With Ben David's retirement, Gov. Cooper appoints new DA for New Hanover and Pender

Rebecca Zimmer Donaldson will serve as district attorney of the Sixth Prosecutorial District, which includes New Hanover and Pender counties.

Until her appointment, Donaldson was serving as an assistant district attorney in New Hanover and Pender counties and had previously worked an assistant district attorney in King's County District Attorney's Office in New York. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Miami and a Juris Doctorate from American University Washington College of Law.

Governor Roy Cooper announced Donaldson's appointment in a news release Tuesday afternoon.

Prior coverage: New Hanover, Pender DA leaving office, ensures community he's 'still in this' for 9 months

"Rebecca is a talented, diligent attorney and prosecutor with years of experience under her belt serving the people of New Hanover and Pender Counties,” Governor Cooper said in the release. “I’m grateful for her commitment to serving our state and I’m confident she’ll continue to serve her community with distinction as District Attorney."

Cooper also thanked outgoing District Attorney Ben David for his "many years of outstanding service to the people of North Carolina." David's last day as District Attorney was Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Donaldson, a Democrat, has filed to run for the office in the general election on Nov. 5. She will face Jason William Smith, a Republican.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: With Ben David's retirement, Gov. Cooper appoints new DA for New Hanover and Pender