Amendment 8 takes a back seat for Boone County Sheriff amid campaign for new jail
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As the November election approaches, Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey is focusing on Proposition L, which, if passed, would establish a sales tax to fund a new county jail, but another ballot measure, which has taken a back seat, could change how a sheriff is removed from office.
Amendment 8 would establish the county sheriff in the Missouri Constitution, but the role is already outlined in state law. While Carey has other priorities this election season, he said he’s against Amendment 8.
“I’m not talking a whole lot about it, because I don’t want to confuse this issue (Proposition L),” Carey said. “I think a sheriff can be removed at a local level.”
Under current state law, a prosecuting attorney can file a removal complaint in circuit court, based on citizen input and alleged misconduct. If Amendment 8 passes, only the attorney general would be able to take legal action to remove a county sheriff.
“I think this was derived from some sheriffs that didn’t do legal things and ethical things, and then they were removed by a local judge. I think some sheriffs have an issue with that,” Carey said.
A county judge is elected by the people living in that area, and Carey said he thinks a person elected by the same constituents as the sheriff should have the authority to remove that person from office if they do something illegal or unethical.
A “yes” vote changes the Missouri Constitution and allows only the Attorney General to file a “writ of quo warranto,” which starts the legal process of removal.
A “no” vote keeps the current removal process, which can be started by the county prosecuting attorney, as outlined by state law.
The full ballot language can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.
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