CLAYTON — A vocal critic of the Northeast fire district board and its attorneys was named to the board Thursday, spelling probable changes in the troubled district's legal representation and management.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge John Ross named former Normandy City Council member Bridget Quinlisk-Dailey to the board's third, tie-breaking seat. After announcing his decision, Ross swore in Quinlisk-Dailey, making the appointment official.

"Congratulations," Ross told her. "You've got a tough job."

The seat had been open since July 7, when former board President Joseph L. Washington stepped down to become the district's fire chief. That same day, Rhea Willis was named to the board in place of ousted director Bob Lee.

Since early October, when Willis denounced other leaders of the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District, she and board President Robert Edwards have been unable to agree on virtually anything. Quinlisk-Dailey's appointment not only allows for a tie-breaking vote, but for the district's freeze on funds to be lifted.

Funds have been frozen since Oct. 20, but Ross ruled Thursday that the preliminary injunction keeping them frozen would be dissolved if the board agrees on district expenditures with a majority vote.

Quinlisk-Dailey was one of five residents who sought the seat and is the sister of former director Brian Quinlisk. She said that she was honored to have been chosen but that she realizes there's hard work ahead. Asked whether she planned to push for the removal of attorneys Elbert Walton Jr. and Bernard Edwards Jr. and fire Chief Joseph L. Washington — three figures she, Willis and other residents have rallied against — she said she wasn't ready to comment.

"The safety of the citizens is my utmost concern, and I want us to get back to being a fiscally responsible fire district," she said.

Following her swearing-in, she met with St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch, whose office has been investigating Northeast. Last month, McCulloch's office filed a petition to have director Robert Edwards removed from office.

Asked about investigations into the district, McCulloch said: "We have been looking at a number of issues, many of which were addressed in the (state auditor's) audit, and we're going to continue doing that. ... We're interested in completing our investigations."

Missouri state Auditor Susan Montee disclosed on Tuesday the results of an audit of the district. Montee called Northeast the most poorly run agency of more than 300 her office has audited and said her office had met with McCulloch's to discuss the findings.

Missouri Rep. Don Callaway, D-Bel-Nor, who filed the suit that led to the freeze of funds, called Thursday for the newly aligned board to fire Walton, Washington and Bernard Edwards Jr., and to begin repairing the troubled district.

"This is akin to invading Iraq," Calloway said. "There will be years of reconstruction and work to make this thing fire on all cylinders again."

The court became involved when a petition was filed asking a judge to name board critic Mary Buchek to the empty seat. Ross ordered that the opening be advertised, and Buchek, Quinlisk-Dailey, Anthony Glover, Donald Morice and Carlton Jones responded.