Scotts Bluff County is now on the hunt for a new public defender.
During this week’s commissioners meeting, the Board accepted Paul Payne’s resignation, effective Friday, May 10.
The board tabled a motion to name an interim public defender, and then moved to advertise for the post and use a committee to vet candidates, but Commissioner Charlie Knapper recommended a bit more to the process, saying “I would add to the motion that we include Zelle; they’re a recruiting firm, they may have farther reach than us, they may have a candidate pool in mind already, they’ve got the networking and skills to go out and talk to people on the side if they’re interested in this and encourage them to apply. That’s what a recruiting firm does.”
After the board made their decisions on the subject and had moved into public comments, Scottsbluff attorney Michael Meister addressed the board, saying he was hoping to serve in the interim post and had offered to do so.
Meister then defended his reputation from what he understood were comments made about him during a closed executive session.
“I sat here all night in the hopes that if I had some people with honor (and) integrity, that they would come and ask me directly if they had questions about my abilities, my background,” said Meister. “I’ve been accused over the years of being a scofflaw, which isn’t true. I’ve been accused of beating my ex-wife, which wasn’t true. I have been investigated by the (Omaha) World-Herald, because I ran for governor. I’ve been investigated by the (Lincoln) Journal-Star because I ran for governor. I’ve run for Attorney General of this state and I’ve run for County Attorney of this county. And I was simply hoping to be given an opportunity to serve this county as the interim public defender, but apparently I’m not being allowed to even answer any questions or concerns that people have.”
No timetable was given for when the board would like to have the elected position filled, and use of the consulting firm, which could cost $10,000, would come into play only if no suitable candidate is found.
