Petition Out To Remove Winkler County District Attorney From Office
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: December 28, 2010
KERMIT -- A fight is brewing in Winkler County, after the district attorney was accused of neglecting his job.
A petition has been filed, asking for the removal of Winkler and Crane County District Attorney Mike Fostel, who's served those counties for 29 years. Winkler County attorney Scott Tidwell filed the petition in District Court, saying that Fostel has not made court appearances, and that he now has physical issues that make it impossible for him to do his job. Tidwell asked the court to suspend Fostel and appoint someone else to the job.
Fostel has countered by saying that he had neck and back surgeries, and that he made sure the county attorneys knew well in advance that he would be taking leave. He also said that those attorneys signed paperwork acknowledging that.
Fostel added the he worked half days for many months, putting together all paperwork and having the county attorneys present it on his behalf. He said he was shocked to learn that now his job was in jeopardy.
"My position now is I'm going to stand up and fight them to the toenail," Fostel told Big 2. "And I'm going to continue to do my work. My plans are to continue to serve the people of Winkler and Crane counties for the next two years like I served for the past 29, that's with truth and honesty."
Fostel said he'd like to talk to Tidwell, but that Tidwell is out of town. He also said that no judge has signed the petition, so it's not clear where things will go from here.
Fostel added that he fully intends to resume his job full time next-week, which was always what he intended.
A petition has been filed, asking for the removal of Winkler and Crane County District Attorney Mike Fostel, who's served those counties for 29 years. Winkler County attorney Scott Tidwell filed the petition in District Court, saying that Fostel has not made court appearances, and that he now has physical issues that make it impossible for him to do his job. Tidwell asked the court to suspend Fostel and appoint someone else to the job.
Fostel has countered by saying that he had neck and back surgeries, and that he made sure the county attorneys knew well in advance that he would be taking leave. He also said that those attorneys signed paperwork acknowledging that.
Fostel added the he worked half days for many months, putting together all paperwork and having the county attorneys present it on his behalf. He said he was shocked to learn that now his job was in jeopardy.
"My position now is I'm going to stand up and fight them to the toenail," Fostel told Big 2. "And I'm going to continue to do my work. My plans are to continue to serve the people of Winkler and Crane counties for the next two years like I served for the past 29, that's with truth and honesty."
Fostel said he'd like to talk to Tidwell, but that Tidwell is out of town. He also said that no judge has signed the petition, so it's not clear where things will go from here.
Fostel added that he fully intends to resume his job full time next-week, which was always what he intended.
