ST. LOUIS COUNTY — Embattled County Executive Sam Page has some competition in next year’s Democratic primary for his office.
Democratic state Sen. Brian Williams, of University City, announced Thursday he plans to run for county executive next August. Williams is approaching his maximum time in the term-limited state Senate, where he has served since 2019.
“I have a proven record of bringing real solutions to the St. Louis region. I have an ability to work with people and find solutions regardless of differences,†Williams said. “And I think it’s imperative that we have a leader that’s going to bring energy and a focus on us going into the next next generation.â€
Williams, 42, pointed to his successes in the Legislature, including securing money for the demolition of the vacant Jamestown Mall, projects at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a new police intelligence center in the county.
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Williams said if elected, he would focus on creating jobs, improving education, expanding access to health care and public safety.
Aside from his job in the Legislature, Williams is executive director of the Construction Career Development Initiative, a nonprofit that focuses on connecting youth to careers in construction. Williams said he would be prepared to quit his job if elected county executive.
A campaign spokesman for Page, an anesthesiologist by training, said Page has served St. Louis County well in his six years as county executive.
State Sen. Brian Williams
“Brian is lesser known across the county than Dr. Page, with a job that has kept him in Jefferson City for the past eight years, with a much slimmer record of accomplishment,†spokesman Richard Callow said.
Page, of Creve Coeur, was appointed in 2019 to replace former County Executive Steve Stenger, who had been indicted in a pay-to-play scheme. Page then won an election in November 2020 to finish Stenger’s unexpired term. He was elected to his first full term in 2022.
Page, 60, was indicted last week in St. Louis County on charges he stole thousands of dollars when he used county funds to campaign against a ballot proposition in April. He and his lawyer, former U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen, have denied any wrongdoing.
Williams said he has not focused on his opponent’s indictment.
“However that plays out with that legal process, that’ll be completely independent of what I’m focused on,†Williams said.
Republican county Councilman Dennis Hancock, 72, of Fenton, announced this spring he intends to run for county executive, too.
Filing for next year’s Aug. 4 primary begins Feb. 24 and ends March 31.
