The county attorney of any county bordering on the Gulf of Mexico and having two (2) judicial districts may appoint an assistant county attorney from the judicial district in which the county attorney does not reside, to serve for a term commensurate with the county attorney; the assistant county attorney shall receive the same salary, mileage expense account and secretarial assistance as provided by law for the county attorney and shall have the same duties and powers as the county attorney, subject to the direction of the county attorney.