A new candidate for St. Louis county executive has emerged: 3rd District Councilman Dennis Hancock, R-Fenton.

Hancock launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for county executive on Aug. 11, after a turbulent month in St. Louis County politics with the indictment of sitting county executive Sam Page.

“It’s a journey to restore leadership, trust and integrity to the office of St. Louis county executive,” Hancock said about his campaign.

At Hancock’s launch party on Aug. 11, the back room of Helen Fitzgerald’s Irish Grill & Pub brimmed with supporters, family members and local politicians. Marc Cox, host of “The Marc Cox (Morning) Show,” led the event, with an opening prayer from Rev. Phillip Duvall — a local minister and civil rights activist — and speeches from 6th District Councilman Mike Archer, 7th District Councilman Mark Harder and former county councilman Tim Fitch to round out the evening.

To laughter and applause, speakers made verbal jabs at Page and his future “in a gated community” or “in stripes,” as Harder and Fitch phrased it. But despite the jokes, Hancock opened his speech by saying, “We think this is going to be a very difficult campaign. It’s obviously going to be a difficult campaign. Sam Page is going to be a formidable candidate — even if he’s in jail.” 

Hancock highlighted his desire to attract and retain jobs in the county, calling it “the lifeblood of our economy,” in order to stop the outward migration of St. Louis County. He hopes that making it easier to do business in the county would allow families and businesses to prosper, leading to better schools and safer communities.

He also mentioned his desire to streamline processes like plowing snow, fixing potholes and processing tax payments. Through it all, he says he wants open and honest communication between the government and its constituents. 

“The only way to accomplish these goals is to, first, get elected. So how can I do that, when so many have tried and failed?” Hancock said, referring to the seat’s history of being held by a Democrat. The last Republican to hold the title of St. Louis county executive completed his term in 1991. “We Republicans have to unite.”

Uniting, to Hancock, means reaching across party lines to “conservative, disenfranchised Democrats” who feel left behind as their party moves further to the left.

“Those are people that hold many of the same values that we do,” he said. “We should embrace them, not push them away. Whether they are in North County, South County, West County or the central corridor, I plan to find them and reach out to them. I firmly believe that this coalition of the conservative is the only way that we’re going to be successful.”

In Archer’s speech, the District 6 councilman highlighted Hancock’s ability to reach across party lines.

 “I can tell you, working with (Hancock), he is the ultimate professional. When he works across the aisle, it’s not for his benefit, it’s for the benefit of the citizens of St. Louis County,” Archer said.

Per Hancock’s own speech, he expects a hard road ahead as he takes on Page and an over 30-year legacy of Democratic county executives. It remains to be seen whether Hancock’s nepotism case, which was settled in January and briefly barred him from office, will affect his campaign. 

Hancock was elected to the County Council in November 2022. Prior to that, he was the mayor of Fenton for 12 years.

Visit hancockforcountyexecutive.com/for more information on his campaign.