1998 St. Louis County Executive election

1998 St. Louis County Executive election

← 1994 November 3, 1998 2002  →

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

• Buzz Westfall, incumbent County Executive ^[2]
• John Hogan, perennial candidate ^[3]
• Joe Mondrak, activist ^[4]

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

• Edith Cunnane, Couty Councilwoman ^[8]
• Franc Flotron, State Senator ^[9]
• Gene McNary, former County Executive, former Commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service ^[10]

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. "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. "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.