ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Six St. Louis County department heads have filed a lawsuit against the county council, an effort to block a ballot measure they say would let the council remove them from office.

The lawsuit, formally filed Wednesday, asks a judge to bar Proposition B from appearing before voters on the April 8, 2025, election ballot.

The lawsuit claims that the ballot language is misleading and fails to explain how the proposition would “radically amend” St. Louis County law.

According to a St. Louis County sample ballot, Proposition B currently reads:

“Shall Section 2.190.3 be added to and Sections 4.020 and 5.020 of the Charter of St.
Louis County be amended to restore checks and balances, oversight, and accountability
of the executive branch by authorizing removal of the St. Louis County Counselor or any
Department Director by five of the seven Councilmembers as set forth in Exhibit A of
Ordinance No. 29,241, on file with the St. Louis County Administrative Director and the
St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners? The cost of legal counsel authorized if
this amendment passes has no fiscal impact on taxes.”

The lawsuit argues that Proposition B contradicts the county charter and could result in hefty legal fees if a department head were removed and later sued for wrongful termination. The department heads are pushing for a court order that would deem Proposition B invalid and prevent it from appearing on ballots.

The St. Louis County Council has not publicly commented on the lawsuit as of Thursday morning.