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Ortwerth shifts focus from politics to preachin'

St. Louis Public Radio

Published December 13, 2006 at 9:20 AM CST

Joe Ortwerth, 50, officially leaves office Dec. 31. (KWMU photo/Tom Weber)

By Tom Weber, KWMU

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-551181.mp3

St. Louis, MO – After 12 years in charge, Joe Ortwerth will attend his final council meeting as St. Charles County Executive next Monday.

Ortwerth didn't seek re-election this year, which leaves him- at 50 - a relatively young retiree (his top aide Steve Ehlmann won the Executive's seat and will take office at the end of this month).

Ortwerth now is changing careers to religion, and the church he founded last year. The road to being a Christian pastor started with aspirations of being a Catholic priest.

KWMUs Tom Weber prepared this report on the politician-turned-pastor.

Joe Ortwerth

Born: May 18, 1956
Education: - St. Louis Prep South (high school seminary), 1974
- Cardinal Glennon College, 1978
Family: married to Wendy, two sons (Frank, 22, and Josiah, 5)

Political Experience
1983-1994 - Missouri State Representative (served in leadership as Assistant Minority Leader and Chair of House Republican Caucus)
1995-2006 - St. Charles County Executive (first elected executive in County history)
2000 - ran for Missouri Lt. Governor (only election he's ever lost)

Other facts
- won his first election, in 1982, by 124 votes
- favorite football team: Arizona Cardinals
- Married wife Wendy in 1995, just four months after their first date
- founded Highway of Holiness Church, which currently meets at O'Fallon City Hall

Quotations
-- Joe Ortwerth, on growing up in St. Louis's Dogtown neighborhood: "I really viewed myself as a city boy and I did not really like suburbia. But when I ultimately made the decision that a political future in the city was not to be had as a Republican, I did find St. Charles appealing.

-- County Councilman Dan Foust: "Joe's very God-fearing and he has no problem displaying, and I don't have a problem with that. I've always admired people who can stand up in public and profess their faith. I admire people even more if they truly live by those rules."

-- Wife Wendy Ortwerth: "He does take take his tie off and his jacket, but he's more comfortable in a suit and his shiny shoes than jeans."