His experience and consistent, fair approach are two reasons District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau says voters should return him to office this fall. Rushlau is the second longest serving district attorney in the state, and he’s seeking a sixth term this fall against Democratic challenger David Sinclair, 45, of Bath.

Rushlau, 61, of Dresden has served Prosecutorial District 6 comprising Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Knox and Waldo counties since 1993. He was appointed by former Gov. John McKernan  to serve as the District 6 district attorney.

Rushlau has 34 years experience as a prosecutor. He’s spent the past 21 years as the district attorney. Prior to his appointment, he was an assistant district attorney in Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties.

Rushlau, a Republican, believes his long service as a prosecutor makes him an effective district attorney. He says “experience matters” which voters should consider in his bid for another four-year term.

“I absolutely think it’s the case,” Rushlau said. “I know what the law is. I use the benefit of my experience every day. My knowledge of the law, court procedures and workings of law enforcement are all essential elements in running the district attorney’s office.”

Rushlau said he used his experience to expand a program designed to deal with juvenile crime. The state of Maine implemented a federal grant to hire judges to specialize in juvenile matters. Rushlau and other prosecutors lobbied for the grant to hire six state prosecutors in conjunction with the judges. 

“It was such a successful program that when the grant ran out, the state Attorney General (Steve Rowe) made sure the program continued by getting it funded out the state’s general fund,” Rushlau said.

The increase of juvenile crime requires prosecutors who know their way around the judicial system, according to Rushlau. He believes these crimes should be handled differently than adult crimes.

“Juveniles are still developing,” he said. “Their brains aren’t fully developed, so you can’t treat them like adults. You need a prosecutor with experience who can develop a process to deal with each case to bring about the proper outcome.”

Besides juvenile crime, Rushlau believes drug abuse, child abuse and domestic violence will continue to be major challenges in District 6 and across the state. He said dealing with opiate addiction is an increasing problem on a daily basis.

“I’m concerned about the increasing opiate use, especially of Oxycontin and heroin,” Rushlau said. “In recent years, more deaths have been attributed to opiates than car accidents. This is something that law enforcement and prosecutors office needs to address.”

As district attorney, Rushlau oversees eight other assistant prosecutors in four counties. He believes his experience is a valuable commodity in District 6. As a veteran prosecutor, he’s able to advise younger prosecutors about how the judicial system works.

“Prosecutor is the only job I’ve had as an adult,” he said. “That experience is something I share with the younger prosecutors in the office. It’s a small staff and we all need to be effective prosecutors. My experience helps insure the office works in an effective manner to insure that goal.”

Rushlau has won reelection four times. This is the first time in eight years he has faced any opposition.