By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Rowan County District Attorney Bill Kenerly has announced he will retire when his current term expires at the end of 2010.
“In electing me District Attorney the people of Rowan County have honored me and have allowed me to fulfill my career goal,” Kenerly wrote in a statement provided to the Post.
When his term ends Dec. 31, 2010, Kenerly notes, he will have served 20 years as district attorney and will be 65 years old.
“I am grateful to those who have supported me in five elections, and in the difficult decisions that are a requirement of this job,” he wrote.
Kenerly said in the statement he doesn’t intend to run for any other office and is announcing his retirement now “so that our citizens, and potential candidates, will have ample opportunity to consider the future of criminal prosecution in Rowan County.”
Kenerly has spent 20 years as district attorney for the 19-C Prosecutorial District. Prior to that, he spent 12 years in private practice.
A Salisbury native, Kenerly graduated from Boyden High School in 1963. He graduated from Duke University in 1967 and the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1973. His first job was as a research assistant to Associate Justice Susie Sharp of the N.C. Supreme Court.
From 1975 to 1978, he served as assistant district attorney for Rowan, Cabarrus, Randolph and Montgomery counties.
He served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1967 to 1970.