When Pike County District Attorney Gary McAliley announced his retirement last week, he said it was time for “young folks” to take over.

And, if Assistant DA Tom Anderson is elected, that’s just what would happen.

But, 31-year-old Anderson, who officially announced Tuesday he would seek office in the 2010 election said his age would be no factor.

Anderson, of Enterprise, has served as the assistant district attorney of Pike and Coffee Counties for the last five and a half years.

Serving in the district attorney’s office was never something Anderson, a graduate of Enterprise High School, thought he would do. But now, it’s what he plans to do until retirement.

After graduating from law school at the University of Alabama, Anderson moved back to Coffee County to make a home with his high school sweetheart and then new wife Kristina.

He opened a civil law firm and thought he was set.

“It wasn’t until Judge McAliley, who was DA at the time, asked me to have lunch with him and informed me someone in his office was leaving,” Anderson said.

“I asked him who he was looking to replace her? And he said, I’m looking at you. All of a sudden even though it was something I didn’t consider, I just knew it was right to do.

“It’s what I chose, but it chose me,” Anderson said.

And now, despite the nature of the job, Anderson said he could never imagine doing anything else.

“It’s in my blood now. I take it so seriously,” Anderson said.

If elected, Anderson said he vows to work to bring justice to victims and work closely with local law enforcement to see that justice is always done.

“We are going to go the extra mile when it comes to our local law enforcement and victims,” Anderson said.

“Just as a criminal defendant has the right to representation, the citizens of Coffee and Pike Counties have the right to have their voices heard in court. I continue to be that person.”

Anderson has tried more than 40 cases to verdict and only four have been lost.

He is the first to formally announce his district attorney campaign for November 2010.

“I humbly ask the people of Pike and Coffee Counties to consider me for that position,” Anderson said.