Copy shortlink: Dakota County Attorney s Office veteran Kathy Keena will fill the county s top legal job, following a County Board appointment Tuesday. Keena, who started in the county attorney s office in 2000 and was chief deputy before stepping into the top job on an interim basis when James Backstrom retired in February, is the first woman to serve as Dakota County attorney, according to a news release. I haven t really reflected on that, other than when you stop and think about it, you say, Wow, what has taken so long? she said. I hope it inspires other young female attorneys that are going into public service.