In an email announcement from his campaign, County Executive Sam Page has announced he will not run for reelection and finish out his term.
Page says in a statement it was the honor of his life to serve as County Executive and is looking forward to spending 2026 focusing on his role as County Executive instead of campaigning.
Page said this decision takes courage, and took a swipe at unnamed officials who he says manufacture problems for clicks and sound bites. Page adds the County needs "more leaders with the courage to say no to the circus and yes to the work."
Page during his tenure, increasingly butted heads with the County Council. Most recently, on the budget and Proposition B, a ballot measure that would have empowered the County Council to remove his department heads.
Page, after previously telling the St. Louis Business Journal in April he would seek reelection, softened his stance after he was indicted for allegedly using taxpayer dollars on a political flyer that reads in opposition to Prop B.
Page's legal team is back in court along with the Attorney General's office for a hearing on that case Friday. His attorney, Matthew Radefield, says no deal is in place.
"The timing of this had nothing to do with the hearing [Friday]." Radefield says Page, "wanted to get [this announcement] out before the end of the year."
However, Radefield did confirm a deal was discussed but the conversations never got serious.
"A lot of times prosecutors will say 'if you do this, we'll do this,' but there has been nothing at all seriously considered or talked about in that regard between the two parties."
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has declined to comment at this time.
KMOX has reached out to spokespersons for Page along with his legal attorney and are awaiting a response.