By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Missouri State Representative Barb Fraser won a seat on the St. Louis County council Tuesday, and in doing so kicked out of office long-time councilman Kurt Odenwald. She gained 54% of the vote, while Odenwald garnered 46%.
Fraser, who was unable to run for her House seat again because of term limits, will now become the 5th District Councilwoman.
"I have tremendous respect for my opponent and his years of service," Fraser said of Odenwald, in an interview Wednesday morning. "He has certainly served the county well.
"I just think it's time for a change and fresh ideas and a new opportunity for a different way of doing things."
There also will be another newcomer to the council, and another woman. Republican Colleen Wasinger won the 3rd district Council race to replace the retiring Skip Mange. She beat Democrat Kathy Schweitzer by a 55-45% margin.
In other county races, Charlie Dooley easily won a full term as St. Louis County Executive, gaining 67% of the vote to Republican Joe Passanise's 31% (and Libertarian Ted Brown's 2%); Republican Steve Ehlman won the race to replace Joe Ortwerth as St. Charles's County Executive; and Jefferson County's Presiding Commissioner, Mark Mertens, was kicked out of office after losing to Democrat Chuck Banks.
| General Election 2006 - COUNTY RACES | ||
| St. Louis County Executive | ||
| Candidate (675 of 675 precincts reporting) | Vote (%) | |
| Joe Passanise (R) | 120,245 (31%) | |
| x- Charlie Dooley (inc.) (D) | 260,917 (67%) | |
| Ted Brown (L) | 6,817 (2%) | |
| St. Louis County Council - 3rd Dist. | ||
| Candidate (113 of 113 precincts reporting) | Vote (%) | |
| x - Colleen Wasinger (R) | 36,249 (55%) | |
| Kathy Schweitzer (D) | 29,101 (45%) | |
| St. Louis County Council - 5th Dist. | ||
| Candidate (87 of 87 precincts reporting) | Vote (%) | |
| Kurt Odenwald (inc.) (R) | 28,479 (46%) | |
| x- Barbara Fraser (D) | 33,168 (54%) | |
| Jefferson Co. Presiding Commissioner | ||
| Candidate (75 of 75 precincts reporting) | Vote (%) | |
| Mark Mertens (inc.) (R) | 31,118 (45%) | |
| x - Chuck Banks (D) | 38,002 (55%) | |
| St. Charles County Executive | ||
| Candidate (170 of 170 precincts reporting) | Vote (%) | |
| x - Steve Ehlmann (R) | 75,273 (60%) | |
| Jim Rutherford (D) | 49,668 (40%) | |