“Because Repeated attacks on this Council“We need our own lawyer,” Page said in May 2018, when he and his allies on the council voted to override Stenger’s veto of the bill that left the matter to voters.

He lost 12 votes out of 250,000 cast in August.

But now, a similar charter change, Recommendation CIt’s up for re-vote Tuesday and is opposed by Page, who has frequently been at odds with the council as county executive.

This and two other proposed St. St. Louis County Charter again highlights change Conflict continues between district governor and district councilA bipartisan bloc frequently spars with Democrat Page.

Two of the changes are aimed at strengthening the county’s legislature, and both were once supported by Page when he led the council. a corrupt county executive who later went to prison. Third, it clears up contract language about when new council members will take office, but it also aims to close a loophole that Page allies used four years ago to try to elect a council president before a less friendly council majority took power.

Councilwoman Rita Heard Days, a Democrat from Bel Nor, said it was “very interesting” that Page and some other members who once advocated giving the council its own attorney now oppose it.

“Them I thought this was a great ideahe said. “Now all of a sudden this isn’t a good idea.”

The measure, which allows the council to hire its own attorney, aims to give the legislature more autonomy from the county executive branch. Currently the council is represented by an attorney in the county counsel’s office. But Councilman Mark Harder, a Chesterfield Republican, said the attorney still reports to County Counsel Dana Redwing, whom Page appointed. Harder and others at odds with Page suspect that requests for legislation that runs afoul of Page’s administration have been “slowly pursued” by the county counsel’s office.

“It’s like getting a divorce with one lawyer,” Harder said. “It’s just an ethically sticky situation. Having our own lawyer will clear up people and issues and draw clear lines between them.

But Page said the issue of independent council representation Already “sufficiently” covered in 2019when county voters approved a more moderate proposal to wall off an attorney who would represent the council in the county counsel’s office. Page sponsored the bill to put that amendment on the ballot as well, saying at the time that it would give the council’s attorney in the county counsel’s office a “duty and responsibility” to the council.

Page’s allies on the council agree that the 2019 charter change was sufficient.

“We already have a special attorney for the county council through the county counsel’s office, and so we have attorney-client privilege,” said Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, a Democrat who has often aligned herself with the administration. “I believe we have a legal team that operates with the highest level of integrity and legal ethics and does not change depending on who they respond to.”

Ernie Trakas, a South County Republican and Page ally, was a big supporter of the first amendment as Stenger used the county counsel to block the council. But he said the current charter change would give the council too much power to hire outside attorneys and initiate litigation, instead of focusing on adding a staff attorney, which would encourage more conflict within the county government.

“This would give the council the authority to choose to litigate issues that it wants to litigate, frankly, in my view, without having the authority to do so,” Trakas said. “This is an attempt by the council to seize power.”

While she understands some may be concerned about an abuse of power by another Steve Stenger, Chesterfield Democrat and Page ally Kelli Dunaway pointed out that the system ultimately worked and the former county executive was removed from power. And when District faces $46 million budget shortfall He added that spending more money on lawyers next year, which encourages more political infighting, is not a good look.

“I think this is a stick to use against the county government in its ongoing fight,” Dunaway said. “I’ve seen so much confrontational behavior in the last five years that it’s over.”

Another bylaw change Recommendation Athe district charter, the council’s St. The Port Authority of St. Louis County will comply with regulations governing board appointments. that agency was also at the center of the council’s wars With Stenger. Page sponsored a bill allowing the council to elect the Port Authority board members. However, this contradicts the charter provision that says the district government appoints board members.

Page now says he opposes the change because the Port Authority giving millions of dollars in grants annuallyIt may lose focus on economic development policy.

“The Port Authority during the Stenger years was a unique time in our community’s history when it was used as a port. a criminal enterprise” Page said on Monday. “And no one is suggesting that happened today.”

But even some of Page’s allies see value in letting the council choose Port Authority appointees, and they say that’s how the board is currently composed. Trakas said the flip side of Page’s claim would be a “monolithic” board that does not represent the entire district.

Third charter amendment, Suggestion Oit goes up a week when council members are seated. Page’s council allies in 2021 tried to elect Clancy as chairman, using the charter’s fact that council members are seated a week later; This would allow Page’s ally to maintain control of the legislative flow. a judge ultimately ruled that the maneuver was illegal.