In Pennsylvania not only do we elect our DAs but we elect our judges as well. Now that's fucked up.
I'll go you one better - how about electing sheriffs, too? Don't worry about law enforcement training, education, experience - elect your favorite good ol' boy. Much better that way.
I never understood the Sheriff election thing either.
A better way would probably be for the county commisioners or whoever runs the show to promote from within the department or hire from another agency, county, or state, like police departments do.