Chris Howard on May 15 formally withdrew from the Republican primary race for county executive set for Aug. 4.
Howard, of Cedar Hill, announced his intentions to drop out of the race a day prior, on May 14, in a Facebook post.
“To all my supporters who have given their time, talent and treasure, I want to express my deepest gratitude,” he said. “Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.”
Howard, who is the St. Louis County Council’s budget policy coordinator, said he didn’t want to play a “negative attack game” against fellow challenger Tim Whitney.
Another Republican, John Stockton of Festus, is also vying for the position. Two Democrats, Anthony Dwayne Ruble of Festus and David Frank of De Soto, are also running for county executive.
“I had hoped my experience would play out, and people would see that as a big enough advantage,” Howard said. “At the end of the day, I think Tim Whitney and I are pretty aligned on a lot of stuff.
“I don’t feel the need to go on the attack just to win an office. If I thought Tim Whitney was a bad guy or corrupt or something, it would be different, but I don’t have any of those things to say about him. At the end of the day, the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze.”
County Executive Dennis Gannon announced on Oct. 14, 2024, that he will not be seeking reelection in 2026. His final day in office will be Dec. 31, 2026.
On the same day, Whitney, who serves as the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office’s undersheriff and chief financial officer, announced he will seek the Republican nomination for county executive in 2026.
The primary election will be on Aug. 4, and the 2026 general election will be held Nov. 3. The county executive serves a four-year term and is paid an annual salary of $124,971.
Howard said he is “quite content” to work behind the scenes to help make Jefferson County a better place to work and live.
He said he does not have any plans to run for a future office in the county.
“I’ve made no deals or requests of Tim Whitney or John Stockton or anybody else, for some future job in Jefferson County,” Howard said.