Prosecuting attorney asks for immediate ruling against St. Louis County councilman

CLAYTON — St. Louis County prosecutors this week asked a judge to rule immediately in a case seeking to remove a councilman from office after he tried to hire his daughter as an aide this summer. Prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell's office filed a motion Tuesday in St.

Louis County Circuit Court arguing Missouri Constitution's is clear: a public official who violates the constitution's anti-nepotism clause forfeits their office immediately. The case has been delayed for two months as the County Council considered hiring an attorney for Councilman Dennis Hancock. On Tuesday evening, the council approved hiring attorney Kimberley Mathis to represent Hancock at a rate of $495 per hour.



Within a few hours, prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell's office filed the motion seeking an immediate ruling. Hancock "continues to illegally hold his forfeited office, illegally vote and illegally carry out duties creating potential legal ambiguity or potential legal liability for every action taken, decision passed or legislative provision rendered," the motion states. Prosecutors asked for an immediate ruling in their favor.

But Circuit Judge John N. Borbonus has been skeptical of hasty proceedings. Prosecutors first filed a petition seeking to remove Hancock from office in late August just hours before a regular council meeting.

A judge signed off on a preliminary order. But Borbonus later said the last-minute nature of the order "silenced the voice" of Hancock's constituents..