'Cannot continue at the pace': Summit County prosecutor announces her retirement

Summit County’s longest-serving prosecutor is retiring.

Sherri Bevan Walsh announced Tuesday that she will retire on Feb. 16.

Walsh, who will undergo heart surgery later this month because of COVID-19 complications, had said she would decide after the first of this year whether to seek reelection.

"Because of recent events, I realized I was not going to be able to provide the high level of devotion this job needs, and Summit County deserves," Walsh said in a news release. "I just cannot continue at the pace the position of county prosecutor requires."

Walsh’s announcement opens the way for a competitive race in this year’s election between Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich and John Greven, a prominent defense attorney and former assistant prosecutor.

High-profile cases: Craiglist killer and sledgehammer slayings: Highlights from Sherri Bevan Walsh's tenure

Walsh, 63, who was first elected in 2000, filed petitions in early December to run for an unprecedented seventh term. Kolkovich also submitted petitions in case Walsh opted not to run.

Tom Bevan, the chairman of the Summit County Democratic Party and Walsh's brother, said the party's central committee must meet within 30 days of Walsh's retirement to choose the person who will replace her through the end of her term. He expects this to be Kolkovich.

Walsh is declining to do any interviews about her decision until her retirement party in March.

Walsh wins awards and fights for victims

Walsh has won numerous awards during her tenure, including the Ohio Prosecuting Attorney's Association's Outstanding Prosecuting Attorney of the Year Award in 2021 and the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center's Models of Justice Prosecutor of the Year award in 2016.

Walsh distinguished herself with efforts to help crime victims, including becoming the first prosecutor's office in Ohio in 2013 to have a facility dog to assist children who are crime victims and witnesses, as well as children and adults with developmental disabilities. Avery has worked with nearly 300 victims in 240 cases, according to the prosecutor's office.

Walsh recently brought in a second facility dog who will have the same job as Avery.

Walsh also worked with the Summit County Sheriff's Office to create the Take Me Home program, a safety tool for people who have family members with mental health conditions, such as autism or dementia, that might make it difficult to communicate with them if they wander from home.

Walsh touts her experience in last election

Walsh touted her experience during her last election in 2020, pointing to her two decades in office as an asset.

Michael Washington, her Republican opponent, painted her experience as a detraction. Washington, an assistant Harrison County prosecutor for 11½ years who moved to Cuyahoga Falls and started a private practice, said the county needed new leadership.

Walsh won commandingly, claiming nearly 61% of the vote.

In the two years prior to the 2020 election, Walsh had some turmoil in her office, including allegations by former employees of sexual harassment, bullying and campaign activities during work hours, as well as the resignations of several employees.

The Lorain County Prosecutor investigated some of the allegations and found no misconduct.

Several former employees said they planned to sue over how they were treated during their time in Walsh's office but didn’t follow through.

Walsh's health battles

Walsh, a married mother of two, survived breast cancer in 2015, beating the disease after treatment that included chemotherapy.

Walsh, who has been open to discussing her health challenges, got COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic in September 2020. She experienced every known symptom of the disease, though she continued working by phone and videoconference while she recovered.

Just before the holidays, Walsh said in a news release that she would undergo heart surgery in early 2024 because of complications from heart failure related to COVID. She said her heart condition initially showed improvement but then worsened, causing the need for surgery.

Who are Elliot Kolkovich and John Greven?

Kolkovich began his law career with the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office in 2010, where he interned while waiting to take the bar exam.

After passing the bar, he accepted a position in the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office’s juvenile division, where he handled abuse, neglect and dependency cases. In February 2012, Elliot moved to the criminal division, where he spent more than 10 years prosecuting felony offenses.

Kolkovich served as an assistant U.S. attorney for eight months. In May 2023, he returned to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office as the community outreach prosecutor.

Kolkovich ran for a Statehouse seat in 2018.

Bevan said he would have been happy for Walsh to run again but, as her brother, supports her decision to concentrate on her health. He said he thinks Kolkovich will do a "fantastic" job in her stead.

"I'm really excited to see him step in," Bevan said.

Greven, who is a Republican, is a criminal defense attorney who has handled many prominent cases, including murder cases. He was an assistant Summit County prosecutor from 1995 to 2001, leaving after Walsh was elected.

Greven, who previously vied for Green law director, said he planned to run regardless of whether Walsh retired.

"It's definitely time for a change," Greven said.

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj. 

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh is retiring in February