ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – At least two St. Louis County Councilmembers are questioning Sam Page’s ties to SLU Hospital and whether he is violating law with a side job while serving county executive.
FOX 2’s Jeff Bernthal reported Tuesday that Page has been volunteering as an anesthesiologist, but not working a secondary job. Page had acknowledged this in at least one prior county council meeting, FOX 2 has learned.
On Thursday, a report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Page was apparently reimbursed for services he offered with SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital last year. The hospital reportedly claims Page has been volunteering as an anesthesiologist.
St. Louis County voters approved a law in 2022 that would prevent county executives from working a secondary paid job, which forced Page to quit one part-time paid job.
The alleged statements from Page and the hospital follow Dennis Hancock’s camera interview with FOX 2 on Tuesday, during which he questioned Page’s involvement with the hospital. Hancock remarks came after a court order attempted to remove him from the county council over claims of nepotism.
Hancock told FOX 2, “If I’m a distraction, so be it. They are always looking for distractions to keep people from seeing what they’re doing and not doing. Dr. Page wasn’t at the meeting this afternoon. I don’t know if that means he was at SLU Hospital volunteering or what was going on there. I’m not going to shut up. This is my job.”
Following the Post-Dispatch’s report, Councilwoman Shalonda Webb also released a statement skeptical on Page’s hospital ties.
“The accusations against County Executive Page regarding his employment are alarming, and if
true, reveal a deeply troubling betrayal of public trust. The Office of the County Executive is
full-time with no days off. The people of St. Louis County spoke loud and clear in 2022 when
they voted to approve the measure barring county executives from secondary work. The citizens
of this county demand transparency and accountability, yet here we are again faced with
potential misconduct. That is why I am re-establishing the ethics committee immediately because people deserve answers, and they deserve them now. The very integrity of our leadership is at stake.”
