Springfield cited in St. Louis County criminal case on election advocacy

As the criminal prosecution of St. Louis County Executive Sam Page proceeds at the Greene County Courthouse, the Queen City has been drawn into the case as more than a host.

Page, who is accused of violating state law that prohibits the use of public funds to take a stance on ballot issues, has argued that the prosecution is targeting him unfairly. As evidence, Page’s legal counsel has referenced several municipalities, among those Springfield, which they argue have produced the same kind of publicly-funded election materials that prompted legal action against Page.

Page was indicted by grand jury in July on four criminal charges, including two misdemeanor election offenses and two felony counts of stealing for directing public funds to the alleged campaign effort. The case stemmed from postcards and flyers sent out by the county regarding an April 2025 ballot question that would have curbed Page’s power to fire department heads by giving that authority to the County Council. Voters rejected the change at the ballot.

State law prohibits public funds from being used to advocate for or oppose candidates or ballot issues, meaning cities and other taxing districts can only provide information and educational materials on those matters to voters.

In recent arguments to dismiss the case in Greene County Circuit Court, Page’s attorney argues the county executive, a Democrat, is being selectively and discriminatorily prosecuted, noting other similarly situated governments have conducted themselves similarly to Page but have not faced the same criminal charges. The case is being prosecuted by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office which at the time of the indictment was led by Andrew Bailey, a Republican. The court filings imply bad blood between the officials because Page and Bailey, alongside former Gov. Mike Kehoe, had battled in court in 2024 over who has the authority to fill a vacant county prosecutor seat.

Comparing mailers from Page, Springfield

In the motion filed in court, Page’s defense lists a plethora of political subdivisions including school districts, cities and fire districts that have posed their own ballot questions and subsequently sent out materials that the defense claims included similar language. The postcard regarding the St. Louis County proposition included information that said a “yes” vote would mean department heads could be removed “for political reasons” and fired during emergencies while a “no” vote would maintain stable leadership and avoid political interference.

Among the examples Page uses to argue he is being singled out are the city of Springfield’s materials on the upcoming April 7 vote on a lodging tax increase that would fund a new convention and event center. The court filings include a Springfield brochure on the lodging tax that includes a “why it’s needed” section that states the Queen City currently loses out on events due to inadequate facilities. In July, the city received a report from consultants that made this claim, which along with the report’s estimates about potential future revenue have served as the basis for the city’s pursuit of a new convention center.

Cora Scott, the city’s chief spokesperson, told the News-Leader all materials created by the city have been solely educational and have undergone rigorous review by the city’s law department. The city has not sent out any independent mailers but has provided brochures and printouts at city events and included material with City Utilities bills. These have been printed in-house at a total cost of $2,880, per Scott.

“We are aware of the restrictions and take them seriously,” Scott said via email.

The city’s online FAQ page on the convention center addresses some questions surrounding the tax, including how the increased tax would benefit the city and strengthen the local economy.

The state has filed opposition to Page’s assertion of discrimination and selective prosecution. The assistant attorney general claimed in the filing that the claims made by Page regarding other governments are speculation and unsupported, also noting that it is up to local county prosecutors to pursue offenses. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office is pursuing the case against Page due to being appointed as a special prosecutor by the St. Louis County Circuit Court.

The case continues to unfold in Greene County, though a trial date is not yet set.