Local attorney and former District Court judge David Mistachkin has announced his candidacy for Grays Harbor Superior Court position 3.

The seat was held for more than 20 years by Judge Mark McCauley, who retired at the end of 2017. Ray Kahler occupies that position now.

Originally from Oregon, Mistachkin earned his law degree at Willamette University in 2003, relocating to Grays Harbor to join the firm Ingram, Zelasko & Goodwin, where he was named partner in 2014.

He predominantly practices criminal and family law. Just this year, he successfully helped exonerate a former Westport police officer charged with serious crimes.

Mistachkin served as a Grays Harbor District Court judge in 2015-2016, has served as court commissioner for Grays Harbor and Thurston County superior courts, served as Judge Pro Tem for Hoquiam, Westport, Ocean Shores, Elma and Cosmopolis municipal courts.

Mistachkin has been a board member with Habitat for Humanity since 2010 and currently serves as board president. He volunteers as a youth soccer coach and serves as a judge annually for the YMCA Youth and Government State Mock Trial Championship.

The candidate filing period is officially May 14-18.