Supporters of Richard Mallard dropped by the Hinely Community Center Tuesday for a reception as part of his campaign for re-election as Ogeechee Judicial Circuit district attorney.

Mallard will face Martha Kirkland Hall in the July 31 Republican primary. The winner will run unopposed in November.

Mallard pointed to his 25 years as a prosecutor, including the last 10 as District Attorney. He said his experience has given him the ability to lead his nine assistant district attorneys while efficiently running the district attorney’s office during tough budget times.

"I am committed to making Effingham County safe and keeping criminals off our streets," Mallard said. "I feel I have earned an opportunity to keep serving Effingham County as your district attorney."

The highest-profile case for Mallard’s office in recent memory was the December 2010 double-murder conviction Craig Heidt

. He was sentenced to two life terms plus 85 years in the shotgun slayings of his father, Effingham County developer and realtor Philip Heidt, and brother Carey Heidt.

However, Mallard noted that "each county in our circuit has had significant cases in the last 10 years." He said his office places particular importance on cases in which a child has been harmed.

"Child molestation cases are particularly disturbing. Every child molestation case is considered a significant case," Mallard said. "In Effingham County, we have successfully prosecuted a number of high-profile murder cases and child death cases which have resulted in life sentences or life without parole."

Mallard manages one office in downtown Statesboro and one at the Effingham County Courthouse in Springfield. The Effingham office has expanded during Mallard’s tenure and now has three assistant district attorneys and an investigator who serve the county.

"We have continued to staff our office with local attorneys and staff to keep pace with the growth of our four-county circuit despite the significant economic downturn and state budget cuts," he said. "It has presented a great challenge, but I am proud that my office has had an extremely low turnover rate among staff and attorneys."

The Mallard campaign is hosting several receptions throughout the four counties served by the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit — Effingham, Bulloch, Screven and Jenkins. The next one in Effingham County will be June 21 in Guyton.