A former Miami County judge said Friday, Oct. 30, he’ll challenge county Prosecutor Tony Kendell in the March Republican primary.

Mel Kemmer of Troy, a former law director and assistant prosecutor, said in a press release that he has “the experience the job demands.”

Kendell confirmed that he will run next year.

Kemmer retired in 2012 from the Municipal Court bench where he first was elected in 2003.

He previously served as the law director for New Carlisle for 21 years and as an assistant county prosecutor under former prosecutors Jim Livingston and Jeff Welbaum.

Kendell was appointed prosecutor in 2013 when long-time prosecutor Gary Nasal was appointed to the Municipal Court seat previously held by Kemmer.
Kendell said he would run for election in March.

Kemmer and his wife, Mary Beth, have been married more than 46 years. They have two sons and five grandchildren.

After graduating from The Ohio State University with a major in chemistry, he served in the Army Reserves for six years. He taught chemistry and general science before working as an analytical research chemist for Monsanto Research Corp. Kemmer attended the University of Dayton Law School, graduating in 1978.

“I intend to utilize my long and multi-faceted experience to promote confidence in the prosecutor’s office as I did in the municipal court,” Kemmer said.