Stone County Prosecutor Announces Re-Election Bid:

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Stone County Prosecutor Matt Selby has announced he will seek re-election for the job he has held for the last 15 years.   

Selby began his career in Lawrence County as an assistant prosecutro.  Since taking office, has implemented several programs and was able to hire a victim advocate. 

"We applied for and received a grant to hire a victim advocate.  We developed a room especially designed for children to give a child friendly place for us to meet with child victims of crimes.  It also provides a place for witnesses children while they are waiting for court," he said.

"I have placed a heavy emphasis on helping victims and making the process of dealing with being a victim of a crime the least traumatic as possible" said Selby.

"I believe that my office does a tremendous job of helping victims understand the process, supporting them as a case goes through a prosecution, and helping them obtain counseling, protective orders, restitution or whatever else is appropriate in their situation."

Selby also notes that his office has collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in restitution for crime victims over the past decade.

"I worked with Judge Blankenship to start the Stone County Drug Court in 2004 and then eventually the DWI court.  These have been highly successful treatment programs for people with drug and alcohol addictions.  It is also time consuming to our office."

Selby's office also uses a unique program for people under 25 who have certain types of substance abuse cases.  "This is called our MOJO program and we supervise the people who go into the program helping them obtain GEDs, find gainful employment, get treatment and/or counseling, and remain drug free."

"I take a special interest in cases involving children and was instrumental in creating our Child Advocacy Center in Branson West.  I believe that this center with its child friendly atmosphere and highly trained and experienced staff is the most important tool we have in investigating and, if charges are appropriate, successfully prosecuting child abuse.

Selby, who is currently the president of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and his wife of 30 years, Patty, have five children and one grandchild.

Official filing for the upcoming primary election starts next week and runs through March 25th.

Offices up for election include those of Prosecutor, Circuit Clerk, two Associate Circuit Judge seats, Presiding Commissioner, County Clerk, Recorder, Treasurer, Collector and Northern and Southern Road Commissioner.