St. Louis County declares Dec. 6 as Wesley Bell day, honoring prosecutor

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Friday marked a historic moment in St. Louis County: County Executive Sam Page has officially declared Dec. 6 Wesley Bell Day to honor the county prosecutor.

Many gathered at the St. Louis County Department of Justice, to honor Bell, the first African American to hold the position in the county's history. He has served since 2019 and is now set to take on a new role—the congressman for Missouri's 1st congressional district.

Bell expressed gratitude for this honor, but he says this is not about him.

"To me, it is a testament to the men and women of the St. Louis County Prosecutor's Office who wake up every day with the idea of public safety, with the idea of treating our victims with the dignity and respect that they deserve, and keeping this region safe. In that way, it's a big honor," he said.

Among his proudest accomplishments are programs like the nation's first-of-its-kind Diversion Committee and the Incident Review Unit, which Bell says has helped redefine criminal justice reform in the county.

Bell stated, "This job as well as my soon-to-be job is about the work. It's about representing the interests of my constituents. The people right here in this region." 

However, the celebration comes amidst a legal battle between Gov. Mike Parson and Page concerning who should appoint Bell's successor.

Page announced his choice of former federal prosecutor Cort Vanostran. Meanwhile, Parson insists that the appointment is his to make. The governor sat down with FOX 2 in November to voice his opinion.

"I don't have to play the political games in St. Louis County, where they will. Matter of fact, in their own charter, I think somebody told me the other day it says it has to be a Democrat because it says a Democrat was in office. That's about as political as you can get," Parson said.

We reached out to Page's office on the issue, and he responded, "His successor, Cort VanOstran, a former assistant U.S. attorney, is a proven public servant. As a federal prosecutor, he worked to protect victims of crime, and I look forward to his work continuing as the next St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney."

Meanwhile, Parson's office says Page's action changes nothing, and he is moving forward to naming a replacement. We're told he has also started the interviewing process to find the best qualified individual for the job, regardless of political affiliations.

The statement reaffirms that the Governor remains confident in their legal authority to name this appointment and that they look forward to the courts affirming their position.