Doyle appoints McKnight to serve as district attorney in Ashland County

Gov. Jim Doyle Thursday announced the appointment of Kelly McKnight as Ashland County district attorney.

McKnight fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Sean Duffy. Duffy resigned last month to focus on his campaign for the 7th District Congressional seat.

McNight begins serving July 19.

“Kelly McKnight is an experienced and thoughtful attorney,” Doyle said. “I am confident that he will be an outstanding leader in Ashland County.”

“I am honored that Governor Doyle has appointed me to this position,” McKnight said. “I look forward to working with law enforcement and the rest of the criminal justice system to address the needs of Ashland County and keep its citizens safe.”

McKnight received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and his judicial degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School. He worked for Wachowski & Johnson in Eau Claire before serving as a policy analyst for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission in Odanah. Since 2007, McKnight has worked as an associate at Fauerbach & Martell S.C. in Ashland.

“I offer my sincere congratulations to Kelly McKnight on his appointment as district attorney of Ashland County,” said state Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar. “He is well qualified and he is prepared to step in and do an excellent job. He has proven his commitment to give 100 percent of his efforts to serving the citizens of Ashland County.”

McKnight and his wife Margaret have lived in the Chequamegon Bay area since 2005.

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