CLAYTON — After a dizzying series of events in St. Louis County government, the GOP controls the County Council for the first time in 13 years, with Republican Ernie Trakas at the helm.

The council voted 5-0 Tuesday to elect Trakas, R-6th District, as presiding officer. Under the county charter he is to carry out the chairman’s duties for the remainder of this year. The move was necessary after the resignations of Democrats Sam Page and Hazel Erby left the council without a chairman and vice chair.

The council named Page as county executive April 29 after the resignation of County Executive Steve Stenger on the same day of his indictment in a federal pay-to-play sting. Erby announced last week she was leaving the council to join Page’s administration, but she delayed her departure until this week to preside over one final meeting.

The departures mean the GOP now holds a 3-2 advantage on the council. The council plans to hold special elections in August to fill Page’s and Erby’s seats.

Behind the scenes, Councilman Mark Harder, R-7th District, had been competing hard with Trakas for their colleagues’ support until a few hours before Tuesday’s meeting. But the race was quietly settled before Erby called the meeting to order; Harder nominated Trakas.