Supervisors could name an interim replacement for retiring county prosecutor Roy Carpenter Jr. at its 5:30 p.m. meeting today.
The board is expected to take action soon – either today or by July’s first monthly meeting – as Carpenter ends an almost 30-year career as Starkville and Oktibbeha County’s prosecutor.
Supervisors have received at least one application for the position, board Vice President John Montgomery confirmed Sunday, but an exact count of resumes was unavailable at press time. An agenda for the meeting was also unavailable as of press time.
Carpenter announced his intention to retire through a May letter to city and county governing bodies. In his announcement, Carpenter thanked the residents of Oktibbeha County for allowing him to serve and called the experience “an honor and a privilege.” He began serving as county attorney in 1983 and city attorney in 1986.
Board President Orlando Trainer previously said a special election is expected to be held in November to replace Carpenter. The board passed a resolution in May to alert the county election commission to the need, but no date was decided.
As for the retiring prosecutor’s city replacement, Starkville aldermen hired local attorney Caroline Moore for the position on June 4. The city board set her salary at $50,000.
Moore has practiced law for 15 years, which includes a stint as county prosecutor and public defender in Winston County. Most recently, she served as guardian ad litem for Winston County’s youth court.
It is unknown if Moore is seeking the interim county prosecutor position.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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