Storey district attorney aiming for re-election

Harold Swafford announced Tuesday he is running for re-election as Storey County district attorney.

Saying he "enjoys his job and enjoys working for his family, friends and neighbors in Storey County," Swafford, 67, officially filed for office Monday.

He was first elected in 2003.

Since then, he said, he has implemented a program, in which anyone arrested in Storey County for use or possession of controlled substances is offered treatment for his or her addiction instead of criminal prosecution. Upon successful completion of drug court, the criminal charges are dismissed. Swafford attributes the program, and Sheriff Jim Miller's aggressive investigations into drug use and sales, with helping Storey County to become "relatively drug free."

"The newly published 'Colorado College State of the Rockies Report Card' placing Storey County first out of all the counties in eight Rocky Mountain states in regard to the health and well being of our youth, is the result of all persons in our county working together in support of our youth programs, including our sheriff's and district attorney's offices," Swafford said.

A 1972 graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Swafford first came to Nevada in 1957, while serving in the U.S. Air Force. After his discharge from active duty in 1961 he remained in Reno. He worked for the Nevada Club and Harrah's while attending college at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he graduated with a degree in business administration.

Swafford's first job as an attorney was at the Law Office of Reed & Bowmen in Reno.

Swafford eventually became a special deputy for Nevada and, when Edward Reed became a judge in 1979, Swafford took over as lead counsel for the state.

Swafford was a partner in Swafford, Hoffman & Test practicing water, mining, property, corporate, municipal, domestic and criminal law and handling litigation and appeals.

In 1994, he joined the Nevada Attorney General's Office as a senior deputy attorney general in the state's litigation division.

Since 1981, Swafford and his wife, Katie, have lived in the Virginia City Highlands, where they raised their children.

Katie Swafford is a middle school teacher in Virginia City, where she's taught for the past 17 years.

Swafford said he's "a much better lawyer than he was 15 years ago," and he intends to practice law as long as he stays healthy and enjoys what he is doing.

"Practicing law is like teaching school, you get better the longer you do it," he said.

Swafford will face Anne Langer, Carson City's chief criminal deputy district attorney. She also filed for the seat Monday.