Delegation appoints McCormack to fill county attorney vacancy

LANCASTER -- The Coos County delegation Tuesday appointed Assistant County Attorney John McCormack to serve as County Attorney, retroactive to Nov. 7 when Robert Mekeel resigned from the position.

McCormack successfully ran for the county attorney position in November and would normally assume the position next month. But with the office open, Delegation Chair Rep. Robert Theberge said the delegation voted to name McCormack to the position and to pay him the full salary retroactive to Nov. 7. With only one attorney in the office until McCormack can hire an assistant, the delegation voted to encumber the money budgeted for the second position in case it is needed to cover costs associated with the Colebrook explosive case. McCormack had approached the delegation last month to express his concern that the money budgeted for the case might be insufficient. He said his office is hiring an expert who specializes in manufacturing and explosive to help with the highly technical aspects of the case. Company owner Craig Sanborn of Maidstone, Vt., was charged with manslaughter and negligent homicide charges in the explosion which claimed the lives of two employees. The case is scheduled for trial in January.