By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

Trego County Attorney Jill Elliott, only five months on the job, has resigned.

Contacted Thursday, Elliott said she submitted her resignation to Trego County commissioners in a letter Tuesday. Her resignation takes effect Nov. 24.

Elliott, who practices law in Hill City, didn't have much to say about why she resigned.

"I really don't want to comment on it," she said. "The job was demanding more time than my private practice allowed.

"I couldn't give them what they needed."

Elliott, a Republican, was named to replace outgoing county attorney David Basgall, who resigned after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

In addition to Elliott, two others sought out the position, both of them also Republicans.

Trego County Clerk Lori Augustine said the resignation was in a sealed envelope addressed to the commissioners so she has not yet had the chance to view it.

Elliott had met with commissioners Friday, she said.

Once Augustine officially receives the resignation, she will notify county Democrats, who then have 21 days to convene a convention to appoint a new county attorney. The county's five precinct committemen will make the decision on who will get the position.

While there were initial concerns about who would make the appointments -- Republicans or Democrats -- Augustine said that duty will fall to the Democrats, whose candidate won the election a year ago.

As for Elliott, she will devote time to her private practice in Hill City, in addition to serving as the community's city attorney. She will also remain as city prosecutor for WaKeeney.