Meet Shayla Favor, the new Franklin County prosecutor
Why it matters: The county prosecutor represents the public in criminal and civil cases.
They play a key part in our local justice system by working with law enforcement, pursuing convictions and advocating for crime victims.
Catch up quick: Voters elected Favor in November as the first Black person and first woman to fill the role. She was sworn in Jan. 5, and her term ends in 2029.
The Democrat most recently served as a Columbus City Council member since 2019. She spearheaded the " Housing for All" legislative package addressing the area's housing crisis and formed a Youth Council.
Her local legal career started with tackling nuisance properties in the Columbus city attorney's environmental unit.
The latest: Favor on Monday announced a 14-member "transition team" to advise her as she begins her work.
Some of her priorities:
⚖️ Reducing youth violence, by targeting root causes and bolstering diversion programs.
🔎 Increasing accountability and transparency, from rebranding her office's online presence to engaging more with residents at community meetings.
📈 Boosting her staff's diversity to reflect "the richness that is Franklin County."
What she's saying: "I stand on the shoulders of giants who helped pave the way … and so it carries great responsibility," Favor tells Axios about her election.
"It means nothing if I don't create other opportunities for individuals who look like me to walk through those very same doors, or other doors. And most certainly if we don't change the way in which we talk about what safety actually means in our community."
In related news: Columbus City Council unanimously appointed Favor's replacement last night — Otto Beatty III, an entrepreneur and attorney.
Beatty will fill the seat through Dec. 31, as it is up for reelection in November.
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