LISBON — Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron, who has held the job longer than anyone else, changed his mind and will not seek re-election this year.

Herron announced he was withdrawing from the race and dropped off a letter to that effect at the county elections board to have his name removed from the ballot.

“After 42 years and 8-1/2 terms as prosecutor, the decision to step away came easily, and I am looking forward to retiring and spending more time with my wife and family,” Herron stated in a news release.

Herron was assistant county prosecutor when promoted to the top job in 1987 after prosecutor David Tobin was elected Common Pleas Court judge. Herron was elected to his first full term the following year and announced last November he would seek re-election to a ninth term in 2020.

“Few people can return to their hometown and spend their entire career in the work of their choice. I have thoroughly enjoyed this job working with many exceptional people involved in law enforcement and have tried more criminal cases than I can remember,” he said. “However, I’ve done this long enough.”

Herron thanked the people of Columbiana County for “affording me the privilege of serving as their prosecuting attorney,” and Tobin for giving him his start and setting such a fine example to follow.

He especially wanted to thank his staff. “I have been blessed through the years, past and present, with the most experienced and skilled trial attorneys, investigators and staff members,” Herron said.

A Democrat, Herron would have been running in the November election against Republican Vito Abruzzino, an attorney and U.S. Army veteran, where he served in the Judge Advocate General Corps.

“This is not a position for a newcomer or the unexperienced. Prosecuting capital cases, murder cases and other serious crimes is unlike anything else in the practice of law,” Herron said, adding he is leaving behind an experienced and capable staff. “Anything less would be a disservice to the people of Columbiana County.”

Charley Kidder, the county Democratic Party chairman praised Herron for his many years of service.

“Bob’s work in creating the drug task force and the major crimes task force will continue to help keep our citizens safe long after he has left office,” Kidder said.

Since Herron is a Democrat, the party has the task of choosing someone to run in his place. Kidder said they will begin accepting applications and have until sometime in July to make a decision.

Herron said he looks forward to retiring with his wife of 25 years, Diana, who he thanked for putting up with everything that comes with being married to a prosecutor. He has a son who is a financial planner, a daughter in medical school and two grandsons.

tgiambroni@mojonews.com