KALKASKA — Kalkaska County has a new prosecutor.
Circuit Court Judges Janet Allen and Dennis Murphy on Monday appointed Kirk Metzger to the post. A replacement was needed after Brian Donnelly, who served as prosecutor since 1995, died of an apparent heart attack on Jan. 14.
Metzger worked under Donnelly since 2004, and served as chief assistant prosecutor since 2008.
"He's very experienced," Allen said. "He's been with the office for years."
State law requires a county's circuit judges to appoint a replacement if a prosecutor dies or leaves their post for other reasons. The appointed person serves out the former prosecutor's unfinished term.
Donnelly was up for re-election in November.
Metzger said he doesn't plan to run for the position, and he'll attempt to "maintain the same course" Donnelly set until a new prosecutor is elected.
"This is not really a position I expected to be in," he said.
The person elected in November will assume the post the day after the election, Allen said.
Kalkaska Sheriff Dave Israel, who was close with Donnelly, believes Metzger will do a fine job. Metzger already handled a heavy workload in the office, Israel said.
"I never worried when I went to trial with Kirk," he said. "Brian taught him well."
Donnelly, an avid skier, died while cross-country skiing on the Vasa trail in Grand Traverse County. He was 61.
