Sam Page

Page calls the proposal to give the county council the power to fire directors a power grab.

The proposal would allow the council to fire a department head with five out of seven votes.

The St. Louis County Council now has enough members who can regularly override County Executive Sam Page’s vetoes.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page promised to veto the measure, which could go before voters on April 8.

Gov. Mike Parson appointed Melissa Price Smith to fill out the term of Wesley Bell, who was recently sworn in as Missouri’s 1st Congressional District representative.

Melissa Price Smith’s swearing-in follows a monthslong legal fight between Missouri and county officials over who has the power to appoint the prosecutor.

The Missouri Court of Appeals issued the ruling several hours after holding a hearing Thursday.

Melissa Price Smith, Gov. Mike Parson’s nominee for county prosecutor, made the claim during a question-and-answer session with members of the St. Louis County Council during a committee hearing on Tuesday.

Circuit Judge Brian May said he will issue his decision promptly. His ruling will almost certainly be appealed.

Gov. Mike Parson has chosen St. Louis County Assistant Prosecutor Melissa Price Smith as the next St. Louis County Prosecutor. County and state leaders are currently in a legal battle over who has the authority to appoint the prosecutor.