Mike Parson, Sam Page clash over who appoints next St. Louis County prosecuting attorney

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - As St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell prepares to leave his current role for Congress, it appears there's some uncertainty as to who ultimately appoints the county's next prosecuting attorney.

On Wednesday, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page announced his administration would open applications for the position and take responsibility for filling the upcoming vacancy.

On Friday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson announced his office would open applications and would he would instead be responsible for appointing the county's next prosecuting attorney, not Page.

Applications remain open on both websites as of Friday afternoon.

According to a report from our news partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent a letter to Page on Thursday expressing that Gov. Parson holds the power to name Bell’s replacement.

Bailey also went as far as issuing a deadline of Tuesday at 5 p.m. to not interfere with the nominating process and claims any attempt for Page to appoint St. Louis County's next prosecuting attorney would be a violation of Missouri constitution.

A news release from the St. Louis County Executive's Office says the county planned for an appointment process similar to what St. Charles County had in 2023 when the county appointed Joseph McCulloch following Tim Lohmar's resignation.

Bell claimed victory in the election for Missouri District 1, a St. Louis-area Congress seat within the U.S. House of Representatives. He will take over in January, though a successor will need to take over the rest of his elected four-year term, which runs through the end of 2026.

After an eventual appointment, voters will have an opportunity to vote for Democrat, Republican or third-party candidates to serve the next full term of the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney in the November 2026 midterm election.