CLAYTON (KMOX) -- New St. Louis County Executive Sam Page sent an email to every county employee on Friday afternoon, asking them to speak up and report any corruption they see.
KMOX News obtained the e-mail, which you can read in its entirety below.
Page says that if employees are aware of someone profiting illegally from their position, they should report it to his office immediately.
It's the same message he began his term with:
"We will have absolutely no tolerance for pay-to-play politics," he told the public after his appointment by the County Council on Monday night. "We will strive to set a new standard for ethical government, and we will be open and transparent so you can hold us accountable."
Page replaced Steve Stenger, who resigned on Monday after a federal indictment outlined multiple pay-to-play schemes and his public lying to cover them up. Stenger pled guilty on Friday.
In this latest email, Page says his administration will not consider campaign contributions when making decisions.
"Such behavior is simply unacceptable," he writes.
From: Page, Sam Sent: Friday, May 03, 2019 2:27 PMTo: All CountySubject: Message from County Executive Dear County Employees: One of our primary goals is to restore public trust in County government. And we need your help.
I know many of you may have felt caught in the middle of the controversies that swept through County government in recent years. I understand those controversies reflected poorly on the County, and made your job much more challenging. It is an unreasonable burden to work in any administration that is not committed to the highest ethical standards.
I want to be absolutely clear: my administration will not consider campaign contributions when making decisions about County government, County grants, or County contracts. Such behavior is simply unacceptable.
To ensure that pay-to-play politics ends now at all levels of our government, I am asking for your help. If you are aware of any such actions or if you learn of anyone involved in any pay-to-play schemes or profiting illegally from their position, I ask you accept the obligation to report that conduct to my office immediately.
If you see something improper, say something.
We want to provide you with several avenues for communicating with us. Please reach out to my staff or me directly. You may reach out to us in person, via email, by phone or by mailing or leaving a note at my office on the ninth floor of the Lawrence K. Roos County Government Building, 41 South Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105.
If you have information to share, you may contact me, my Chief of Staff Winston Calvert, Chief of Operations Garry Earls or Director of Operations Mike Chapman.
We are relying on your valuable insights to help us improve our operations and provide the honest services St. Louis County residents deserve from their government.
Sincerely,
Sam Page