2002 St. Charles County Executive election

The 2002 St. Charles County Executive election took place on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Republican County Executive Joe Ortwerth ran for re-election. He was challenged by Democrat Joe Koester, a high school teacher, who was supported by several prominent local Republicans.^[1] Orthwerth won re-election with 55 percent of the vote, his lowest margin of victory since first winning in 1994.^[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Joe Koester, high school teacher^[3]

Results

Democratic primary results^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joe Koester	8,582	100.00%
Total votes			8,582	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Joe Ortwerth, incumbent County Executive

Results

Republican primary results^[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Ortwerth (inc.)	23,096	100.00%
Total votes			23,096	100.00%

General election

Results

2002 St. Charles County Executive election^[5]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Ortwerth (inc.)	55,880	55.12%
	Democratic	Joe Koester	45,491	44.88%
Total votes			101,371	100.00%
	Republican hold

References

^ Sonderegger, John (October 28, 2002). "Brown works with Democrats to upset Ortwerth". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. SC3. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
^ Schlinkmann, Mark (November 7, 2002). "GOP keeps hold on county offices". St. Charles County Post. St. Charles, Missouri. p. SC1. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
^ Schlinkmann, Mark (August 7, 2002). "Swope sweeps past his boss to win Republican nomination for sheriff". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. A14. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
^ ^a ^b "AUGUST 6, 2002 PRIMARY ELECTION". St. Charles County Clerk/Election Authority. Archived from the original on December 3, 2002. Retrieved July 17, 2025.
^ "St. Charles County, Missouri - NOVEMBER 5, 2002 GENERAL ELECTION". St. Charles County Clerk/Election Authority. Archived from the original on December 18, 2002. Retrieved July 17, 2025.

[1] Sonderegger, John (October 28, 2002). "Brown works with Democrats to upset Ortwerth". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. SC3. Retrieved July 17, 2025.

[2] Schlinkmann, Mark (November 7, 2002). "GOP keeps hold on county offices". St. Charles County Post. St. Charles, Missouri. p. SC1. Retrieved July 17, 2025.

[3] Schlinkmann, Mark (August 7, 2002). "Swope sweeps past his boss to win Republican nomination for sheriff". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. A14. Retrieved July 17, 2025.

[primary_results-4] "AUGUST 6, 2002 PRIMARY ELECTION". St. Charles County Clerk/Election Authority. Archived from the original on December 3, 2002. Retrieved July 17, 2025.

[5] "St. Charles County, Missouri - NOVEMBER 5, 2002 GENERAL ELECTION". St. Charles County Clerk/Election Authority. Archived from the original on December 18, 2002. Retrieved July 17, 2025.

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