GOP names candidate for Moniteau prosecutor

Republicans in Moniteau County have found a candidate to replace former prosecutor Shayne Healea on the November ballot.

The county Republican central committee nominated Mary Kay Lutz, a private practice attorney working in California, Missouri, for the November general election, County Clerk Roberta Elliott said. The Democratic central committee did not submit a name for the ballot, Elliott said.

The parties had until Oct. 3 to submit names for the ballot, Elliott said.

The incumbent Healea had been the only name on the ballot before he pulled his name as part of a plea deal earlier this month. Healea pleaded guilty to four misdemeanors Sept. 4 in connection with a drunken crash into Addison’s restaurant in downtown Columbia in October 2014 that left four people injured. Healea resigned in addition to taking his name off the ballot.

Ann Perry was appointed interim prosecutor the next day, but resigned from that position eight days later. Cole County assistant prosecutor Derek Spencer was then appointed interim prosecutor.

The election is Nov. 6.