AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)  A legal analyst will take over as director of the Maine Legislature’s watchdog agency.

Danielle Fox will fill a seat that’s going to be left empty in August by the departure of Beth Ashcroft, founding director of the Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability.

Fox has served as legal and policy analyst for the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee for 20 years. Legislative leaders approved her new appointment on Tuesday.

She said she has “big shoes to fill” but is excited about the opportunity. She’ll take over the new post as the agency conducts a massive review of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ child welfare and child protection programs.