Two Republicans and two Democrats are running for the county executive seat.
County Executive Dennis Gannon announced in late 2024 that he is not seeking reelection. His final day in office will be Dec. 31. Gannon was first elected to the office in 2018 and was reelected in 2022.
Republicans Tim Whitney and John Stockton, along with Democrats Anthony Dwayne Ruble and David Frank, will face off at the Aug. 4 primary. The Republican and Democrat winners will face one another at the November general election.
The county executive serves a four-year term and is paid an annual salary of about $124,971.
Republicans
Whitney, 44, of Festus is the undersheriff and chief financial officer of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. He has worked in the Sheriff’s Office since 2002, serving in patrol, investigations, special operations, administrative leadership and command roles. He earned a bachelor’s degree in human resource management, a master’s degree in public administration and completed postgraduate coursework focused on leadership and organizational management. He is a graduate of the 293rd session of the FBI National Academy. He has served on the BackStoppers of Jefferson County board from 2017-2024 and has served with the Jeffco Deputy Welfare Association since 2017. He is a member of the Festus-Crystal City Elks Lodge. Whitney and his wife, Stefanie, have two children.
Stockton, 51, of Festus is a business owner, having built and sold several businesses, including a wholesale distribution company, a recycling company, and a real estate and property development company. He graduated from Fontbonne University with a degree in business. He has served as his church’s treasurer for several years and also serves as an advisory board member for Enterprise Bank. Stockton and his wife, Shannon, have three children. One of his children works for Jefferson County.
Why should voters elect you, and what are your goals if elected?
Whitney: For nearly 24 years, I have had the privilege of serving Jefferson County. Today, as undersheriff and chief financial officer, I help lead more than 200 employees, manage a budget exceeding $30 million, and have helped manage and oversee taxpayer-funded budgets, projects and operations totaling hundreds of millions of dollars throughout my career. That experience includes leading people, managing complex operations, solving difficult problems and making critical decisions under pressure when preparation, judgment and accountability matter most.
I am running because Jefferson County needs proven executive leadership ready to lead on day one. My goals are to manage growth responsibly, strengthen infrastructure and public safety before growth outpaces our resources, communicate openly and honestly with residents, and protect taxpayer dollars with the same discipline families use to manage their own budgets. We can grow while preserving the values, character and quality of life that make Jefferson County home.
Stockton: I believe voters want the same things I want: common sense, safer communities, great schools and a government that understands it works for the people. We need trade schools, senior living communities, affordable housing, strong parks and responsible growth that attracts families and businesses. My business experience and taxpayer-first mindset are essential. I am not a career politician. I know how to work with people, solve problems and get things done. My goal is responsible growth: business that makes sense, filled industrial parks, better infrastructure, and a stronger tax base so residents can shop and work here. We need community investments that give kids and families positive things to do, including recreation, youth activities, safe community spaces and riverfront development with things like bike paths that connect our communities. Government must be transparent, accountable and willing to listen before making decisions that affect our future.
If Jefferson County seeks to grow, what are the best opportunities for achieving it?
Whitney: Jefferson County is well-positioned for growth because of its location, workforce, room for responsible development and quality of life. One of our greatest opportunities is creating more good-paying jobs closer to home for residents who currently commute outside the county. To achieve that, we must invest strategically in infrastructure, especially improving east-west transportation corridors that better connect our communities, strengthen emergency response, support responsible development and make Jefferson County more competitive for employers. We also need to support local businesses, work closely with municipalities, encourage targeted commercial and industrial development in appropriate areas, and strengthen partnerships that connect residents with skilled trades and workforce opportunities. Growth should not be random or reactive. If we plan carefully, Jefferson County can expand opportunity, increase its tax base and grow its economy while preserving the character, values and quality of life that make people proud to call this county home.
Stockton: Industrial and logistics development, senior housing and value-added manufacturing. We already have industrial land that is zoned and ready to build, with infrastructure in place. That allows us to fill our current industrial parks, create jobs, expand the tax base and limit environmental impact by using areas already planned for that purpose. We also need more senior housing throughout the county, especially along the Hwy. 30 side, so residents can stay close to family, church, doctors and the communities they helped build. I also believe the type of sand we have in Jefferson County gives us a real opportunity to attract glass or solar glass manufacturing. These industries are expanding across the country, and instead of simply shipping our resources out, we should look for ways to create local jobs and long-term value here.
Do you support the development of data centers in Jefferson County? Why or why not?
Whitney: I would not give any major development automatic approval or automatic rejection. Data centers, like any large project, should be evaluated on their individual merits, including infrastructure capacity, public safety impacts, utility demands, environmental considerations and compatibility with surrounding communities. Just as important, residents deserve transparency and meaningful input before major decisions are made. Growth should be planned, not rushed, and it should strengthen our local economy without placing unfair burdens on taxpayers or existing neighborhoods. As county executive, my responsibility would be to ask the tough questions, make sure residents are heard, and ensure any proposal approved in Jefferson County leaves our community better off than before.
