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St. Charles County Council elects Mike Elam chair, Matt Swanson vice chair for 2026
Summary
On Jan. 12, 2026 the St. Charles County Council elected Mike Elam council chair in a roll-call vote and selected Matt Swanson as vice chair; the meeting also set the agenda for multiple pending land-use and infrastructure items.
The St. Charles County Council on Monday selected Mike Elam as council chair for 2026 after a roll-call election that followed competing nominations.
During the meeting, members first considered Joe Bridal and then Mike Elam for chair. The council recorded a 5–2 vote in favor of Elam; the presiding member said they would "retain as council chair for 2026." Councilman Matt Swanson was later nominated and approved as vice chair by voice vote.
The leadership votes were taken at the start of the council's first meeting of the year, immediately before a docket that included land‑use requests and several ordinances for final passage. Council members used the early portion of the meeting to confirm internal roles before moving to public hearings and routine business.
No contested procedural motions accompanied the leadership votes; the council proceeded to hearings on a conditional use permit request and a series of bills that will affect development and transportation projects in the county.
The council’s newly elected leadership will preside over upcoming agenda items, including a conditional-use hearing scheduled for final action in two weeks and introduced ordinances related to zoning, mining, road projects and a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey.
