By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
April 28, 2011

Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders announced today that Melissa Mauer-Smith will serve as interim Jackson County prosecutor.

Mauer-Smith, who was sworn in today, will temporarily fill the vacancy left by James F. Kanatzar, who was sworn in to serve on the 16th Judicial Circuit bench.

For nearly 25 years, Mauer-Smith has worked in the Jackson County prosecutor’s office and she thanked the previous county prosecutors for setting a “great example” for her to follow.

“She is a constant professional,” Sanders said. “She is the longest acting senior manager in the Jackson County prosecutor’s office. She’s a very steady hand and the correct person and the best person to fill the role for this period of time while we go through the process.”

Mauer-Smith said her role as interim prosecutor will be to work with “experienced professionals and the management team in the prosecutor’s office to make sure the critical business of the office continues to get done.”

An advisory nominating committee finished the initial interviewing process of the eight candidates at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 27. Sanders expects to receive the names of the three finalists at the close of business today. Once the pool is narrowed to three candidates, additional interviews will be conducted, along with background checks. The new county prosecutor will be named in two weeks or less, he said.

Asked what qualities he’s looking for in the new prosecutor, he said someone’s who’s a constant professional, understands the job and can perform the job from day one.

“The county prosecutor sets a tone for the prosecutor’s office itself, but it initially sets one for law enforcement in this region and the community at large,” Sanders said. “It’s larger than just being a prosecutor. They are a leader in the community and all of Jackson County, so it’s an incredibly important position, and therefore, this process (of finding a new prosecutor) has to be taken very seriously.”