Stockton: I am not opposed to data centers if they are done the right way, but they should be located on properly zoned industrial land or in industrial parks where infrastructure is already in place and the impact on neighborhoods is limited. They should not be placed in residential neighborhoods where they could negatively impact families, property values, noise, water use or quality of life. Any agreements, incentives or long-term impacts should be discussed openly, with residents, local officials, utilities, emergency services, schools and nearby property owners at the table from the beginning. I also believe any data center project should include a clear decommissioning plan, so the county is not left with an abandoned facility years later. These projects require major power demands; we need to seriously explore long-term energy solutions, including small modular nuclear reactors known as SMRs.
Democrats
Ruble, 51, of Festus has worked in the insurance industry for more than 20 years, serving as a manager, marketing representative and consultant. Ruble earned a master’s degree in public administration. He volunteered with the city of Hillsboro, where he obtained a grant for exercise equipment in Hillsboro City Park. He has served on the Jefferson County Park Commission for more than 10 years, serving as president, vice president and in public relations. Ruble’s spouse is Jennifer.
Frank, 59, of De Soto is an enterprise transformation and mergers and acquisitions integration executive. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from St. Louis University, a bachelor’s degree in business from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a bachelor of science degree from Maryville University. He is a Marine Corps veteran and currently serves on the board of his property owners association, overseeing road maintenance and construction initiatives and addressing community infrastructure needs. He has also served as an adjunct graduate professor. He is the father of four adult children, and his spouse is Nan Averette-Frank.
Why should voters elect you, and what are your goals if elected?
Ruble: I will expand our recreation opportunities and protect our rural way of life. I have management and marketing expertise in the private sector, so I can make the government more efficient and market our county to developers that want to be part of our community with limited or no tax incentives. I would also provide a different mindset for the county, as I am pro-consumer, pro-resident and pro-taxpayer. The county belongs to the residents and not the corporations. My goal is to build a community lake that includes fishing, kayaking and trails, similar to Perry County Community Lake or build a recreation center. I will increase recycling opportunities throughout the county.
Frank: Voters should elect me because I bring a unique combination of military service, executive leadership experience and community involvement. As a Marine Corps veteran, business transformation leader, and property owners association board member responsible for road maintenance and construction, I understand leadership, accountability and the importance of delivering results. If elected, my goals are to strengthen infrastructure, practice responsible fiscal stewardship, support public safety and make county government more transparent, efficient and responsive. I want Jefferson County to be prepared for growth, invest wisely in its future, and earn the trust and confidence of the residents it serves. My focus will always be on service, accountability and making decisions that benefit the people of Jefferson County for years to come.
If Jefferson County seeks to grow, what are the best opportunities for achieving it?
Ruble: My goal is to continue to make Jefferson County a great place to live. Many residents choose to live here to enjoy the rural character, open-wooded spaces and wildlife that are increasingly hard to find in St. Louis or St. Charles County while being 45 minutes from downtown St. Louis. I would take a selective approach to development growth by attracting businesses that meet our needs and fit our community with little or no tax incentives. One example of this is when I volunteered with the city of Hillsboro. I found that they needed some type of hardware store in the area, so I am going to make that one of my priorities.
Frank: Jefferson County’s best opportunities for growth lie in responsible economic development, infrastructure investment, workforce development and maintaining a high quality of life. We should attract businesses that create quality jobs and strengthen our tax base while ensuring roads, utilities and public services keep pace with growth. By partnering with schools, trade programs and employers, we can prepare residents for good-paying careers and make the county more competitive. At the same time, we must preserve the safe communities and quality of life that make Jefferson County a desirable place to live and work. My vision is for intentional, balanced growth that expands opportunity, protects taxpayers and positions Jefferson County for long-term success.
Do you support the development of data centers in Jefferson County? Why or why not?
Ruble: I don’t support hyperscale data centers in Jefferson County. They use a lot of electricity and water. Many of the residents and farmers use wells in this county that can be affected by changes in the watershed. I don’t have a problem with a regular data center located in an office building.
Frank: I support responsible economic development, including the potential development of data centers in Jefferson County, provided these projects are structured to benefit residents and protect taxpayers. Any data center proposal should include clear infrastructure plans, comprehensive environmental and health impact assessments, and safeguards to ensure responsible use of natural resources, including water and energy. It is also essential that these projects do not result in increased utility costs for residents or businesses. Developers should bear the costs associated with infrastructure and service demands created by their projects. Equally important, the process must be transparent and include meaningful public engagement. My position is not simply yes or no to data centers; it is ensuring that any development is thoughtfully planned, environmentally responsible, financially sound and aligned with Jefferson County’s long-term interests and quality of life.
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