1998 St. Louis County Executive election
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. 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
- John Hogan, perennial candidate
- Joe Mondrak, activist
Republican primary
Candidates
- Joe Passanise, retired engineer
- Ben Murphy, businessman
- Robert J. Crump, convenience store manager
- Anthony B. Geyer, retired county planner
- Mike Kontominas, computer professional
Declined
- Edith Cunnane, Couty Councilwoman
- Franc Flotron, State Senator
- Gene McNary, former County Executive, former Commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
Libertarian primary
Candidates
- James E. Higgins, computer systems analyst