ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Four St. Louis County Councilmembers have filed a lawsuit against County Executive Dr. Sam Page, alleging that Page's plan to bypass the council is naming Wesley Bell's replacement as County Prosecutor is illegal.
Councilmembers Mark Harder (R), Dennis Hancock (R), Shalonda Webb (D) and Rita Heard Days (D) argue that a judge should bar Page from "independently selecting and placing any person into the office of the Prosecuting Attorney without Council confirmation."
The councilmembers also argue Page "appointing an 'acting' prosecutor as a permanent replacement as a way to circumvent the County Council's authority" is illegal.
"The council has a role in the appointment process," Councilman Hancock tells KMOX News. "The charter is very clear about that."
"We felt it was necessary for us to make our voices clear that we expect the county executive to abide by the charter. We intend to abide by the charter and we intend to have our voices heard as part of any confirmation process."
Hancock says while Webb, Heard Days have different political party affiliations to Harder and him, they all tend to agree on matters involving the county council and "speaking as one as a council."
"I think people find it refreshing to see we can actually have discussions and disagree without being disagreeable," said Hancock. "We tend to work together on a number of issues."
The lawsuit comes the same week as a judge heard arguments as to who would ultimately have authority to pick the next County Prosecutor as Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and Attorney General Andrew Bailey argue it is up to the the governor, pointing to the Missouri Constitution, while Page points to the county charter.
This past month, both Parson and Page named their picks for St. Louis County Prosecutor with Page selecting former federal prosecutor Cort VanOstran, while Parson choosing Melissa Price Smith, who has been a member of the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office since 2008.
The lawsuit also comes the same week where a St. Louis County Board Committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full St. Louis County Council to reject VanOstran's nomination and Page Smith claims during a County Council meeting that an associate of Dr. Page asked her to dig up dirt on a political rival of Page.