Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III has announced his plans to run for re-election as the county's head lawyer.
The position is a four-year term and pays about $100,000 a year. The election will take place on Nov. 2.
Dunnings, a resident of Lansing, has a wife and three daughters. He first took office in January 1997.
During his first election, Dunnings said he ran against an incumbent when he won the seat. He said he ran against an opponent in the last election and expects to have an opponent this time, but no other candidates have come forward.
During his tenure as county prosecutor, Dunnings said he has made efforts in reducing and preventing domestic violence cases and targeting gangs in the county.
"Domestic violence is in epidemic proportions," he said. "It's very serious."
To help combat the problem, Dunnings reassigned prosecutors so victims would have the same attorney throughout the case and trained police and prosecutors on how to handle domestic violence cases, with help from federal grant money.
"The warrants we're able to issue have gone up dramatically," he said. "We're charging more cases, and a large percentage of cases we're charging are going to completion."
Intelligence shared between his office and police crime units and drug teams helped rid the county of several gangs, Dunnings said.
Dunnings worked an almost year-long battle between the prosecutor's office and state media outlets in 1999.
Subpoenas were issued by Dunnings to all state media outlets for copies of unpublished photographs and film taken during the March 27-28, 1999, riot.
Area news agencies moved to suppress the subpoenas, arguing a First Amendment "qualified reporter's privilege," and won the case.
David Morse, Livingston County Prosecutor, serves with Dunnings on the board of directors for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.
"I've always been impressed with his integrity and his concern for the welfare of crime victims," Morse said.
If re-elected, Dunnings said he will start a domestic violence program that would focus on getting victims to come forward earlier and help them make more contact with police.
Eaton County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sauter said he has known Dunnings for 15 years and considers him a colleague and close family friend.
Because of Eaton County's proximity to Ingham County, Sauter said the two have worked together on several significant cases.
"That was when I really learned he was more than just a good attorney," Sauter said. "He's an attorney of considerable skill and strong character."
