ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — New allegations against the St. Louis County Executive Sam Page accuse him of using his prosecutor search to dig up dirt. Now, his alleged target is reacting.
A St. Louis County councilman-elect is weighing in on the explosive allegations revealed to the county council. County leaders are questioning if Page used his power to pressure one of the candidates vying to be the next prosecutor.
Gov. Mike Parson's choice to be the next county prosecutor also applied to be Sam Page's choice. Page did not choose her, but the governor did. There are now questions over whether refusing to cave in to alleged political pressure cost her the county executive's nomination.
"We need a prosecutor to lead this office, a prosecutor who is not going to use this office
as a political stepping stone,” candidate Melissa Page Smith said.
Speaking before St. Louis County council members Tuesday, Smith revealed a shocking allegation:
"I was also asked to find dirt on a county council member and when I refused, I received another call
that I was to try harder,” she said.
She's referring to Councilmember-Elect Mike Archer, who will soon replace Ernie Trakas.
"I informed the caller that I had never worked with Mike Archer because he had worked in the prosecutor's office … It was my understanding that he quit years before I began," she said.
"And that person who called you, who was that?" a council member asked.
"I don't recall. I don't know the name. It was on behalf of Dr. Page,” Smith said.
She said it happened in October, before her formal interview with Page to be his choice for county prosecutor and before the November election. Back in August, Archer ousted Trakas, a Page ally, in the Republican primary.
"What dirt might they have been looking for?” 5 On Your Side asked Archer.
“I have no idea … There was nothing untoward or anything like that, so I have no idea what they were looking for, and obviously, they didn't find anything,” Archer said.
Archer said he trusts Smith's allegation because of her integrity and hopes the situation doesn't lead to bad blood when he takes office next month.
"We all have to work together. We don't have to like one another. We don't have to agree on everything either…We can find common ground for the good of St. Louis County,” Archer said.
“Would it be safe to assume then that since you didn't follow those instructions that probably has to do with why you didn’t receive the appointment?” Councilman Dennis Hancock asked Smith.
"I have no idea why Dr. Page didn't give me the appointment. Apparently, he thought a better choice would be Mr. (Cort) VanOstran,” she said.
A judge will now decide who has the authority to appoint the next county prosecutor.
"We have no idea what Ms. Smith is talking about and we are looking forward to the judge's decision. We are confident that the county executive selected the best choice to replace Wesley Bell, and Cort is ready to begin working with all employees in the prosecuting attorney's office, including Ms. Smith,” said Doug Smith, a spokesperson for Sam Page.