Centralia defense attorney Jonathan Meyer announced Tuesday that he will run for Lewis County prosecutor in the 2010 election, making him the first to announce his candidacy for the position currently held by Republican Michael Golden.

    Though Meyer admitted it’s a little early to start campaigning, the former Illinois man said he wanted to be as open as possible and do “what’s right for Lewis County.”

    Meyer has worked with the Law Offices of McConnell, Meyer and Associates in Centralia since 1998. He moved to the county in 1996 from Aberdeen with his family, and started working under associate Don McConnell.

    He’s never considered running before, but once he knew, he wanted to be as open about the bid as possible.

    “This is my home,” Meyer said Tuesday. “And there need to be some changes.”

    He’ll run as a Republican, the party he said he is closest to.

    He said he didn’t want to start campaigning just yet, but sees immediate problems in the acquittal and dismissal rates in the current prosecutor’s office. Still, Meyer said, the bid won’t be a grudge match between him and the current prosecutor.

    Lewis County Prosecutor Michael Golden, who would be the incumbent in the race, said he wasn’t ready to officially announce his campaign until filing date requirements in June draw near. He said he wasn’t too surprised to hear that Meyer would run.

    McConnell also said he’s “always been thinking about” trying, but wasn’t announcing that he’ll run against his law partner in 2010. If that were the case, Meyer said the race would be “more interesting” rather than a conflict.

    “Don’s like a father to me,” Meyer said. “We often look at situations from a different perspective, which is why we’ve been able to do so much good work here.”

    Now, Meyer said, he’ll focus on getting a committee and his paperwork filed. Once more announcements are made, he said, the campaign would begin.

    Andy Campbell: (360) 807-8208