The new Interim St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said his first priority will be to replace the board members on the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. The county’s development arm, led by a Stenger appointee, was named in the 44-page indictment of former county executive Steve Stenger as being a vehicle for his alleged pay-to-play schemes.
“Unfortunately because of the state of the partnership, we’re stalled,” Page said, at a Tuesday, April 30 press conference held at the county executive’s chamber.
In a 5-1 vote (with Page abstaining), the St. Louis County Council selected Page, the council’s former chairman, as Stenger’s replacement at an emergency special meeting on April 29. Earlier that day, Stenger had been indicted on federal bribery and mail fraud and resigned as county executive.
Stenger’s only opposing vote was Councilwoman Hazel Erby, who said that as the most senior Democrat on the council, the position should have gone to her. She also opposed the “rushed” emergency meeting – seeing that municipal guidelines that Page led the council to repeal in February called for a slower selection process. And she opposed the council not allowing public comment.
“Our county has been through a traumatic experience today,” Erby said. “My heart goes out to our citizens and our former county executive as well. This has not been a joy to me, this has been sad. I think that our county citizens should be able to weigh in on this.”
African-American elected officials in North County who form the Fannie Lou Hamer Democrats Coalition got up and left the meeting, after calling it a “sham” and “against the Democratic process.”
When asked today his thoughts about the push back from the African-American leaders, Page said that it was the council’s decision.
“Hazel has always been a very close friend of mine, probably my closest friend on the council and it’s difficult to be in a position where we have a different opinion,” Page said. “It’s a rare event. I do believe I have a record to stand on for working for the residents of North County, and I hope to expand on that.”
That record includes supporting Erby’s bill for minority participation in construction contracting and procurement, as well as fighting against Stenger on his controversial plans for Jamestown Mall. He supported efforts from the St. Louis County Health Department and U.S. Army Corps to accelerate clean up of Coldwater Creek and West Lake Landfill. He’s also opposed efforts to disenfranchise county voters in the Better Together proposal.
“I think we’ll see a new commitment to the county executive’s office to work on the issues important to North County, and I expect Hazel to be my partner in that,” Page said. “I expect to continue to work as a team.”
Page said he will transition into a leave of absence from his medical practice as an anesthesiologist over the next few weeks.
Resignations and replacement of key staff members have already begun, and Page said he will make an official announcement by May 1. He announced Winston Calvert, former city counselor under Mayor Francis Slay, as his chief of staff. Garry Earls is also coming out of retirement as an interim chief operating officer to help with the transition, he said.
Page said another priority is to set up processes to prevent anyone in the county executive seat from influencing government decisions in exchange for a campaign contribution. In the next few weeks, he said he will lay out his policies initiatives on this.
“I will treat the council with respect it deserves,” Page said in his statement on April 29 to the public. “I want to assure everyone in St. Louis County from the very beginning that we will have no tolerance for pay-to-play politics. No tolerance.”
Page took a moment to pause, and Wellston resident and community organizer Farrakhan Shegog took the opportunity to call out from the audience, “Perfect example” – referring to the “rushed” meeting and lack of public comment.
Page continued, “We will strive to set a new example for ethical government, and we will be open and transparent so you can hold us accountable. We need to make sure that county government works for everyone.”
