The Carroll County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously this (Thursday) morning to appoint Assistant Carroll County Attorney Curt Steger as interim county attorney until a permanent replacement for the late John Werden can be selected. On Monday, the supervisors approved a resolution designating Steger as the assistant county attorney, which was a formality considering he has served in that role for over a decade. However, Board Chair Scott Johnson says this second resolution is necessary to avoid any issues for ongoing court cases.
Johnson adds the interim appointment is mostly a technicality to avoid any cases from being dismissed over claims Steger did not have the proper authority to prosecute in Carroll County. The supervisors approved Steger’s appointment as the interim on a 5-0 vote and closed the meeting within two minutes of calling it to order. Johnson says he expects the board to decide by the end of the month on how they will proceed with Werden’s permanent successor.
Residents can also contest a decision to appoint a successor by filing a petition with the required number of signatures, approximately 1,400, with the Carroll County Auditor’s Office. If a special election is held, Steger would continue serving as interim county attorney until interested candidates can file for the position and voters cast their ballots. Werden’s funeral was held this (Thursday) morning at St. Lawerence Church in Carroll. He passed away at the age of 69 on Thursday, March 13.
