Wesley Appointed Interim City Judge

Mayor Herb Adams has appointed Dan Wesley, a Franklin County attorney, to the office of Pacific municipal judge to fill the vacancy created by the sudden death of Judge Ron Reed.

Adams said he made the appointment after careful research.

“I contacted our two attorneys — City Attorney Dan Vogel and City Prosecutor Matt Schroeder — and asked them for a ruling on two things,” Adams said. “I needed to confirm that the mayor made the appointment and whether it was to fill the unexpired term or until a special election could be held.”

It was confirmed that filling the vacancy is an administrative appointment and the appointed judge would serve until a special election could be held to fill the vacancy in November 2012.

Adams said he contacted Presiding Circuit Judge Gael Wood and asked him to appoint Wesley as Pacific municipal judge to serve until a special election is held.

Wesley was also contacted and he agreed to accept the appointment.

“I knew that something had to be done immediately,” Adams said. “Pacific has a traffic violations bureau that has a court clerk and assistant court clerk. Someone has to be responsible for the work there. The business of the court must continue.”

Wesley is well known around Franklin County.

“He appeared in my court when I was judge,” Adams said. “I have great respect for him.”

Wesley lives between Pacific and St. Albans.