EL PASO, Texas -- Starting on Tuesday, El Paso will have a new county attorney, something that hasn't happened in 16 years.

County commissioners decided to stick with an insider, as they put into place the first assistant to Jose Rodriguez, Jo Anne Bernal.

"It feels good, I'm excited," Bernal told KFOX just moments after being appointed.

Bernal has spent the last 16 years working under Rodriguez, the last 14 as his second in command.

"I think I'm the most qualified person. No one knows that office like I do," she said.

In a 3-2 vote by El Paso County Commissioners on Monday morning, Bernal got the county attorney position.

Some on the court wanted to conduct more interviews before announcing a replacement.

The stationary, and just about everything else at the county attorney's office is about to change.

"We've got a good staff, we have good programs, and we're ready to get going as soon as I'm sworn in," said Jo Anne Bernal, the El Paso County Attorney designate.

At 8 a.m. on Tuesday, the first assistant to county attorney Jose Rodriguez will be sworn in, taking the office she worked under for 16 years.

"I am happy and proud to be named what I believe is the first female county attorney in El Paso history," Bernal told KFOX.

But some are raising concerns about the appointment process.

Mario Gonzalez, a local lawyer for nearly the last 20 years, asked Monday to be appointed to the position. He said there was no interview and no chance to even submit his resume.

"Here was a golden opportunity for the commissioners court to take what has been always viewed as a pure political appointment and turn it into something that is open and honest government," said Gonzalez.

"To appoint without interviewing I think was inappropriate," said County Judge Anthony Cobos.

Cobos said even though Rodriguez has been packing up, it doesn't justify a quick appointment.

"I think the commissioners court reacted very hastily in appointing a replacement for Jose Rodriguez, there was no rush to fill this vacancy," Cobos told KFOX.

But other commissioners said they took their time, and did their homework.

"I took it upon myself to ask the departments, that's rarely done, and because this department services them, they definitely have a say in this process," said Commissioner Anna Perez.

Bernal has spent the last 14 years as the first assistant in the county attorney's office.

She said she will not fill the first assistant position, saving the county $135,000 over the course of the next year.

As KFOX reported, Rodriguez had to resign because he is running for Eliot Shapleigh's senate seat, but by law, Rodriguez has continued to work as the county attorney until his replacement was announced.

She will be the county attorney until elections next November. Bernal has already announced she will run for election in November.

"I know this office and I've run this office and I can do the job," said Bernal.

And Bernal said just because she's worked for Rodriguez for the last decade and a half doesn't mean you should expect more of the same from the first woman to be El Paso's county attorney.

"I am my own person. I am not Jose-lite, I'm not Jose Jr., I'm Jo Anne Bernal," she said.

Bernal will be sworn in on Tuesday at 8 a.m.

As KFOX reported, Rodriguez had to resign because he is running for Eliot Shapleigh's Senate seat, but by law, Rodriguez has continued to work as the county attorney until his replacement was announced.