Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo announced Tuesday morning his intention to run for a third term as the chief prosecutor for Abbeville, Greenwood, Laurens, and Newberry counties. Filing for the 2020 election cycle opens on March 15 at noon.

Elected to the post in 2012, Solicitor Stumbo made a commitment to stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” with law enforcement and fight in the courtrooms of the 8th circuit to “keep our families safe.” Along with his prosecutors and support staff who resolve hundreds of criminal cases across the circuit each month, Solicitor Stumbo has prepared for trial and prosecuted over 40 major crimes during his tenure, including capital murders, child abuse, domestic violence, DUI, property crimes, and other violent criminals.

A new circuitwide Domestic Violence Task Force was initiated by Stumbo in 2015, bringing together law enforcement agencies and other community partners from across the four counties to combat the scourge of domestic violence in South Carolina. Solicitor Stumbo has also overseen the expansion of diversion programs for certain non-violent cases to bring innovative ways to restore those offenders back to the community, including the creation of the 8th Circuit Veterans Court Program in 2017 in partnership with the Greenwood and Laurens counties Veterans Affairs Office.

“We have come a long way in the past seven years to change the culture of this office and strengthen relationships in the law enforcement community, but there is still much work yet to be done,” Stumbo said. “I look forward to leading from the front as your Solicitor to help keep our families safe.”