District Attorney Jon Hopkins has submitted a letter to county Human Resources Director Kathy Ferguson that he plans to retire effective Dec. 31, with his last day in the office set for Dec. 30.
That will clear the way for Don Anderson, elected in November, to take office several days ahead of schedule.
County Administrative Officer Kelly Cox will ask the Board of Supervisors next Tuesday to appoint Anderson to fill in from Dec. 31 until the day he is scheduled to take office, which Cox said is Monday, Jan. 3. Cox said the law calls for newly elected officials to take office on the first Monday in January.
“He would be sworn in early if the county clerk can do that,” said Cox, noting that he's talked it over with Anderson, who is fine with the arrangements.
Even though the days of the early appointment would be over the weekend, “You need to have a district attorney every day of the year,” Cox said.
An official swearing in for all elected officials will be held at the supervisors' meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 4, Cox said.
Cox said it's been standard practice that when an elected official retires early, the person elected to succeed them is appointed by the board for the interim.
When Hopkins was elected in 2006, his predecessor, Gary Luck, retired several days early. The board unanimously appointed Hopkins to take office effective Dec. 30, 2006, ahead of when he was set to take office officially on Jan. 9, 2007, according to county records.
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