ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — A Democratic candidate forum for the St. Louis County Executive race was missing something: Dr. Sam Page. A representative from Page's staff, Paul Hampel, debated primary challenger Jane Dueker in his place.
"I come to debate myself, because my opponent wouldn't come," Dueker said. She accused Page of avoiding the voters' questions and said the Page administration created a toxic work environment.
Hampel denied the assertion that Page was avoiding voters, and said he had asked to show up in Page's place. He said he believes he can speak to experience that no one else has.
"I may be the only one in the public sphere who does know what it's like to work in an office with Jane Dueker," Hampel said. "And to work in an office where Jane Dueker isn't exerting the directives of felonious former county executive Steve Stenger."
The issue of Dueker's connections to Stenger have come up plenty of times before. However, she denies the assertion that she was a regular presence in his administration.
Dueker expressed frustration with Hampel's debate stratgey, saying he chose to focus on attacking her while she discussed the issues. She said her priority is reducing crime, and accused Page of not focusing on it enough.
"This man doesn't even put crime statistics on the web. And he tries to hide from the county what's going on," she said. "Our officers are leaving for lack of leadership, and he won't do a chief search because it's an election cycle."
Hampel said the most important issue the county is facing is a lack of gun control.
"That an 18-year-old kid on their birthday can go in and buy a military-style .223 caliber semi-automatic AR-15 and all the 40 round clips he wants to go with it is absurd," he said.
Hamel was met with boos when he evaded a question about whether Page is still practicing medicine on the side.
"To my knowledge, no," he eventually responded.
(Jane Mather-Glass contributed to this story for KMOX.)