In place of prosecutor: County seeks to hire outside lawyer for suit

County commissioners Pat O’Neill and Greg Partch voted Monday to ask the superior court to approve hiring an outside lawyer to defend the county in the civil suit filed last month to stop the county’s commitment to the Hawkins project. If approved, the move would remove Prosecutor Denis Tracy from defending the county in his normal role as county attorney.

Commissioner Michael Largent voted no.

“I’ve had a real tough time thinking that our prosecuting attorney can keep his personal views out of the mix of the legal side representing the county,” said O’Neill. “He has indicated that that’s not...