Marcia Boris appointed interim county attorney

“Out with the old and in with the new.”

So said Bernard “Bernie” Cassidy, retiring Lincoln County Attorney, on Wednesday, moments before the Lincoln County Commission appointed Deputy County Attorney Marcia Boris as his interim replacement.

Cassidy’s last day is Friday, after almost 21 years of service.

“I just want to congratulate you guys on making I think a very good decision,” Cassidy said to the commissioners — Mike Cole, Jerry Bennett and a traveling Mark Peck who called into the meeting — whose support for Boris was unanimous. “I’m completely comfortable with riding off into the sunset with Marcia at the helm and Jeff (Zwang) as her assistant. I think you’ll have very good service out of the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office in the future.

Boris’ interim appointment means that, if she decides to do so, she must run for election in 2018. Her application to be county attorney was the only application the county received.

“I would be honored to be considered for appointment to serve out the remainder of Mr. Cassidy’s term,” she wrote in her cover letter.

Boris was most recently hired as Lincoln County Deputy Attorney in September 2016. She also filled that role from 2008 to 2010. In between she was twice elected as Mineral County Attorney, where she served from January 2011 through August 2016.

The commissioners all thanked Cassidy for his years of service.

“I’m jealous,” Peck said over speakerphone. “It’s a long stand of service there and I’m sure I’ll run into him in some establishment that sells beer.”

The quip got a lot of laughs from a room that filled often with applause and well-wishes from Boris’ family, friends and fellow county employees.

“I just would like to say thank you,” Boris told the Commission. “I am very honored that you and Lincoln County have put their trust in me to work as the Lincoln County attorney, and our office will do our best to make sure that that trust is not displaced.”