Elliot Kolkovich is Summit County鈥檚 new prosecutor.
One week into her retirement, longtime prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh swore Kolkovich in Friday afternoon at the Summit County Courthouse.
鈥淲ithout Elliot being willing to step up and take over the Summit County prosecutor鈥檚 office, I don鈥檛 think I ever could leave, and I needed to leave,鈥� Walsh said during the swearing-in ceremony. 鈥淚 know that he will be good for this community, and I鈥檓 proud of how far he has come with everything he has done through the years.鈥�
Walsh, who was the county鈥檚 longest-serving prosecutor, retired due to lasting health complications from COVID-19.
Kolkovich served in various roles under Walsh, starting as an intern in 2010. He worked his way up to assistant prosecutor and most recently served as outreach prosecutor, representing the office at community events.
Kolkovich said he looks forward to following in Walsh鈥檚 footsteps.
鈥淭here's so many services that she's created that have really transformed the prosecutor's office from being a reactive crime and punishment office to a proactive, keeping-the-community-safe office. I want to springboard off that and come up with any ideas I can,鈥� Kolkovich said.
Kolkovich said his time as outreach prosecutor over the past year helped prepare him for this job, because he heard feedback and ideas from members of the community.
鈥淏eing an outreach prosecutor really put me in the position to be able to listen to the community in a way you don't often get when you're just handling your cases and going to and from court,鈥� Kolkovich said. 鈥淚t was also just incredible to hear from community members and hear their experiences, hear their knowledge of the justice system, and to take all that in in a way that's going to allow us to be better at our job.鈥�
Brian LoPrinzi, chief of the criminal division, lauded Walsh for creating initiatives that support victims, such as introducing companion dogs in the courtroom, an "Arrive Alive" program offering discounted or free rides on certain holidays and a "Start By Believing" campaign for sexual assault victims.
Kolkovich is a great pick to succeed Walsh, LoPrinzi said.
鈥淪herri has created many, many things. She has taken a lot of ideas, and so you鈥檙e going to have to come up with your own. I expect and am really interested and curious to see all the new things,鈥� LoPrinzi said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to see what you have for us.鈥�
The Summit County Democratic committee appointed Kolkovich to the post.
He pulled petitions to run for the role in in December case Walsh decided to retire. She announced her retirement last month.
Kolkovich will serve through the remainder of Walsh鈥檚 term, which was set to expire at the end of 2024.
He will face defense attorney John Greven, a Republican, in the general election in November. Both are running unopposed in the March primary.
This is not the first time Kolkovich has run for elected office. He ran for the Ohio House of Representatives in District 38 in 2018, but was defeated by Republican Bill Roemer.
Greven ran for law director of Green Township, a nonpartisan role, in 2023, but lost to Lisa Dean.
Walsh was first elected prosecutor in 2000. Serving six consecutive terms, she was the county鈥檚 longest-serving prosecutor.
Kolkovich started in the prosecutor鈥檚 office as an intern in 2010 and served in various roles, including assistant prosecutor and grand jury supervisor. He became an assistant U.S. Attorney in 2022, returning to the county prosecutor鈥檚 office in May 2023.
