The City Council is considering a proposal to change the office of city prosecutor from elected to appointed.
But after more than a year of off-and-on discussion, we've heard little rationale for the change.
If the council signs off on the proposal, local voters could be asked in November whether to change the city charter to make the prosecutor appointed.
Any change to the charter shouldn't be entered into lightly. The city charter is somewhat akin to the Constitution - it lays out the basics for how our city is governed. A charter change is far more substantial than changing city ordinances, which, essentially, are local laws.
So what are the reasons for making the change? We've heard vague statements about "cost savings" and "efficiencies," but none of the arguments raised seem to offer much in the way of specifics.
If Jefferson City residents are expected to make a decision about changing the city charter, we need to have an open and detailed discussion about why this is needed. Is there something wrong with the process now? Or do proponents just think that it could be improved?
Why just the city prosecutor? If making the prosecutor appointed, why wouldn't it be good to make the municipal judge appointed?
Brian Stumpe currently is the city prosecutor, having been elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2013, 2015 and 2017.
The bill being considered by the council also suggests adding language that would allow the City Council to remove the city prosecutor from office for just cause, such as if he or she were convicted of a felony, lacked the qualifications of the office during the city prosecutor term or neglected the duties of the office. The council would need a two-thirds vote to remove the city prosecutor from office.
Mayor Carrie Tergin hasn't taken a stand on the issue, and the City Council appeared divided on Monday. Several council members expressed concern over the proposal.
"My default is keeping the responsibility and accountability to the voters to decide who should serve as our city prosecutor and municipal judge," Ward 5 Councilmen Jon Hensley said.
We, too, generally believe in empowering voters to decide who will represent them in certain judicial/legislative roles in our government. If there are factors or arguments that outweigh this philosophy, let's discuss them openly.