Last week’s St. Louis County Council meeting was a roller coaster after a judge reinstated 3rd District Councilman Dennis Hancock, R-Fenton, to his full authority as a council member during the meeting, just hours after a court order barred him from his duties as an elected official.

Hancock found out about the reversal at the Aug. 27 council meeting, hours after St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell filed a petition to have him removed from office after Hancock attempted to hire his step-daughter as his legislative assistant.  Bell initiated a “quo warranto” action.

A separate judge reinstated him with “full authority” at that time at the Aug. 27 meeting.

Court documents state that on Aug. 19, Hancock appointed Hollie Galati to be his legislative assistant at a rate of $24.88 an hour, with a vehicle stipend of $300 a month, plus additional benefits. Both Hancock and Galati acknowledged that they are related. Per the Missouri Constitution, “any public officer or employee in this state who by virtue of his office or employment names or appoints to public office or employment any relative within the fourth degree, by consanguinity or affinity, shall thereby forfeit his office or employment.”

“The Missouri Constitution is clear and unambiguously prohibits elected officials from hiring a relative. The Missouri Constitution is also clear that upon hiring a relative, an elected official forfeits his or her position. The Constitution does not give discretion or take lapses in judgement into consideration,” Bell said in a statement. “I take no pleasure in pursuing this action, but based on the clear language of the constitution, it would be a dereliction of our duty to not bring this matter before the court.”

Hancock, former mayor of Fenton, has represented the 3rd District on the council since 2022. In addition to Fenton, the 3rd District also includes the municipalities of Sunset Hills, Kirkwood and portions of unincorporated South County.

He is one of four members of the council who typically go against County Executive Sam Page’s administration, while three members of the council sometimes align more with Page.

The council voted Tuesday on a proposal to hire its own attorney for legal representation and advice in court. The proposal put the question before voters on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

Three out of the seven council members were against the proposal. At the time, it appeared that without Hancock’s vote, the measure would stall. However, since he could vote Tuesday, that proposal passed 4-3.