In today’s edition of the LaGrange Daily News, we discussed the fact that Pete Skandalakis, the Coweta Judicial Circuit district attorney, is leaving his position at the end of the year to join the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia. He will be the council’s executive director and will deal the state’s general legislature and the Governor’s office. In his new position, Skandalakis will speak for the council and work with other district attorneys and solicitor generals.

This will be Skandalakis’s third career change since he started practicing law in 1984. After graduating with a Juris Doctorate at the University of Georgia, he was hired on at the district attorney’s office. He was appointed and then elected as the district attorney in 1992.

It’s certainly remarkable to hold the same position for 25 years, and it is even more amazing that someone stayed in the same office for more than three decades, especially an elected office. It shows dedication to both the region and the state.

District attorneys prosecute against criminal offenses, and they represent the state government during these trials. The district attorney’s office usually represents law enforcement in these cases. Before trials, they also investigate after arrests to make sure cases are worth prosecuting.

Skandalakis was not content to simply prosecute crimes though. During his time in LaGrange, he has frequently taken part and sometimes led prevention efforts and programs for the community. His office has hosted canned food drives, helped organize programs for local youth and stood with officials to improve education on important issues like abuse.

In the years since he moved here, Skandalakis has become part of the fabric of the community, we know that whoever steps into his current position will have big shoes to fill, but while he will have a different position, he said he will still be involved in the community.

While we will miss Skandalakis, we are proud of him attaining his new position with the state. We look forward to continuing working with his office, and with him as trials come up next week.