Huerkamp Running For Franklin County Prosecutor

By Mike Perleberg Chris Huerkamp, shown here with his wife, Katrina, and their two children, is running for the Republican nomination for Franklin County Prosecutor. Photo provided. (Brookville, Ind.) - Franklin County residents will have the opportunity to elect their first new county prosecutor in nearly four decades. Chief deputy prosecutor Chris Huerkamp filed to run for the Republican nomination for prosecutor on Wednesday, the first day for which Indiana candidates could file to run for office in 2018. Huerkamp officially declared his candidacy by filing at the Indiana Election Division. The 38-year-old has served as the chief deputy prosecuting attorney under longtime Franklin County prosecutor Mel Wilhelm, a Democrat, since January 1, 2012. Prior to that, he worked at the Hamilton County, Ohio Prosecutor's Office for over six years. "I am excited for the opportunity to represent the citizens of Franklin County as their elected prosecutor," said Huerkamp. "In my legal career, I have handled thousands of criminal cases, ranging from traffic tickets to serious violent felonies, and just about everything in between. That experience has prepared me to make the tough calls that the job often requires. As Prosecutor, I will do my best, every day, to see that justice is served and that Franklin County remains a safe place to raise a family." Huerkamp is the son-in-law of Wilhelm, who has been Franklin County’s prosecutor since 1979. Wilhelm could not immediately be reached Wednesday to comment on whether he will be seeking re-election this year. Huerkamp lives in Brookville Township with his wife, Katrina, and their two young children.