Washington County interviews three attorney candidates

WASHINGTON — Government officials from Washington County held job interviews with three applicants to the Washington County Attorney’s position Friday, as the local government seeks to fill the office vacated by John Gish.

The candidates included a current assistant county attorney, another from Scott County, and a staff member of the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Each flexed their own strengths during interviews in their pitches to the Washington County Board of Supervisors, and various department heads who attended the work sessions.

The applicants had a few things in common. Each aid they would support local law enforcement, were interested in alternatives to prison for some mental health-related cases and had attachments to Southeast Iowa. Their backgrounds and experience levels, however, were quite diverse.

Nathan Repp

Nathan Repp was the first candidate interviewed Friday. Currently a Scott County Assistant Attorney, Repp said his office had one of the highest case loads in the state, and showcased his experience in the courtroom as a main appeal to decision-makers.

"I feel comfortable saying that I’ve been in over 50 jury trials, I don’t think that’s out of the question, I think the number’s probably closer to 70,“ he said. ”When you consider bench trials, post-convention trials, the number’s even higher … that would include mostly felonies.“

Repp said he applied because he was from Southeast Iowa, familiar with the area, and wanted to further his career there.

“At this point, I’m ready for that challenge,” he said. “I’ve been a prosecutor for the past 12 years, had the opportunity to grow, had the unique experience to work in both a smaller county and a larger county … and that’s given me an opportunity to get in the courtroom quite a bit.”

Asked about the most important qualities of a county attorney, Repp said trust was key.

"Having a good relationship with the people that you work with is important in any industry, but especially this industry,“ he said. ”Without that trust, I don’t think a prosecutor can do his job effectively … building relationships is the most important thing you can do in this profession, whether it’s with law enforcement, victims, the court system or other county departments.“

Zachary Miller

Zachary Miller works criminal appeals cases for the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, but lives in West Chester, not Des Moines. While that position has brought him zero experience with jury trials, he said he was very well versed in civil law.

“I’ve handled, at this point, about 240 cases of appeals for the state,” he said. “The two trials that I’ve had were post-conviction relief actions … I have a really strong background in especially researching, knowing when there’s a potential problem, and knowing how to find an answer quickly. I have not worked on, in particular, a county level.”

Miller said he applied for the job because he loved the community and wanted to serve it.

"Since we moved back to Washington County, I’ve really enjoyed living here,“ he said. ”I really want to give back to the community by being their attorney. In terms of the job itself, it’s really exciting … having an opportunity to handle different things, handle different areas of the law.“

In response to a question about the most important qualities of a county attorney, Miller said "exercising good legal judgment“ was the top of the list.

"That judgment and being able to provide the best legal advice possible to make sure that those things happen is very important,“ he said. ”Also, of course being able to interact with people, to have positive relationships … it is important (to) not just tell people what they want to hear.“

Shane McChurch

Currently a Washington County Assistant Attorney, Shane McChurch was the third and final interview of the day. In his interview, McChurch focused on his experience specific to the community, where he has worked in the office for around five years, starting as an intern before he graduated from law school, and more recently taking on the county’s felony cases after Gish’s departure. In total, he said he’d prosecuted in 14 jury trials.

“I don’t think you’ll have another applicant who has the combination of jury trial experience and community connection that I have,” he said. “It’s important that we have somebody who knows what things are like here, who’s been in court here, who’s worked with judges, defense attorneys, law enforcement, here.”

McChurch said he applied for the job in an effort to fill the shoes of former County Attorney John Gish, who was effectively his mentor.

“We’ve done a lot of good over the last couple years under John Gish, and I don’t want to lose that,” he said, later adding, “ I think the ship is headed in the right direction … If it was up to me, if I could make the plan, we would have had another four years under John Gish. I think the phrase is, ‘Man plans, God laughs.’”

As for the most important quality of a county attorney, McChurch emphasized effective prosecution with a focus on victims. He said he was capable of those things, given his caseload in Washington County.

“I have been responsible for what I call the, ‘Victim docket,’ for the last several years,” he said. “Domestic violence, property crimes, the stuff that impacts peoples’ day to day lives where we are responsible for helping them pick up the pieces, and I think I’ve done a good job of that.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com