Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo has announced his candidacy for one of the two open seats on the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas. Chardo, who has served as the county's chief law enforcement officer since 2018, made the announcement on Tuesday (February 18).
Chardo brings over 30 years of experience as a prosecutor to his campaign, having tried more than 140 jury trials, including 24 murder cases. He was initially appointed to his current position in 2018 and has since been elected twice by the voters of Dauphin County. In addition to his role as district attorney, Chardo serves as the vice president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and is set to become its president in July.
Chardo's extensive legal experience includes serving on the Pennsylvania Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory and Review Commission and the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee, which advises the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He also teaches law at Widener University Commonwealth Law School and is an advocacy instructor at the Dickinson School of Law of Penn State University.
Chardo resides in Lower Paxton Township with his wife, Christine, and their daughters, Catie and Sophie. The family is actively involved in their local community, attending St. Joan of Arc Parish in Hershey, where Christine teaches at the parish school.