MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and Republican challenger Mark Mantovani will face off in a live, prime-time debate Tuesday night. The televised debate will be on KPLR at 7 p.m. and simulcast on KMOX Radio, streamed live, and available on demand at FOX2Now.com.
Page, 57, took office during an emergency session of the county council in April 2019, replacing Steve Stenger, who resigned following a federal indictment. He was elected to the position in November 2020. Page defeated primary challenger Jane Dueker in the Aug. 2022.
Mantovani, 68, is a retired marketing business executive. He ran twice for County Executive as a Democrat, narrowly defeated by Steve Stenger in 2018 and again to Sam Page in 2020.
Mantovani was not Page’s original opponent for the general election. Author and business consultant Katherine Pinner won the Republican primary in August over State Rep. Shamed Dogan, 56% to 44%. She withdrew her candidacy on Sept. 2 for personal reasons, just days after pledging to remain in the race.
Because Missouri has what’s known as a “sore loser law,” Dogan could not run in her place.
The St. Louis County Republican Central Committee announced that Mantovani would be their candidate on Sept. 12 following a closed-door vote during a meeting in Fenton. The following day, Mantovani filed his paperwork to switch party affiliation and run as a Republican.
A Republican has not held office as St. Louis County Executive since 1991.