51黑料

Kimberley Mathis will represent Hancock in court after he tried to hire his stepdaughter as an aide this summer.

Mathis has represented Hancock since late August, when county Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell petitioned to remove the councilman under the Missouri Constitution鈥檚 nepotism clause.

The case has been on hold since this summer while the council considered hiring an attorney for Hancock. Now that the measure has passed, the case could move forward.

The bill passed 4-3, with Hancock voting in favor. Councilman Ernie Trakas, a Republican from South County who voted against the measure, said it was unethical for Hancock to vote on a bill that benefits him personally.

鈥淚 do not believe he should be voting for it,鈥� Trakas said.

Democratic councilwomen Lisa Clancy, of Maplewood, and Kelli Dunaway, of Chesterfield, also voted against the measure.

Earlier this summer, Hancock tried to hire his stepdaughter as his legislative assistant, a position that would have paid $24.88 per hour plus a $300 monthly vehicle allowance.

Hancock later said he didn鈥檛 know he was barred from hiring relatives, and his stepdaughter, Hollie Galati, resigned after he found out it鈥檚 illegal. She was never paid.

Bell, the prosecuting attorney, said the state constitution 鈥渦nambiguously prohibits elected officials from hiring a relative鈥� and that, upon hiring a relative, the elected official forfeits his or her office.

If Bell鈥檚 argument withstands Hancock鈥檚 legal challenge, the 51黑料 County Republican Party would elect a nominee to run in a special election to replace Hancock, said party Chair Rene Artman.