Democrat Charles Branson ousted the county’s top prosecutor, but he’s not ousting anyone else for now.

Despite speculation that he would swing the employment ax as he took over for outgoing Republican Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney, Branson announced Monday he’d made a job offer to every member of Kenney’s staff who applied and interviewed with him. In all, 14 of the 23 employees who worked under Kenney will stay with the office.

“I appreciate those people who had the dedication to want to stay on and continue to serve the people of Douglas County and not leave for political reasons,” he said. “I view their primary responsibility as being loyal to Douglas County. … Their political loyalty didn’t make any difference.”

Of the office’s 12 support-staff employees, nine applied and will be staying on, Branson said.

Of the 11 attorneys in the office, not counting Kenney, six applied. Branson said he extended offers to all six, but only five accepted.

Kenney said she was pleased to hear the news.

“I think that it is an excellent group of individuals, and I’ve been very proud to be their leader for the last eight years,” she said. “I’m glad to see that this worked out so that, in my opinion, it really will best serve this community.”

The prosecutors staying in the office are assistant district attorneys Dan Dunbar, Trent Krug, Angela Wilson, Brandon Jones and Ellen Miles Taylor. Those leaving are Deputy Dist. Atty. Shelley Diehl and assistant district attorneys Mark Knight, Bethany Daniels, Dave Zabel, Scott McPherson and Brad Burke.

Staff members staying are Cathy Attebery, Kris Bates, Linda Gilstrap, Andrea Halstead, Dolores Moseley, Dinah O’Connor, Phyllis Payne, Cindy Riling and Dawn Matthews Roberts. Those leaving are victim-witness advocate Brenda Albright, trial assistant Sandy Helmert and file clerk Chandra Villee.