A former Schuylkill County prosecutor who ran for district attorney in 2009 announced plans to run for the seat again this year.
Christine Holman ran on the Republican ticket but was defeated by James P. Goodman. She will run on the GOP ticket again, challenging Democrat Karen Byrnes-Noon, 53, of Ashland, who is serving as district attorney after replacing Goodman when he became a Schuylkill County judge in January 2012.
Holman and Byrnes-Noon are the only two candidates yet to officially announce their bids. Both will be on the ballot in the May 21 primary election and, if each gains the nomination of their respective parties, in the Nov. 5 General Election.
"Serving the residents of my home county as an assistant district attorney was the most rewarding part of my legal career," Holman said in a prepared statement. "Serving as the chief-elected law enforcement officer of the county will give me another opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much."
Holman said she spent her entire career fighting for working families in Schuylkill County. As a prosecutor, Holman said she has worked to make sure county residents lived in a community that was safe for them and their families.
As a lawyer, Holman said she fights on behalf of her clients every day to make sure they get the justice they deserve.
As a mother, wife and grandmother, Holman said she understands the importance of community, opportunity and service and is confident she has the qualities and experience necessary to hold the office of district attorney.
Holman graduated from North Schuylkill High School in 1980, Penn State University in 1984 with a degree in marketing and Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan in 1991. She was an assistant district attorney from 2001 to 2005 and worked in the public defender's office in 2006.
Holman also taught classes in criminal law for about 15 years at McCann School of Business & Technology.
"I believe that the next district attorney should not only work to make sure crime is reduced here in Schuylkill County but also should be a good steward of the taxpayers' money," Holman said. "With an uncertain economy, every elected official has a duty to the people they serve to make sure they are spending the taxpayers' money responsibly.
"I will be aggressive in working with state officials and our entire delegation to maximize grants and other economic opportunities that may be available from the state. We need to make sure that Schuylkill County is getting every dollar it can from the state because we have challenge here in Schuylkill County when it comes to the rising drug crime."
Holman said while the district attorney's office does not set tax policy and recruit business leaders, the office does play a key role in making the community safer to improve the quality of life.
If elected as district attorney, Holman said her number one priority will be to protect the community and lower the crime rate.
"As district attorney, I realize I have an obligation to the business community," she said. "I will encourage the growth of businesses in our local communities and my first objective is to clean sweep the local neighborhoods of drug dealers and other criminal elements. Safer streets encourage the growth of businesses.
"I will also seek to have regular interaction with the (Schuylkill) Chamber of Commerce by attending meetings and functions to hear the concerns of local businesses. We must be more focused on the economic viability of our neighborhoods as a thriving neighborhood is in itself a deterrent to crime. In Schuylkill County, we have a strong work force, are close to major cities and have plenty of space for diverse types of business. However, we still face obstacles to job recruitment and one of those obstacles is our increasing crime rate."
Holman also will aggressively fight to protect the elderly, as well as young children who have suffered from abuse.
"I have the experience and toughness to be your district attorney," Holman said. "I will go to work every day fighting to make our county safer for you and your families."