Herb Cranford was appointed Wednesday as the Coweta Judicial Circuit district attorney by Gov. Nathan Deal.

Cranford is taking over the position after former district attorney Pete Skandalakis left to serve as executive director of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council of Georgia Jan. 3. Monique Kirby, Skandalakis’ chief assistant district attorney, was sworn in as acting district attorney Jan. 4.

Because Skandalakis’ term as district attorney does not end until 2020, a special election will be held in November for the position. Cranford said he plans on running.

Cranford has worked as an assistant district attorney in the Coweta office for the circuit court. He started working for the Coweta Judicial Circuit after graduating with a juris doctorate from Mercer University in 2012.

“I also interned in this district attorney’s office while in law school, so I’ve been here my entire career as a lawyer, including going back to law school,” Cranford said. “This is what I know and this is what I wanted to do for some time. I’ve been here over five years, and I started out in the Carroll office and then came to the Coweta office.”

He said he looks forward to his new position.

“I really believe in what we do and in terms of protecting the community and getting justice for victims of crimes and, really we’ve played a big role. A lot of people don’t necessarily think of us in protecting people’s rights,” Cranford said.

Cranford said he wants to carry on the way things were run when Skandalakis was the district attorney

“We take very seriously the fact that if evidence was wrong obtained for example then we would let the defense know and not admit it in trial,” he said.

“If we don’t think there’s enough evidence to convict somebody — we’re about doing the right thing and that’s what Mr. Skandalakis was about, and I definitely want to continue that culture in our office. At the end of the day, number one, do the right thing and be respectful of everybody involved in the process, defendants included. I’m looking forward to carrying on Pete’s legacy and growing the office as well.”

Cranford said he also looks forward to working with the LaGrange Police Department and Troup County Sheriff’s Office.

“I look at it as though we are on a team trying to protect the community and get justice,” he said.

Cranford will be sworn in on Feb. 7.