By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Houston County Attorney Rick Jackson tendered his resignation, effective May 30, 2008, at the April 1 county board meeting.
In a written statement to the county board, Jackson, who has served as county attorney since 2000, stated:
“It is with mixed emotions that I announce to you my resignation as Houston County Attorney, effective May 30, 2008. After much thought and deliberation, I have accepted a position with the Criminal Division of the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office. I am returning to Olmsted County for the opportunity of heading up a special prosecution trial team. This move will allow me to return more to a criminal law/trial practice, which I very much enjoy. Finally, with my oldest child now heading to college, I could not ignore the financial benefits of this new position.
“In addition, as some of you may know, I have applied for the State District Court Judgeship in Winona County, created by the pending retirement of Judge Margaret Shaw Johnson, which will occur in May 2008,” Jackson continued. “At this time the selection process for that appointment is underway and I currently have no information as to whether or not I will be a finalist for that position.
“As I indicated, this was a very difficult decision. I very much appreciate the opportunity you gave me when you appointed me to fill the remaining term of then County Attorney James Fabian in February of 2000. I have truly enjoyed my tenure at Houston County. I have enjoyed working with each of you, as well as the department heads and staff members of Houston County. In the last eight years, I have grown professionally and have hopefully helped contribute to the betterment of Houston County and its citizens,” Jackson’s statement concluded.
“It is very tough for a county like this to lose a good person like you,” Commissioner Larry Graf said to Jackson.
“I have certainly appreciated your work here. You are an ethical, moral person. I’m going to hate to see you leave,” Commissioner Ann Thompson noted.
“I too am sorry to see you go,” Commissioner Dave Corcoran added. “But we don’t want to stay in the way of progress. When opportunity knocks, you must answer.”
Jackson told the board he did not seek out the new position in Olmsted County. “They came to me, and I really feel it is something I need to do,” Jackson added.
Some history
Jackson grew up in Bloomington, Minn., graduated from Bloomington Lincoln High School and received a teaching degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Teaching wasn’t his forte, but Jackson had been interested in law enforcement. So after taking the necessary training, he was hired by the Brooklyn Park, Minn., Police Department, where he served for eight and one half years.
While working as a police officer, Jackson went back to school and earned a law degree. He then worked for the City of Willmar as a prosecutor, and then the Olmsted County Attorney’s Office in the civil division.
“I really wanted to do criminal work so when a criminal prosecutor’s position in Sterns County opened up, we moved to St. Cloud,” Jackson recalled. Jackson worked in Sterns County from 1992 until 1995.
“My wife and I liked Southeast Minnesota, so when a prosecutor’s position was available in Olmsted County, I applied and was hired for that job.” Jackson held that position until 2000. When former Houston County Attorney James Fabian became a judge, Jackson was one of a number of attorneys who applied for the opening. He was appointed by the county board in February 2000 to fill out the remainder of Fabian’s term. He was elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006.
Jackson and his family bought a house in La Crescent in 2000 and will continue living in Houston County.
“I’ll have the sun at my back commuting to and from work,” he said with a laugh.
“I really wasn’t looking to leave the Houston County position,” Jackson pointed out. “When I worked in Olmsted County, I made some good friends and kept in touch with them. I was contacted about an opening in Olmsted County that was a special prosecutor team leader. I have always enjoyed criminal work, the financial benefits are very attractive, and just couldn’t turn it down.”
The county’s next step
The county will begin advertising to fill Jackson’s position immediately. County Personnel Director Tim Comstock reminded the board when former County Attorney James Fabian resigned to become Houston County District Judge in 2000, the opening was advertised, and Jackson was hired.
“Rick has agreed to stay on until the end of May, which I feel is very considerate,” Comstock said. “We need to get moving on this right away. Hopefully we will have someone in place before the end of May. If not, we might have to sub-contract some of the contract work out to private attorneys in the area. And, we might have to rely on county attorneys from neighboring counties to help us out. Having just hired a second assistant county attorney will certainly help,” Comstock concluded.
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