Federal complaint filed against Sam Page for attempt to influence St. Louis County Council race (2024)

CLAYTON — A state representative has filed a federal complaint against St. Louis County Executive Sam Page for his move to entice her to drop out of a County Council primary.

And a second Missouri legislator on Tuesday said Page also enlisted her help in the effort.

State Rep. Ladonna Appelbaum told the Post-Dispatch on Tuesday that she, too — at Page’s request — called Rep. Gretchen Bangert to see if Bangert would withdraw from running against former Creve Coeur council member Nicole Greer in the Aug. 6 Democratic primary.

Appelbaum, a north St. Louis County Democrat, said she agreed to make the call because she is friends with both Page and Bangert, a Florissant Democrat.

“I hate primaries,” Appelbaum said. “I don’t like seeing my friends run against each other.”

Page’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Bangert, an eight-year veteran of the Missouri House, has filed a complaint with the U.S. Attorney’s office and the Missouri Attorney General.

Bangert’s complaint was filed electronically late Friday afternoon with U.S. attorney Sayler A. Fleming and assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and the FBI’s tip line were copied on the complaint.

“I wish to report what I believe could be an illegal misuse of taxpayer funded governmental resources ... in connection with the primary election for County Council,” said Bangert’s complaint.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said it neither confirms nor denies receiving complaints. Bailey’s office was unavailable for comment.

The 2nd District council race is a key battle for Page, who has lost a majority of the council’s support in recent years. The outgoing council member in the 2nd District, Kelli Dunaway, has been one of Page’s most ardent supporters.

Greer’s campaign has close ties with Page’s camp, picking up official endorsem*nts from Appelbaum, Dunaway and Lisa Clancy, D-5th District, another staunch Page supporter.

Last week, Bangert told the Post-Dispatch that on three separate occasions, Page told her of jobs she could have in his administration if she would refrain from running in the primary.

Bangert recorded the third conversation she had with Page, on May 11, and has also given authorities a copy of the 15-minute recording.

Bangert said in the first two conversations, Page mentioned possible employment in the auditor and recorder of deeds offices. She declined the offers each time and remains in the Aug. 6 primary.

Page previously has said the conversations did not constitute a job offer, and that he talked with Bangert and Greer simply to avoid having a primary fight between Democrats.

Most of Bangert’s complaint to authorities reiterates the story she told the newspaper — except it also makes mention of a job offer coming through “an intermediary.”

Bangert claims she heard from the third-party caller on May 10 — which Appelbaum confirmed Tuesday — one day before Page called Bangert about the job situation for the third time. “That was me,” Appelbaum said.

Bangert said in the complaint that Appelbaum “informed me Page would be offering me a ‘six figure’ job in county government — any job I wanted — to get out of the Council race,” Bangert wrote in the complaint.

On Tuesday, Appelbaum said that although she discussed the possibility of Bangert taking a taxpayer-supported job with the county, “I don’t remember speaking to a dollar amount.”

Appelbaum said she had no reservations making the call, given that “Gretchen is my friend” and that she and Page are also friends and political allies.

Appelbaum’s husband, Thomas D. Appelbaum, is an attorney with the County Counselor’s office.

Bangert said the call from Appelbaum contributed to her decision to record her May 11 conversation with Page.

“I got extremely uncomfortable that ... (Appelbaum) knew about the phone meeting, was able to tell me what the call would be about, and clearly wanted me to believe they had authority to speak for Page ...,” Bangert says in the complaint.

Greer, after declining to respond to several messages left by the Post-Dispatch, finally issued a statement late last week.

It mentioned only one conversation with Page, on May 10, one day before Bangert’s recorded conversation with him.

“He asked me to consider whether I could achieve my goals of improving county government in a staff position,” Greer’s statement said. “He mentioned that he felt he could work with either candidate in the race and wanted to avoid conflict between county Democrats.”

“At no point during that conversation was an offer of employment made,” the statement said.

In the recorded conversation with Bangert, Page said if Bangert was not interested in dropping out, he would have another discussion with Greer. Greer’s statement makes no mention of any other conversations between Greer and Page.

Since issuing the statement, neither Greer nor Sydni Jackson, her campaign manager, have responded to calls from the Post-Dispatch seeking more specific information.