Cowley County Attorney Chris Smith said Tuesday he has not decided whether he will seek another term in office.
His $56,000 annual paycheck “is a piddly sum for an attorney,” Smith said. He could go into private practice and make twice that amount in the first year, according to Smith.
The Winfield Democrat is completing the last year of his first four-year term as the county’s prosecutor. He said?he will probably file for a second term?but “I haven’t decided yet.”
Smith has offices in both Winfield and Arkansas City. He has three full-time deputy attorneys. District Court – the state court system – has three judges and three courtrooms in the two cities.
County records indicate Smith earned $54,100 in 2007. He was given a five percent, or $2,704, pay hike this year and earns $56,804. County commissioners won’t?begin working on the 2009? budget until later this year.
No one else has filed for the prosecutor’s job. The filing deadline is June 10.
Smith is involved in?a capital murder case involving the January 2007 brutal murder of Jodi Sanderholm, an Arkansas City college student. The Kansas Attorney General’s Office is assisting in the prosecution of Justin Thurber, the man accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering Sanderholm.
The case was to go to trial in June but the state’s Death Penalty Defense Unit has been granted a continuance. A new trial date has not been set. Defense attorneys are also waiting on their ruling for a change of venue.?
