ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Both Governor Mike Parson and County Executive Sam Page are accepting applications to replace Wesley Bell in the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's office, but it is unclear who will get to name that replacement.
Bell won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, Page announced his office had begun the search for Bell's replacement. On Friday, Parson announced that his office had opened its own search for Bell's replacement, and Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent Page's office a letter stating that it was the governor's job to find the replacement.
"Similar to our historic opportunity to appoint a new St. Louis City Circuit Attorney, the St. Louis County Prosecutor will be tasked with the responsibility to bring meaningful and lasting change that strengthens public safety in our state's largest metro area," Parson said in a press release.
Parson appointed Gabe Gore to replace Kim Gardner May of 2023. Gore was one of 18 candidates who applied for the appointment after Gardner announced she would be resigning. Parson’s senior staff then interviewed five candidates and sent three finalists to Parson. Mayor Tishaura Jones said she met with Parson during the decision-making process.
The announcement from Page's office on Wednesday said they are following the process that is laid out in the St. Louis County charter and is similar to the process used to find a replacement for former St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar, who also resigned in 2023.
Page's Chief Communications Officer Doug Moore said St. Louis County is being treated differently because of politics.
"We are following the process that St. Charles County went through when a new prosecutor was selected there last year," he said in an email Friday. "The process does not change because the county executive is of a different party than the governor."
Wesley Bell seemingly agreed with Page's assessment.
"I question the validity of the governor's counsel's interpretation of the appropriate appointment process, but fortunately there does appear to be precedent from just a year and a half ago," Bell said in an emailed statement.
"Last April, there was a vacancy in the St. Charles County Prosecutor's Office, and that appointment was filled - not by this same governor, supported by this same attorney general - but by the St. Charles County executive. I am not aware of any objection to that process by the governor with respect to that appointment or any changes to relevant state law or charter since April 2023."
In his letter to Page's office, Attorney General Bailey cited a Missouri law on appointments.
"The General Assembly has enacted an implementing statute that confirms the Governor’s appointments power for all county prosecuting attorneys," Bailey's letter said. "Section 105.050, RSMo, states that if a vacancy in that office occurs, 'the governor, upon being satisfied that such vacancy exists, shall appoint some competent person to fill the same until the next regular election for . . . prosecuting attorney[.]'"
The press release from Parson's office on Friday said it had "communicated Governor Parson's intention to select this appointment to St. Louis County Executive Sam Page's Office on multiple occasions."
The governor's office is accepting applications through Nov. 22. His press release said applicants must meet all statutory requirements for a prosecuting attorney. It also said they are seeking a candidate with the following qualities:
- Commitment to the written rule of law.
- Strong managerial experience.
- Record of fair and just application of state and local law.
- Member of the St. Louis metropolitan community.
Anyone seeking to be considered can apply at boards.mo.gov.
Page's office is continuing to collect applications on the St. Louis County website. According to the press release and the application page, applicants must be:
- A member of the same political party as the previous occupant. Bell is a Democrat.
- A licensed practicing attorney in Missouri for at least five years and resident of the county for at least three years before assuming office.
The page says applications will be accepted through Nov. 15. Click here for more information.
