Saracino could not be reached Tuesday at his family’s restaurant, Bartolino’s Osteria, in St. Louis. Sean Rhode did not return calls on Monday or Tuesday.

Aboussie said in an interview that Stenger hired him because he liked what he had done for Clay, and that he had deep contacts among African-Americans. And he said he thought the “grass would be greener” working for the county.

He started as a case manager working with defendants with mental health problems, but switched to the parks department about 2½ years ago after a personality conflict with justice staffers who did not like having a political appointee on their staff. He said he was overqualified for the position, after having worked for a member of Congress.

Aboussie now works out of a small county office at Jefferson Barracks Park. He was not there when a reporter stopped by Tuesday. Reached on his cellphone, Aboussie said he had a unique job in the county, driving to a minimum of three county parks per day, and making reports to supervisors on their conditions. Aboussie said he drives his personal vehicle and does not file for mileage reimbursement. He said he also occasionally represents the parks department at community meetings and handles complaints from park users.