By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

WaKEENEY -- He's only been in office for a few months, but health issues are forcing Trego County Attorney David Basgall to resign the position.

When he announced his resignation, Basgall said it was for health reasons only.

"I received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis about two weeks ago," Basgall said Wednesday from his office in the Trego County Courthouse.

While he said he will remain as an assistant in the Ellis County Attorney's office, Basgall said the duties in Trego County would be "a little too much."

In response, Trego County Democrats are planning a meeting for 7 p.m. May 13 in the WaKeeney City Library, at which time they will select a new county attorney.

So far, no one has stepped forward and indicated an interest in the position, according to Lori Augustine, secretary-treasurer of the Trego County Democrats.

A county attorney does not have to be a resident of the county where he would serve, and there's some question if the person even would have to be a Democrat.

"Personally, if all we have is a Republican, I'm not going to say, 'No, we can't appoint you,' " Augustine said.

In fact, state law suggests that when the body-politic convenes to make its appointment, it might have to stay there until the task is complete.

But it will be a selection made by a tiny percentage of Trego County residents.

There are only five precinct committee members, the only people who are eligible to vote for Basgall's replacement.

That's one more than were in office when current Democratic chairman Herb Schwartzkopf was named to a position on the Trego County Commission in 2006. He won re-election to the position that same year.

In fact, Schwartzkopf was the only person eligible to vote in that case, because he was the only precinct committeeman holding office in the vacant county commission district. Because he was interested in the position, he deferred the selection to the other members, and ultimately voted for himself.

Democrats at the time asked everyone attending to help fill all of the 22 precinct positions in Trego County.

Augustine said the Democrats are meeting Monday to select its officers, in advance of the May 13 meeting.