I would like to thank the residents of Ward 9 for granting me the opportunity and privilege to serve as your councilman for three years.
I am proud of the progress we made for our ward including several new, large investments along West Clay. I hope these new residential and retail developments truly come to fruition. This is my hometown and I want only the best for our community. I have served as your councilman without giving in to special interest money although the opposite path would have been much less difficult. One fight in particular that I am proud of is my stance against special legislation that forced our town to give away its sewer service to T.R. Hughes’ St. Andrew development while the development did not have to annex into our community. So much did I find this special law an affront to our town, that it compelled me to run for state office with the hope that I could make certain that such one-sided legislation couldn’t be passed in the future to the further detriment of our community. My stance solidly on the side of my hometown, in opposition to special interests made me the target of T.R. Hughes who put $58k into unseating those whom he considered his enemies. Imagine the amount of money for a council seat! My audacity to run for state office against the local political apparatus made me the target of “Buddy” Hardin, whom I have never met. You see, it is their belief that 1) you should never oppose their will and their interests and 2) you should never run as a Democrat in this town. I believe that mixed government compliments the process while they believe it threatens to dilute their influence. Monolithic political machines benefit certain individuals but general participation in local government benefit the whole community. While I see the process as competition, they see it as warfare.
I am not here to cry sour grapes but rather I am here to warn the citizens of St. Charles to guard their vote and their government against wholesale purchase by the highest bidder lest we end up with the best democracy money can buy. Had the newspapers let the public know before the election that a developer was sinking thousands and thousands of dollars into council races, I think the public would have had a much different take on the matter.
I ran my race by stating my vision for ward 9, never attacking my opponent. In return, I spoke with my opponent and we agreed to run a fair race. Unfortunately, this pledge was one-sided. My record was twisted until it was metamorphosed into something that no longer represented anything close to the truth.
This local election cycle was by far the most caustic our town has ever experienced. This election is indicative of why there is such disdain for the process and why good people do not dare partake in local democracy.
In a race where usually a thousand or so dollars is raised and spent, twenty-five thousand dollars was pumped into a simple council race. I want to state for the record that I have no ties to the pornography industry, as was claimed. It was also stated that I am an activist for a pro-abortion group. This was a wholesale lie sent out a day before the election to guarantee that no defensive response could be sent out.
It was stated that I spent taxpayer’s money to go to Vegas and Germany; this was true – I went to Vegas with, nearly, the entire council and mayor to a retailers’ convention. I went to Germany along with the mayor and half of the council as a delegate for the recognition of our sister-city’s tenth anniversary.
To clarify another intentionally misrepresented fact – I did not vote to exclude seniors from a tax rebate – I voted to make certain that limited tax resources were provided for our town’s most needy seniors by placing an income cap on those who qualify for this tax rebate. Finally, I missed a vote on a particular issue regarding sex offenders because of automobile troubles and in no way was this ordinance in jeopardy of not passing due to my absence.
For about two years I have written a simple column in the local paper. My articles have been mostly about federal and state politics and some have addressed city matters, however, I have never written lies nor have I attacked anyone’s personal life.
I considered my opponent a family friend and someone of honor; however, words spoken in confidence exclusively to him were then contorted from something positive to something sinister. It had been erroneously claimed that I had an investment by a local developer in my brewery business. I stated to my opponent that this wasn’t true, but I would welcome any investment and would consider stepping down from my position on council if my interests were in conflict due to an investment. This would be the right thing to do. My opponent claimed not to know who was in control of Voters for Good Government or have anything to do with the smear-campaign against me; however, this twisting of information could have only originated from him and was sent out in a mailer against me. I was upset most of all by the breach of trust and manipulation of the facts by someone I had considered a family friend. Those in government must be trustworthy in order for us to trust the entire system.
