A day after Democrat St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced he would not seek re-election, claiming his exit was a display of “courage,” a Greene County judge denied his motion to dismiss the four-count felony indictment against him.

The ruling makes it likely Page will face a trial in March for the alleged misuse of $35,000 in taxpayer funds to influence a local ballot initiative. 

For Republican County Councilman Dennis Hancock, who is running to replace Page in 2026, the current legal trouble surrounding the county executive stands in stark contrast to his own brush with the law.

In January, a civil nepotism case brought against Hancock by former county prosecutor and current Democrat Congressman Wesley Bell was settled and dismissed.

Bell’s successor, Melissa Price Smith, appointed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, dropped the case stating, “I will not allow my office to be used to settle political scores.”

Hancock told The Heartlander the difference between his case and Page’s is night and day.

“That was a civil charge, and it was a witch hunt from the word go,” Hancock said. “Page is facing felony criminal indictments after a grand jury found enough evidence to charge him with stealing by deceit.

“What Page is going through is a criminal indictment returned by a grand jury. This wasn’t a ‘Republican-going-to-get-Sam-Page’ thing at all. … Even the local Democratic prosecutor had to recuse her office.”

In a statement explaining his decision to step down, Page attempted to seize the moral high ground, claiming the region needs “leaders with the courage to say no to the circus and yes to the work.”

Hancock fired back: “If the council is a circus, then he’s probably the ringmaster.”

With Page out of the running, Hancock is turning his focus toward the 2026 election and the massive fiscal hurdles facing St. Louis County, including a projected $81 million deficit. 

Hancock, who served 12 years as Mayor of Fenton, believes the county needs a “calm and competent” leader, pointing to his success in Fenton when the Chrysler plant closure threatened 15% of the city’s revenue.

“We managed our way through that without raising taxes,” Hancock said. “We did have to reduce some services, but we did a good job of communicating to our residents. We need someone who is calm and competent… someone who knows how to plow the streets in the wintertime, somebody who knows how to ensure that our residents get the services that they’re paying for.”

Hancock is specifically courting blue-collar Democrats who feel the current administration has moved too far to the left.

“I’ve talked to a lot of non-traditional Republican voters over the last several months – lifelong Democrats, union members – and those folks, they all tell me the same thing. They’re tired of watching the Democratic Party move farther and farther to the left.

“I think there’s a big void in the center of the voting spectrum. We don’t need 100% of the votes to win. We need 50% plus one. But I don’t have to pick off the entire Democrat Party. I only have to pick up about 10% or so, and I think they’re out there.

“I present a pretty good alternative to those folks. These people were my father’s Democrats – conservative people, blue collar folks. And they’re looking for somebody who will not waste their tax dollars, and I think I fit that bill pretty well.”

As Page prepares for his day in court, Hancock remains optimistic the 2026 election will provide the “reset” the region desperately needs. 

“When [Page] was indicted, it was a bad day for St. Louis County. Today gives us hope that a better future is coming,” Hancock said.