The proposal was another response from county officials to revelations that County Executive Steve Stenger, his chief of staff Bill Miller and others conspired to steer contracts to Stenger campaign donors and that Stenger threatened employees who did not participate in his schemes.

Under the legislation requested by Page, vendors who violated the ban would risk having their bids counted as nonresponsive, and county employees who violated the ban would be subject to discipline or dismissal.

NEW OFFICIAL

Page announced Tuesday that he had appointed Tod A. Martin, former deputy chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, as the county’s director of administration. He will serve as acting director until the County Council votes on his confirmation. His annual salary was set at $129,064.

The director of administration coordinates daily operations in the county government. Under Stenger, it was director of administration Pamela Reitz who stood up to block Stenger’s plot to direct a fraudulent contract to one of his donors.