By Tony Brockmeyer
In the first recall election in the history of St. Charles, Councilwoman Dottie Greer, Ward 7, overcame an attempt to remove her from office.
Greer, serving her first term, defeated the Citizens Empowerment Committee headed by Linda Meyer, The St. Charles Citizens for Responsible Government headed by Ken Kielty and Glennon Jamboretz, The Citizens for Responsible Community headed by Carl Maus and Raymond Stone and the Do The Right Thing Committee headed by Ed Watkins, Kevin Kast, Mike Sellenschuetter, and TR Hughes. Combined, the groups spent an estimated $70,000 in their efforts to recall Greer and take control of the City Council and the $100 million City budget. Greer was victorious despite efforts by the Mayor and her husband, Councilmen Mike Weller, Bob Kneemiller, Larry Muench, Jerry Reese and Bob Hoepfner.
“I know how it felt when David fought Goliath and won,” Dottie Greer told the First Capitol News in an exclusive interview after the election. “My ward came together as a community and wanted me to stay in office and represent their interests, not special interests. It was wonderful coming home two days in a row and finding flowers on my porch. I spent less than $300 in the campaign. A lot of people helped me and they even bought their own signs. I received a lot of prayers and want to give the glory to God.”
Although they voted to have the City pay for legal representation for themselves, Hoepfner, Reese, Muench, Weller and Kneemiller, in executive meeting of the City Council, voted to deny Greer the same representation.
Shortly before the election Kneemiller sent a letter to voters in Greer’s Ward criticizing her. Weller, TR Hughes, Watkins, Jamboretz, the Mayor, the Mayor’s husband and associates all worked the polls trying to convince voters to recall Greer. Just a few days prior to the election Citizens for Responsible Community sent out a negative mailer ridiculing City Council President Rory Riddler, Greer and Councilman Mark Brown who they are also attempting to recall. An anonymous, mudslinging, vicious mailer full of hate, lies and misinformation, attacking this writer, City Council Special Counsel Eric Tolen and Matt McWilliams an insurance broker handling insurance for the City, was sent to voters in Greer’s Ward just days prior to the election.
Shortly before the election St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas filed felony charges against Kay Seemiller, who was employed by Citizens Empowerment Committee headed by Linda Meyer. Meyer is the wife of a St. Charles police officer who at one time was the president of the St. Charles Police Officer’s Association. In addition to paying recall petition circulators on a per signature basis she also paid herself out of the committee funds. It is expected the prosecutor will file charges on additional individuals.
For more information on the recall efforts and individuals involved please see the First Capitol News archives at
firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com.
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