Santa Cruz County appoints new District Attorney

The Santa County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed current Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey S. Rosell to succeed Bob Lee as District Attorney Tuesday.

Lee died of cancer on October 18 and had just announced he was stepping down from his post at the county’s top law man two weeks before.

Lee had recently been re-elected to a fourth term that was scheduled to begin on January 5, 2015.

Prior to his passing, Lee urged the supervisors to appoint Rosell as his successor. Saying in part that “No one inside or outside of the office has a better grasp of how far we’ve come and what will be required to continue moving towards a safer Santa Cruz County.”

The California Government Code allows supervisors to appoint the District Attorney until the next regularly scheduled election. in June of 2016.

The winner of that election then serves the remaining two years of the original term.

Rosell accepted his appointment and thanked the Board of Supervisors, the County Administrative Office, and members of the District Attorney’s Office and the local law enforcement community for their support over the last several months.

He also thanked the Lee who he said was his mentor and friend.

Rosell went on to say that he would ensure the unwavering commitment to public safety that has been the cornerstone of the District Attorney’s Office in Santa Cruz.