 Governor Mark Dayton announced today the appointment of two area attorneys to fill two district court judgeship vacancies in Minnesota's ninth district. Annie Kloss and Hughesby, the current Beltrami County attorney, was appointed to fill a new judgeship recently created by order of the Minnesota Supreme Court and will be chambered at Bemidji in Beltrami County. Christopher Strandley, the current Cass County attorney, was appointed to fill the vacancy of the Honorable Richard A. Zimmerman. Strandley will be chambered at Brainerd in Crowland County. Strandley was previously the assistant Cass County attorney before becoming the Cass County attorney. Now, Cass County Administrator Josh Stephenson tells Lakeland News that if Strandley accepts the judgeship and resigns, State statute says the first assistant county attorney would take over the role as county attorney until the vacancy is filled. The county board could appoint a new county attorney by statute, though there could be no special election. The next election cycle for county attorneys is 2018. Barb Harrington is the first assistant in Cass County. David Frank is the chief assistant for Beltrami County. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.