Governor Evers appointed three county officials between July 7 and July 9 | The Locally Times
The Governor filled District Attorney vacancies in Oconto and Richland counties and a Sheriff vacancy in Washburn County.
Governor Tony Evers appointed three county-level officials between July 7 and July 9, 2026. The appointments filled vacancies in Oconto, Washburn, and Richland counties. ## The Appointments Joshua A. On July 8, 2026, the Governor’s office announced Bernard Brunkow as the new Sheriff of Washburn County. The Governor selected Amy Forehand as the District Attorney for Richland County on July 9, 2026. The state press releases do not state the effective start dates for these appointees, nor do they specify why the positions became vacant. ## Ongoing Vacancies The Governor’s office released two additional notices on July 10, 2026, regarding leadership searches. The state is currently accepting applications for the District Attorney position in Douglas County and the Sheriff position in Buffalo County. The state has not released a document detailing the reasons for turnover in these five county offices or the professional backgrounds of the new appointees. ## Role Responsibilities District Attorneys determine which criminal cases the county prosecutes. Sheriffs manage county jail operations and the deployment of deputy resources. These roles serve as the primary legal and public safety administrators for their respective counties. The state records do not specify how these appointments will change current county law enforcement or prosecution priorities. ## Key Questions **Who are the new officials?** Joshua A. Dryak is the Oconto County District Attorney, Bernard Brunkow is the Washburn County Sheriff, and Amy Forehand is the Richland County District Attorney. **When do these officials begin their duties?** The state press releases dated July 7, July 8, and July 9, 2026, do not specify effective start dates. **Are there other county leadership positions currently open?** Yes. As of July 10, 2026, the Governor’s office is accepting applications for the District Attorney in Douglas County and the Sheriff in Buffalo County.