St. Louis County Executive Page accepting applications for Prosecuting Attorney

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Wesley Bell soundly defeated the Republican candidate in the race for U.S. Congress in District 1. Now that he’s heading to Washington, his position as the top prosecutor in the county is up for grabs.

Bell easily defeated Andrew Jones Jr. on Tuesday to secure a seat in Congress. Missouri’s First Congressional district covers all of St. Louis City, all of North County and small parts of Mid County and West County.

St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page will now nominate a replacement for the prosecuting attorney’s office, and the council must approve the selection. With a fractured council, that alone might be an uphill battle.

“Unfortunately, these days, almost every elected office requires you to be somewhat politically savvy,” said Sam Alton, Bell’s former chief of staff.

He told First Alert 4 he was not interested in the seat, but he believed the next person could be the first woman to hold the position.

Applications are now open for the county executive’s consideration. To be eligible, applicants must be Democrats and a licensed, practicing attorney in Missouri for at least five years.

Bell told First Alert 4 on Wednesday that he strongly believes his successor should come from the office’s current leadership, writing: “…in order to ensure continuity and stability in the office, and I will work closely with my eventual successor during their transition to leading the office. The mission of our office is and always will be to protect the public and to seek justice — and, regardless of who my successor ultimately will be, as a region we all have a stake in their success, which directly correlates with public safety and the success of the region.”

Names on the shortlist include current staffers Melissa Price-Smith and Danielle Smith; former deputy chief of staff Chelsea Draper; and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page’s own chief of staff and former St. Louis city prosecutor Beth Orwick.

Alton said the person should be willing to stay in the role, saying the office needs stability.

“Some of the best trial attorneys that I’ve ever seen, the best staff that I’ve ever worked with, and they are overworked, and they are underpaid, and they always have been, and they need somebody at the helm to advocate for them every chance they get,” Alton said.

Draper confirmed she is planning to apply and said someone with prior experience in the office would be an asset: “To appoint someone who sees it as a political stepping stone and not a home to invest in would be unfortunate,” she wrote. “I love the people in that office and absolutely loved serving as deputy chief of staff for four years (through COVID). To be in service to the people of our community is a blessing and an honor. I know I have a number of vocal ers, and I am lucky to have their . I will try to deserve it.”

However, she also praised her former co-worker Melissa Smith.

Smith told First Alert 4 in a statement she would “be honored to replace Wesley Bell & serve the people of St Louis County in this role.” Smith has worked in the office for nearly 17 years and is the supervisor of the sexual assault/child abuse team.

Orwick also confirmed she would be applying, sending us a statement: “My years of leadership and prosecutorial experience addressing the most serious crimes are key qualities that will serve the people of the prosecuting attorney’s office, victims and their families, law enforcement, and the entire community. It would be an honor to serve my community in this way.”

Applications must be submitted by Nov. 15.

Voters will select the next prosecuting attorney in 2026.

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