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Two candidates on ballot for Greene County district attorney

By Katie Anderson, For The Greene County Messenger 2 min read
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Russo

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Jessica Phillips

After nearly 20 years, there will be a new district attorney in Greene County following the general election Nov. 5.

The two candidates on the ballot are Jessica Phillips of Waynesburg, Democrat, and David Russo of Jackson Township, Republican.

Marjorie Fox, who’s held the position since 2001, decided not to run for another four-year term, and instead, is supporting Phillips in the race. Fox said that after the primary, she hired Phillips as a part-time assistant district attorney.

Phillips said she ran because she wants to keep “politics and special interests” outside the office of district attorney to ensure that “the law applies equally to everyone.

“I really want to ensure that police efforts aren’t undermined by a ‘good ol’ boy’ approach to prosecution,” she said.

One issue she wants to address is a more effective prosecution of assaults on the staff and officers at SCI Greene from inmates already serving life sentences.

“My father was a corrections officer,” she said. “Their safety is a priority for me.”

Russo, a defense attorney in Waynesburg, did not return multiple calls and requests for comment.

Term: Four years

Salary: $183,184 

REPUBLICAN

Name: David Russo

Age: 42

Education: Not provided

Occupation: Private practice attorney in Waynesburg

DEMOCRAT

Name: Jessica L. Phillips

Age: 30

Education: Waynesburg High School, 2007, bachelor’s of political science and Spanish from the University of Maine, 2011, University of Dayton School of Law in 2014

Occupation: Private practice attorney in Waynesburg, part-time assistant district attorney

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