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Banner County appoints Robert Brenner as county attorney, disclosure noted
Summary
The Banner County Board of Commissioners voted to appoint attorney Robert Brenner as county attorney effective July 31, 2026, after accepting the incumbent’s resignation and receiving public comments in support; a commissioner disclosed a familial relationship with Brenner on the record.
The Banner County Board of Commissioners voted to appoint Robert Brenner as county attorney effective July 31, 2026. The action followed the board’s acceptance of the incumbent county attorney’s resignation and public comments endorsing a local candidate.
The board first accepted a written resignation from the sitting county attorney, recorded in the minutes as Mark (last name rendered inconsistently in the record), with an effective date of July 30, 2026 and a vacancy beginning July 31. The outgoing attorney confirmed the July 30 date as his last official day and said he did not anticipate withdrawing the resignation.
During public comment, residents urged the board to select a qualified local lawyer. Eddie said the board should “use our local people when they’re qualified,” and Kathleen expressed similar support for a local appointee.
Robert Brenner, who attended the meeting and summarized his experience, told the board he has practiced for decades and would seek election to the office. A commissioner publicly disclosed that Brenner is his brother-in-law by marriage but stated the commissioner has no financial interest in Brenner’s law office and does not live in the same household; the disclosure was entered on the record.
Board members debated whether to delay an appointment to gather more information. One commissioner recommended postponing to the first August meeting; others said time-sensitive matters—such as an arraignment date discussed elsewhere in the meeting—made a prompt appointment preferable. After discussion, a motion to appoint Robert Brenner as county attorney effective July 31, 2026 was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.
The board did not record a consistent, fully attributed roll-call tally in the transcript for the appointment vote; the minutes record the motion as approved by roll call. The newly appointed attorney said he intends to run for the position on the ballot to continue serving the county.
Next steps: the county will publish the minutes and proceed with the personnel transition; the board discussed appointing a special prosecutor if a specific case needs handling before the new attorney assumes the office.
