Drew Welsh was sworn in Monday as Clarion County’s new district attorney, and he is looking forward to the challenges of his new position.
“I am very excited about becoming the district attorney for Clarion County,” Welsh said Monday after taking his oath of office. “It is a great responsibility.”
Erich Spessard, who is county’s public defender, will become the new assistant district attorney.
Not only will Welsh be facing a challenging new role, but he will be in a new location. The county has been renting office space at 502 Liberty St. and will move when the new office at 514 Liberty is completed.
“Moving into our new office will be a challenge,” said Welsh. “In my mind the commissioners have done a great job of getting in there and getting work done. Things are really moving along.
“It is a lot on the staff but we are getting it done. We are figuring out what we have to move. I believe everything is going to fit in very nicely,” he said.
Welsh will also be teaming up with a new judge, Sara Seidle-Patton.
“I am very confident that we are going to be able to work well together,” Welsh added. “The district attorney and the judge have to be able to understand each other’s perspectives.”
In her inaugural address, Seidle-Patton indicated she would like to see additional treatment courts, which would present another challenge for Welsh.
“I have been on the treatment court team, the drug and alcohol and the behavioral court teams. You see a lot of good things come out of these programs but there a lot of challenges too,” Welsh said.
“I am interested and excited to see what programs she has planned moving forward,” said Welsh. “It really can make a difference in people’s lives.”