Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has filed a lawsuit against St. Louis County Executive Sam Page to block his appointment of a replacement for Wesley Bell, the county’s prosecuting attorney. Bell, who was elected as the new US Representative for the First District, will need to resign from his position before being sworn in on January 3. Bailey’s suit claims that citizens deserve certainty in resolving this dispute before Bell takes office. Page is confident that the courts will support the county’s position.
The lawsuit is based on a power struggle between state and local officials over the appointment of prosecuting attorneys. Bailey argues that the state has the power to make such appointments, while the county maintains that its charter allows the county executive to fill vacant positions. The issue has been brewing for the last three weeks, with both Governor Mike Parson and Page accepting applications for Bell’s job. Speculation about potential replacements for Bell has centered around candidates like Beth Orwick, Page’s chief of staff, and Melissa Smith, a veteran of the prosecutor’s office.
The lawsuit asks the court to recognize the state’s power to make appointments and issue a temporary restraining order against the county to prevent them from replacing Bell. The legal dispute involves conflicting sections of the Missouri Constitution, and the outcome will have significant implications for the county’s governance. Overall, the lawsuit reflects the ongoing tensions between state and local authorities in Missouri.
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