Walt Merrell has announced he has qualified as a Republican to seek re-election as district attorney of the 22nd judicial circuit.

Merrell is currently serving his first six-year term in the office.

While in office, Merrell said he has been able to prosecute more than 1,900 felony cases and more than 7,500 misdemeanors. The list of pending felony cases has been reduced from more than 400 to 130, he said.

Merrell said his office has focused on helping those who need help.

“When I took office, there were 13 clients in drug court and none had graduated,” he said. “Since then, we’ve graduated 109 people from the intense, year-long program, and we currently have another 72 enrolled.”

The worthless check unit has also cracked down on bad check writers, and his office has collected more than $1.1 million in restitution, he said.

“This is a team effort and I have a fantastic team of highly intelligent and skilled people who make our office click,” he said.

Merrell has previously served as assistant district attorney, DTF prosecutor, and worked as a partner in Merrell and Bryan LLC before becoming DA.

He is a graduate of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Montevallo in political science.

Merrell is active in Crossover Ministries and the Iron Works Men’s Ministry. He served on the Alabama Prison Reform Task Force and helped found the Covington County Child Advocacy Center.

Additionally, as DA, Merrell formed a cold case task force that solved several cold cases.

He is a member of the Andalusia Lions Club; is a founding member of the board of directors of Crossover Ministries; is a member and former president of the LBW Community College Foundation board; and is the former president of the Covington County Bar Association. He and his family also are active in Bethany Baptist Church.

He and his wife, Hannah Gantt Merrell, have three daughters, Bay, Cape, and Banks.

“I am thankful for what you have allowed me to do thus far, and I am asking for your vote, once again, so I can continue to serve you in our mission to stand ‘for the people’ and promote justice,” he said. “Fight the good fight, keep the faith, finish the race.”