In conclusion, I want to again thank the residents of ward 9 for their vote three years ago and for their votes this year that resulted in a virtual tie. To those who have written lies, I am compelled by my faith to forgive you. If winning at local politics means crawling into the gutter with wealthy developers and political pundits or intentionally twisting my opponents voting record beyond recognition of any original intent to win votes, I would rather take a different path. For now, we can only await a recount and perhaps a new election due to voter irregularities in our election; however, this is for the judge to decide. It does concern me when the county petitions the courts for a new election due to voting outside of the ward. It calls into question the election process when voters are given the wrong ballots, reportedly, until one o’clock in the afternoon.
Clearly, money can influence an election’s outcome enough on its own accord; we need to protect the validity of our elections by guaranteeing that voters are not disenfranchised either deliberately or by accident.
Once again for the record, the make up of the council was certain to change due to the fact that at least two council members wouldn’t be running for their seats again, however, some papers have erroneously claimed that the factionalism came to an end on election night – the truth is, our in-fighting came to an end more than a year ago once hired guns left the picture. We knew they weren’t gone forever (they stand to make too much money). What some newspapers got quite wrong, however, was the reason for the election outcome. The results have less to do with sides and more to do with who can buy and frame the message. Give anyone $25,000 to run a council race and allow a third party to print attack pieces the last four days of the election and they too could work wonders.
I do hope that things will continue to improve in St. Charles, and I’m sure that the council will continue to work together on more than 90% of all of its business as it did in the past. What I certainly do not hope for is a council of yes-men who do not have the backbone to stand up to big money and flatly state when something is bad for St. Charles regardless of the pockets that stand to be lined...
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Case In Point by Joe Koester
I would like to thank the residents of Ward 9 for granting me the opportunity and privilege to serve as your councilman for three years.
I am proud of the progress we made for our ward including several new, large investments along West Clay. I hope these new residential and retail developments truly come to fruition. This is my hometown and I want only the best for our community. I have served as your councilman without giving in to special interest money although the opposite path would have been much less difficult. One fight in particular that I am proud of is my stance against special legislation that forced our town to give away its sewer service to T.R. Hughes’ St. Andrew development while the development did not have to annex into our community. So much did I find this special law an affront to our town, that it compelled me to run for state office with the hope that I could make certain that such one-sided legislation couldn’t be passed in the future to the further detriment of our community. My stance solidly on the side of my hometown, in opposition to special interests made me the target of T.R. Hughes who put $58k into unseating those whom he considered his enemies. Imagine the amount of money for a council seat! My audacity to run for state office against the local political apparatus made me the target of “Buddy” Hardin, whom I have never met. You see, it is their belief that 1) you should never oppose their will and their interests and 2) you should never run as a Democrat in this town. I believe that mixed government compliments the process while they believe it threatens to dilute their influence. Monolithic political machines benefit certain individuals but general participation in local government benefit the whole community. While I see the process as competition, they see it as warfare.
I am not here to cry sour grapes but rather I am here to warn the citizens of St. Charles to guard their vote and their government against wholesale purchase by the highest bidder lest we end up with the best democracy money can buy. Had the newspapers let the public know before the election that a developer was sinking thousands and thousands of dollars into council races, I think the public would have had a much different take on the matter.
I ran my race by stating my vision for ward 9, never attacking my opponent. In return, I spoke with my opponent and we agreed to run a fair race. Unfortunately, this pledge was one-sided. My record was twisted until it was metamorphosed into something that no longer represented anything close to the truth.
This local election cycle was by far the most caustic our town has ever experienced. This election is indicative of why there is such disdain for the process and why good people do not dare partake in local democracy.
In a race where usually a thousand or so dollars is raised and spent, twenty-five thousand dollars was pumped into a simple council race. I want to state for the record that I have no ties to the pornography industry, as was claimed. It was also stated that I am an activist for a pro-abortion group. This was a wholesale lie sent out a day before the election to guarantee that no defensive response could be sent out.
It was stated that I spent taxpayer’s money to go to Vegas and Germany; this was true – I went to Vegas with, nearly, the entire council and mayor to a retailers’ convention. I went to Germany along with the mayor and half of the council as a delegate for the recognition of our sister-city’s tenth anniversary.
