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Goslee named prosecutor

Created on Friday, 12 August 2011 Written by JOEL E. MAST

Appointee assures committee he will keep staff

Just because Bill Goslee was appointed Thursday as Logan County Prosecutor, the public should not expect wholesale staff changes.

“I think they have talent there,” he told the Logan County Republican Party Central Committee on Thursday, “and I look forward to adapting their skills to the job of the office.

“I’d like to learn what they have to teach me and also teach them my ways.”

His invitation to stay with the office includes Chief Prosecutor Eric Stewart, the other candidate considered to fill the unexpired term of former prosecutor Gerald Heaton.

Those assurances may have been enough to sway some of the 24 committee members who voted for Mr. Goslee. Mr. Stewart carried 13 of the members in the final tally.

The meeting lasted a little more than an hour and included a closed-door session during which the committee privately discussed the candidates.

Prior to the closed session, the committee heard from both candidates and asked questions of them.

Mr. Stewart said until recently he had not considered the possibility of remaining with the prosecutor’s office.

“Up until two weeks ago, it was my understanding Mr. Goslee intended to bring in Dan Bennett as his chief assistant,” he told the committee. “I have been thinking about it but I’m not sure yet.”

Earlier this week, Mr. Goslee said Mr. Bennett was no longer a consideration for the prosecutor’s office after a recent drunk driving conviction.

When asked about what would happen to his private practice, Mr. Goslee said it would take three to four months to wind down his involvement and then he would sell the practice.

Afterward, Mr. Stewart declined to comment as he thanked family and friends who showed up for the meeting. Those supporters made up the majority of the 60-some people in the audience.

Mr. Goslee did speak briefly afterward saying, “I’d like to thank the central committee for their vote of confidence in me.

“I can assure the public I will do my best to execute the duties of the office.”

A date for his oath of office has not been set as of this morning.

Mr. Goslee said he intends to run for the office in 2012. The current term expires Dec. 31, 2012.

In a separate action, the city central committee met and approved Allen D. Hadley to take John Bodin’s spot on the November ballot for Council At-Large.

Mr. Bodin is removing himself for personal reasons.

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