CLAYTON 鈥 A proposition that would have given the 51黑料 County Council the power to fire department heads failed at the polls Tuesday.
With all precincts reporting, nearly 62% voted no on Proposition B and only 38% supported it, according to unofficial final election results.
Prop B would have given the council the power to fire the county鈥檚 top attorney and directors who oversee services including health, parks and roads.
Five of the seven council members would have had to vote in favor of such move.
Only the county executive has the power to fire department heads now.
Council Chair Rita Heard Days, a Democrat from Bel-Nor, said the council needs to be able to hold directors accountable and force them to the table on important legislative issues, such as budget cuts.
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Page had called the proposal a 鈥減ower grab,鈥 and said it would have upset the balance in county government. The proposal would have caused chaos in county services and confusion among directors, he said.
Page has also said the measure would have given the council the power to fire the county police chief; the council said that power rests with the county police commissioners board.
The union representing county police also believed Prop B wouldn鈥檛 have given the council the power to fire the chief.
If the proposal had passed, it would almost certainly have been challenged in court.
After a group of 51黑料 County directors challenged it in February, county Circuit Judge Bruce F. Hilton ordered the proposition off the ballot, saying the language was unfair.
An attorney for the County Council appealed, and an appellate panel issued an order that put the measure back on Tuesday鈥檚 ballot. Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District Judge Thomas C. Clark II wrote in the order that anyone who wants to challenge the measure could do so if it passes.
On Friday, the the lower court鈥檚 opinion that the ballot language was 鈥渕isleading, insufficient, inaccurate, argumentative, prejudicial and unfair.鈥
51黑料 County executive Sam Page spoke out against Proposition B, saying it was a "power grab" during his State of the County address on March 11, 2025. Video by Allie Schallert, aschallert@post-dispatch.com
Election day in 51黑料: STL City, County voters go to the polls
A voter fords a group of electioneers on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, outside the polling place at 51黑料 County Library's Grant's View Branch in south 51黑料 County.
Mary Hennicke holds her daughter Rosie, 3, and a stuffed puppy as she casts her vote on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Buder Library in the 51黑料 Hills area of 51黑料.
Lloyd Pherrell carries his coffee after casting his vote on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Schlafly Library in the Central West End.
Marcy Wiegert, center, casts her vote on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Dewey International Studies Elementary School in Dogtown.
Marcy Nelson votes while wearing a sweatshirt featuring work portrait artist Kehinde Wiley on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Schlafly Library in the Central West End.
Christy Schlafly stumps for 51黑料 Alderwoman and mayoral candidate Cara Spencer on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the Schlafly Library in the Central West End.
Neil Kohne, right, holds his son Ronan, 2, as he and his wife, Marissa, left, cast their votes on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Buder Library in the 51黑料 Hills area of the city.
"Where'd the paper go?" Two-year-old Nolan Schroeder watches ballots go in the counter on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, after accompanying his grandmother Maria Yaeger to vote at 51黑料 County Library's Grant's View Branch polling place in south 51黑料 County.
Elizabeth Hermann completes her ballot on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, as she votes at 51黑料 County Library鈥檚 Parkview Branch in Vinita Park during the general election, which included the county鈥檚 Proposition B.
51黑料 Cardinals fan Marco Romero casts his ballot in the booth on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 51黑料 County Library's Grant's View Branch polling place in south 51黑料 County.
Patricia Williams selects a booth to fill in a ballot on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at the polling place at 51黑料 County Library's Grant's View Branch in south 51黑料 County.
Harvey Lindsey takes a final look at his ballot while voting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 51黑料 County Library's Parkview Branch in Vinita Park, during the General Election which includes the County's Proposition B.
