ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Outgoing Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has announced his selection for St. Louis County prosecutor as Wesley Bell leaves the office for Congress next month.
Now it’s up to the courts to decide who has the authority to make this appointment, as County Executive Sam Page has also claimed authority.
Page and Parson have named different attorneys for the job; whoever is appointed will serve the two remaining years of Bell's term.
Page selected Cort VanOstran, who left his current job as a federal prosecutor to accept the appointment.
“ I'm going to spend a lot of time listening from the outset. I think Wesley Bell really had some great contributions to the office that I want to preserve. You know, a focus on diversion programs for low level, non violent offenders, the conviction integrity review process. I think those things are really important,” VanOstran said.
Parson chose Assistant St. Louis County Prosecutor Melissa Price Smith, who has worked in the office for 16 years.
In a statement he said, "Melissa is committed to the rule of law, and we are confident that she will deliver, as demonstrated by her distinguished career putting criminals behind bars."
If the courts decide Price Smith has the job, she said she's ready to go on day one and has worked in nearly every area of the office.
“First thing I will do is an internal audit on the finances. I will sit down with law enforcement on day one and assure them that our partnership to keep St. Louis County safe will be stronger than ever and we will work together to make that happen,” Price Smith said.
Both attorneys said they want to focus on violent crime to make St. Louis County safer for everyone.
“ I will make sure that our violent crime unit is staffed and ready to go again. It has not been in place,” Price Smith said.
VanOstran said he would be a fresh set of eyes on the office and could guide it in a new direction.
“My highest priority as prosecuting attorney will be to aggressively prosecute violent crime, vehicle crime, property crime,” VanOstran said.
Both the Missouri Attorney General's Office and representation for the county are scheduled to be in court next week.
Bell is going to be sworn in to Congress on Jan. 3.