Walking into the courthouse Jan. 2 as Clallam County’s new prosecuting attorney, Deb Kelly faces a staff of two fewer criminal deputy prosecutors, positions that fell to a sharp budget ax.

Besides trying to do more with less, Kelly also steps into an immediate take-charge challenge.

“I don’t know how difficult it’s going to be until I get in and see,” Kelly said in an interview Monday.

“No doubt it’s going to be a challenging year.”

Kelly anticipates the $80,766-a-year job will require her working up to 12 hours a day.

She plans to perform her duties as a criminal-prosecuting attorney who also manages deputy prosecutor caseloads and support staff.

For now, nobody in her office will carry the title of chief criminal deputy, she said. That was the case with departing Richard Suryan, a key player on outgoing Prosecuting Attorney Chris Shea’s team.

Kelly, instead, will work in that role until she gets to know her staff.

“I want to work with the staff — six months to a year is what I am thinking,” Kelly said.

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The rest of the story appears in the Tuesday Peninsula Daily News. Click on SUBSCRIBE, above, to get the PDN delivered to your home or office.