1998 St. Louis County Executive election

1998 St. Louis County Executive election
November 3, 1998
 
Nominee Buzz Westfall Joe Passanise
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 203,692 123,828
Percentage 60.88% 37.01%
County Executive before election

Buzz Westfall
Democratic

 Elected County Executive

Buzz Westfall
Democratic

The 1998 St. Louis County Executive election took place on November 3, 1998. Incumbent Democratic County Executive Buzz Westfall ran for re-election to a third term. Though local Republicans attempted to recruit a well-known challenger to Westfall, he faced minimal opposition.[1] He won the Democratic primary and then was opposed by Republican Joe Passanise, a retired county engineer, in the general election. Westfall defeated Passanise in a landslide, winning his third term with 61 percent of the vote.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Results

Democratic primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Buzz Westfall (inc.) 25,671 77.31%
Democratic John Hogan 5,700 17.17%
Democratic Joe Mondrak 1,834 5.52%
Total votes 33,205 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

  • Joe Passanise, retired engineer[6]
  • Ben Murphy, businessman[4]
  • Robert J. Crump, convenience store manager[7]
  • Anthony B. Geyer, retired county planner[4]
  • Mike Kontominas, computer professional[4]

Declined

Results

Republican primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Passanise 13,562 40.75%
Republican Ben Murphy 7,288 21.90%
Republican Robert J. Crump 6,090 18.30%
Republican Anthony B. Geyer 3,590 10.79%
Republican Mike Kontominas 2,752 8.27%
Total votes 33,282 100.00%

Libertarian primary

Candidates

  • James E. Higgins, computer systems analyst[11]

Results

Libertarian primary results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Libertarian James E. Higgins 250 100.00%
Total votes 250 100.00%

General election

Results

1998 St. Louis County Executive election[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Buzz Westfall (inc.) 203,692 60.88%
Republican Joe Passanise 84,087 31.52%
Libertarian James E. Higgins 7,080 2.12%
Total votes 334,600 100.00%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ Sutin, Phil (April 1, 1998). "Westfall gets 8 challengers, none of them well-known". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. B1. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Westfall files to run for his third term". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. March 20, 1998. p. D2. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Activist Hogan files for county executive". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. March 3, 1998. p. B2. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Westfall is opposed in St. Louis County re-election bid". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. August 2, 1998. p. H6. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 "OFFICIAL RESULTS - COUNTY EXECUTIVE - ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI - TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1998". St. Louis County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  6. ↑ Mihalopoulos, Dan (May 19, 1998). "GOP leaders back newcomer in drive to unseat Westfall". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. B1. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Third Republican files for top county post". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. March 29, 1998. p. B2. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  8. ↑ Mihalopoulos, Dan (March 12, 1998). "Edith Cunnane will not try to unseat Westfall". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. B1. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  9. ↑ Mannies, Jo (February 26, 1998). "Flotron decides against run for county executive". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. B1. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ Sutin, Phil (March 26, 1998). "McNary won't run for county executive". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. B1. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  11. ↑ Mihalopoulos, Dan (October 22, 1998). "Westfall may gain a third term without suspense". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. B1, B4. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  12. ↑ "OFFICIAL RESULTS - COUNTY EXECUTIVE, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY & COUNTYWIDE PROPOSITIONS - ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI - TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1998". St. Louis County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
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