JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. - Missouri Governor Mike Parson has selected Melissa Price Smith to be Wesley Bell's successor as St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney. Smith would be sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025, after Bell resigns his post and is sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the 119th Congress.

Smith has 20 years of experience as a prosecutor and has worked in the county prosecuting attorney's office since 2008. At present, she's the supervisor of the office's Sexual Assault and Child Abuse team.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Missouri—St. Louis and earned her Juris Doctor at Saint Louis University School of Law.

In a statement, Parson said his appointment is not about politics, "but doing right by the people of Missouri."

"We trust that Melissa will uphold these same values and work with integrity to deliver justice on behalf of the people of St. Louis County and our state," the governor said. "We thank her for her willingness to serve and look forward to her leadership in fighting crime and safeguarding public safety in our state's largest metropolitan area."

The appointment continues an ongoing power play between Governor Parson and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page over who gets to name the county's next top prosecutor.

On Dec. 3, Page named Cort VanOstran as the new St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney, despite the governor's objections.

VanOstran resigned his position as an assistant St. Louis federal prosecutor to take over the county prosecutor’s office. He's previously prosecuted fraud, embezzlement, identity theft, conspiracy, drug distribution, and firearms offenses over the years. In addition to his work in the courtroom, VanOstran has taught students at Washington University School of Law since 2016.

Parson and the state of Missouri are suing Page and St. Louis County in county court over the matter.

Page claims that St. Louis County planned for an appointment process similar to what St. Charles County had in 2023 when the county appointed its current prosecutor.

Parson’s lawsuit over who ultimately gets to appoint Bell’s successor cites Article 4, Section 4, of the Missouri Constitution, which states the “governor shall fill all vacancies, unless otherwise provided by law.”

Whether it's Smith or VanOstran, whoever becomes prosecuting attorney will serve out the remainder of the term, which ends on Jan. 1, 2027.