CLAYTON • An edict directing police to do little or nothing to protect businesses threatened by looters should further unrest occur in Ferguson will not be deployed by the St. Louis County Executive succeeding incumbent Charlie Dooley in January.

In their first head-to-head meeting prior to the Nov. 4 general election, Democratic candidate and County Councilman Steve Stenger and Republican opponent Rick Stream jointly opposed a Missouri State Highway Patrol decision to stand aside during disruptions along West Florissant Avenue in the aftermath of the Aug. 9 death of Michael Brown.

"It was not a decision I would have made," Stenger told KTRS morning host and debate moderator McGraw Milhaven Monday morning. "I would have declared a state of emergency to protect life and property."

Stream concurred.

"We need to protect businesses and send a message to the rest of the nation that businesses are welcome (in St. Louis County) and businesses will be protected," the two-term state legislator said.

The candidates will meet again at noon Tuesday in the Touhill auditorium on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus in a debate sponsored by St. Louis Public Radio.

Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.