CHEYENNE - The ranks of Republicans and Democratic Party officials aren't buzzing with talk that District Attorney Kevin Meenan should resign his job as Natrona County GOP chairman while he faces felony charges.

Wyoming Republican Party Chairman Jim Willox; former House Speaker Rick Tempest of Casper, a member of the Natrona County Republican Party executive committee; and Tom Sedar, chairman of the Natrona County Democratic Party, all said Tuesday that Meenan should be considered innocent until he's proven guilty.

Meenan has been charged with 11 criminal counts: five counts of forgery; and one count each of larceny by bailee, official misconduct, unauthorized use of personal identifying information, making false written statement to obtain credit, obtaining property by false pretenses, and unlawful use of a credit card. All counts are felonies except the charge of official misconduct, which is a misdemeanor.

The charges were filed largely in connection with Meenan's alleged mishandling of a $55,000 person injury settlement his stepdaughter received in 1999.

The 47-year-old D.A., son of former House Speaker Patrick Meenan, was first elected in 1986 and was re-elected in 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002.

Jim Willox of Douglas, the new chairman of the Wyoming State Republican Party, said the Natrona County Republican precinct people and other officers elected Meenan and the situation doesn't involve the state party.

"It's still a county party governance issue that the state party is not involved with at this time," Willox said. "There are mechanisms in place in all counties to deal with, if they so choose, the removal of an officer.

"The fact that he's chairman does not affect the process at all," he said.

"In all systems you're innocent until proven guilty," Willox added.

He said party members have been supportive of Meenan and the job he's done at Republican Party Natrona County chairman and district attorney.

Tempest said Natrona County Republicans haven't even discussed Meenan's political position.

"We're watching to see what happens," Tempest said. "He's innocent until proven guilty as far as I look at it."

Sedar said the Natrona County Democrats haven't discussed whether Meenan should resign his political chairmanship, either.

"As the county chair for the Democrats, I strongly believe that a man is innocent until proven guilty," Sedar said Tuesday. "I think Mr. Meenan deserves that right just as much as any other citizen and that any decision he would make to step out of that office would be a personal decision and should not be forced by anybody until his guilt is proven.

"It would be inconsistent with my beliefs that a man is innocent until proven guilty for me in any way to utilize my position as county chair to influence him to do something that would indicate guilt prior to someone adjudicating that guilt," Sedar added.