Jeannine R. Ritchie has been appointed to the position of Dallas County Attorney following the elevation in November of Charles Sinnard to the position of district judge in Judicial Election District 5A.
Ritchie, a longtime member of the county attorney’s office, served most recently as the First Assistant Dallas County Attorney. She was appointed to the top job Dec. 20 by the Dallas County Board of Supervisors, and her appointment became effective at the close of business Friday.
Ronald Forsell will assume the position of First Assistant Dallas County Attorney.
Ritchie’s appointment will run until the next general election in November 2024 unless Dallas County residents petition the county to hold a special election. Residents have 14 days to collect 4,461 petition signatures in order to compel a special election, which the Dallas County Commissioner of Elections estimates would cost about $18,000 to stage.
I don’t know as if a special election would be worth it. Dallas County being what it is, it’s almost a certainty she’d get elected anyway. Still, if I would agree to forgo the special election, maybe they could toss about $10,000 on to the Connector Bike Trail. Maybe that’s a good idea. If they put an additional $10,000 on the Trail, the County would still be $8,000 ahead provided everyone agrees to skip the election. I say we hold Dallas County for a ransom of $10,000. Put the extra money on the Trail and we’ll forget about the election. If not, it will be $18,000 and a lot of work spent on a pointless election. The Supervisors need reminded the NE Quadrant between IA 44 and US 169 is part of Dallas County too. The border of Dallas County is not the western city limits of Waukee. They need to toss Perry a bone more often.