St. Louis County executive sues council over ordinance he says would transfer executive power while he travels

The County Executive of St. Louis County announced he filed a lawsuit against the county council over an ordinance he says would unlawfully transfer executive authority while he is out of the country, and said a judge will hear a request for a temporary restraining order tomorrow.

The County Executive said the ordinance, passed in September 2025, requires the county executive to notify the council chair when he leaves the country and provides that the council chair "will assume the authority of the county executive" during those absences. He said he complied with the notification requirement, sent notice on April 10 and identified his chief of staff and chief of operations as points of contact, but that the council chair has signaled she intends to assume those responsibilities. "We can't have 2 county executives," he said, calling the measure "unconstitutional" and saying the county charter reserves changes in executive…