Wells named new county attorney
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At their regular meeting Monday, October 28, the Ringgold County board of supervisors signed a 90-day employment agreement with Dr. Mike Wells to serve as county attorney on a part-time basis. The move fills the vacancy left by the resignation of long-time county attorney Clint Spurrier, who left that role to accept a position with the Iowa Attorney General’s office.
Dr. Mike Wells
“As county attorney, I have some very big shoes to fill,” Wells wrote in an email to the Record-News. “Mr. Clint Spurrier was an outstanding attorney and was extremely dedicated to serving Ringgold County and its patrons. I have never met a finer, more professional and kinder person than Mr. Spurrier. I am so thankful that he is willing to help me as I learn the position.”
The 90-day agreement is required by Iowa law because Wells does not reside in the county.
Supervisors board chair Steve Knapp explained the county may renew the 90-day agreement until a permanent in-county attorney can be found to take the position.
Wells was the lone candidate to apply.
Knapp added that Iowa law also requires the county to hire a qualified in-county applicant should one emerge.
Wells will be paid $2,114.77 bi-weekly during the part-time agreement.
“I feel very blessed to have an opportunity to serve as Ringgold County Attorney,” Wells said. “Ringgold County is such a beautiful area and the people here are so welcoming. I have always admired the ‘Can Do’ progressive attitude of Ringgold County.”
Wells is no stranger to southwest Iowa.
After receiving his undergraduate degree in social studies/physical education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, he began his teaching career at school districts in Merna, Elmwood, and Niobrara, NE from 1995-2000.
While at Niobrara, he became a principal, and later served as principal at Corning High School from 2000-2003.
He served as superintendent at Corning from 2003-2009, during which he was once named Superintendent of the Year in AEA Area 14.
From Corning, Wells moved into the superintendent position at Winterset from 2009-2012. He served as superintendent at Cedar Falls for the 2012-2013 school year until moving to Mt. Pleasant as superintendent from 2013-2015.
He currently serves as the shared superintendent between the Hamburg and Essex school districts, a position he has held since 2015.
He also operates the law firm of Wells Law and serves on the board of directors at George C. Grape Community Hospital, both in Hamburg.
Moving from a private law practice into the office of a county attorney, Wells anticipates his approach to his new role.
“My intentions are to be fair in administering local, state, and federal laws and to treat all people with respect and dignity,” he said. “Although I am a prosecuting attorney, I recognize people make mistakes and rehabilitation is an important part of our justice system. I am also looking forward to working with the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Department. They have a strong tradition of protecting our communities with honor and courage. Most of all, I look forward to meeting the people of Ringgold County and working side by side with them to make Ringgold County the very finest, safest places in our state to live, work and play.”
