authority. And it's really taking its toll on a number of different professions."
Walton has endorsed Amy DeVine, currently Scott County's First Assistant Attorney, to be his successor.
Petitions to run for office must be submitted to the county by by March 17th. The primary election will be held on June 7th.