Bret Heim, a local attorney for nearly 20 years, has been hired as the chief prosecutor for Iola Municipal Court.
Iola City Council members approved Heim’s hiring during a special meeting Monday after privately interviewing him and Coffey County Attorney Chris Phelan.
Heim, who works out of Immel & Heim, P.A. in Iola, brings previous experience as a prosecutor.
He worked as an assistant in the Allen County attorney’s office from 1995 to 1999 and has been Moran’s city attorney and municipal court prosecutor since 1997.
Phelan has been assistant Allen County Attorney since June 2011, but was hired in November as Coffey County Attorney, and is resigning his Allen County post once a new assistant is hired.
Heim replaces Wade Bowie as the city’s prosecuting attorney. Bowie, who also served as Allen County attorney, is moving back to his native Michigan. Former Allen County Attorney Jerry Hathaway was recommended by local Republicans to fill the rest of Bowie’s term as county prosecutor. That recommendation must still be endorsed by Gov. Sam Brownback.
The vote to hire Heim at Monday’s meeting passed, 5-2. Sandy Zornes and Beverly Franklin were opposed; Bob Shaughnessy was absent.
Heim hired as Iola city prosecutor
