Two attorneys from Columbia announced last week that they are running for the office of Monroe County State’s Attorney, both on the Republican side.

Earlier this summer, longtime Monroe County State’s Attorney Kris Reitz, a Democrat, said he will not seek another term of office in 2016.

Myron Hanna, who has served as assistant state’s attorney under Reitz for the past 12 years and is a partner in the law firm of Hanna & Volmert, and Chris Hitzemann, a native of Red Bud who works for Thompson Coburn as a litigator in the firm’s product liability and railroad practice areas, said that they are seeking the position in the upcoming election.

Hanna and Hitzemann will face off in the Republican primary election to take place March 15.

Hanna has lived in Columbia for 32 years with his wife, Diane. They have a married daughter and a son.

A native of Kinmundy, Hanna received his bachelor’s degree from McKendree College and law degree from the University of Illinois.

The Hanna & Volmert law firm primarily represents banks and other corporate clients.  Hanna said he has more than 30 years of experience in commercial litigation and business practice and is a former partner in the St. Louis law firms of Thompson Coburn and The Stolar Partnership.

Currently, Hanna is also the village attorney for both Valmeyer and Hecker and prosecutes ordinance violations for Columbia and Waterloo.

“I am seeking the position of Monroe County State’s Attorney to ensure that justice continues to be served in this county and to maintain our quality of life,” he said. “The stakes are too high to simply leave matters to chance. In addition to the obvious problem of drug abuse, there are also many incidents of domestic abuse, child neglect and other offenses that must be vigorously prosecuted.”

Hanna is a former board member and past chair of Hoyleton Youth and Family Services, Hospice of Southern Illinois, and YMCA of Southwest Illinois. He has also served on the boards of the Illinois Division of the United Way of Greater St. Louis and Memorial Foundation.

He currently serves on the boards of Southwest Illinois Health Ventures and Memorial Group. He is also a member of Sister Cities of Columbia, and a member and past president of the Monroe County Bar Association.

A native of Red Bud, Hitzemann currently lives in Columbia with his wife, Beth, and two children. He was raised on a farm outside of Red Bud and attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School and Red Bud High School, graduating in 1998.

Following high school, Hitzemann earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and his law degree from John Marshall Law School, where he graduated cum laude in 2008.

Hitzemann works for Thompson Coburn and is admitted to practice law in both Illinois and Missouri.

“When my wife and I moved back to St. Louis after law school, we wanted to come back to Monroe County,” Hitzemann said. “Monroe County is the best place to raise a family in the St. Louis area. The people and schools here are second to none.”

Hitzemann’s top priority, if elected as state’s attorney, is to work with local law enforcement and Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing to aggressively prosecute violent felonies.

“I pledge to work closely with local law enforcement to prosecute cases of aggravated assault, battery, sexual abuse and drug trafficking,” he said. “We need to send a message that we do not tolerate violent crime in Monroe County. You will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Hitzemann also pledges to create strong working relationships with leaders at all of the Monroe County schools.

“Our schools in Monroe County are great. If a school administrator encounters a situation of violence, drugs or sexual abuse, I will be there to assist,” he said.