ELLSWORTH – A veteran lawyer from Dedham has announced his candidacy for district attorney of Hancock and Washington counties. Steven A. Juskewitch, a prosecutor and defense lawyer for the past 30 years, is running against Michael E. Povich, the local district attorney since 1973, in the November 2006 election. The men are familiar opponents; they competed for the same office four years ago.

On Wednesday, Juskewitch said he would make it his priority to prosecute those who commit the most serious criminal cases, such as sexual assaults, rather than spend time and resources litigating those who commit lesser charges, such as failure to appear in court. “I would see timely prosecution of serious cases,” he said.

The 57-year-old challenger worked as an assistant district attorney under Povich from 1989 to 2000. After that, he went into practice as a defense lawyer in Ellsworth. He ran against his former boss as a write-in candidate in 2002 but lost by about 19,000 votes. Juskewitch said he plans to go about his campaign differently this year.

“I’m going to provide a lot more information about what’s going on in the DA’s office,” he said.

Povich, 62, said he is seeking re-election because he would like to continue tackling the region’s drug problems, particularly through the newly created deferred sentencing program. Like a drug court, the program provides rehabilitation alternatives to people who commit crimes because of their addictions.

“I still enjoy coming to work every day,” the incumbent said.

One question that remains is under what party affiliation Juskewitch will seek office. In 2002, he ran unsuccessfully against Povich as a Republican but continued in the general election as a write-in candidate. After that election, Juskewitch requested a recount. Some ballots with his name on them went uncounted because the box next to where his name was written was not appropriately marked with an X. The results of the vote largely were unaffected.

On Wednesday, he declined to reveal how he intends to run. He is, however, registered in his hometown of Dedham as a Republican. Povich is also a Republican.