To clarify another intentionally misrepresented fact – I did not vote to exclude seniors from a tax rebate – I voted to make certain that limited tax resources were provided for our town’s most needy seniors by placing an income cap on those who qualify for this tax rebate. Finally, I missed a vote on a particular issue regarding sex offenders because of automobile troubles and in no way was this ordinance in jeopardy of not passing due to my absence.
For about two years I have written a simple column in the local paper. My articles have been mostly about federal and state politics and some have addressed city matters, however, I have never written lies nor have I attacked anyone’s personal life.
I considered my opponent a family friend and someone of honor; however, words spoken in confidence exclusively to him were then contorted from something positive to something sinister. It had been erroneously claimed that I had an investment by a local developer in my brewery business. I stated to my opponent that this wasn’t true, but I would welcome any investment and would consider stepping down from my position on council if my interests were in conflict due to an investment. This would be the right thing to do. My opponent claimed not to know who was in control of Voters for Good Government or have anything to do with the smear-campaign against me; however, this twisting of information could have only originated from him and was sent out in a mailer against me. I was upset most of all by the breach of trust and manipulation of the facts by someone I had considered a family friend. Those in government must be trustworthy in order for us to trust the entire system.
In conclusion, I want to again thank the residents of ward 9 for their vote three years ago and for their votes this year that resulted in a virtual tie. To those who have written lies, I am compelled by my faith to forgive you. If winning at local politics means crawling into the gutter with wealthy developers and political pundits or intentionally twisting my opponents voting record beyond recognition of any original intent to win votes, I would rather take a different path. For now, we can only await a recount and perhaps a new election due to voter irregularities in our election; however, this is for the judge to decide. It does concern me when the county petitions the courts for a new election due to voting outside of the ward. It calls into question the election process when voters are given the wrong ballots, reportedly, until one o’clock in the afternoon.
Clearly, money can influence an election’s outcome enough on its own accord; we need to protect the validity of our elections by guaranteeing that voters are not disenfranchised either deliberately or by accident.
Once again for the record, the make up of the council was certain to change due to the fact that at least two council members wouldn’t be running for their seats again, however, some papers have erroneously claimed that the factionalism came to an end on election night – the truth is, our in-fighting came to an end more than a year ago once hired guns left the picture. We knew they weren’t gone forever (they stand to make too much money). What some newspapers got quite wrong, however, was the reason for the election outcome. The results have less to do with sides and more to do with who can buy and frame the message. Give anyone $25,000 to run a council race and allow a third party to print attack pieces the last four days of the election and they too could work wonders.
I do hope that things will continue to improve in St. Charles, and I’m sure that the council will continue to work together on more than 90% of all of its business as it did in the past. What I certainly do not hope for is a council of yes-men who do not have the backbone to stand up to big money and flatly state when something is bad for St. Charles regardless of the pockets that stand to be lined...
I am proud of the progress we made for our ward including several new, large investments along West Clay. I hope these new residential and retail developments truly come to fruition. This is my hometown and I want only the best for our community. I have served as your councilman without giving in to special interest money although the opposite path would have been much less difficult. One fight in particular that I am proud of is my stance against special legislation that forced our town to give away its sewer service to T.R. Hughes’ St. Andrew development while the development did not have to annex into our community. So much did I find this special law an affront to our town, that it compelled me to run for state office with the hope that I could make certain that such one-sided legislation couldn’t be passed in the future to the further detriment of our community. My stance solidly on the side of my hometown, in opposition to special interests made me the target of T.R. Hughes who put $58k into unseating those whom he considered his enemies. Imagine the amount of money for a council seat! My audacity to run for state office against the local political apparatus made me the target of “Buddy” Hardin, whom I have never met. You see, it is their belief that 1) you should never oppose their will and their interests and 2) you should never run as a Democrat in this town. I believe that mixed government compliments the process while they believe it threatens to dilute their influence. Monolithic political machines benefit certain individuals but general participation in local government benefit the whole community. While I see the process as competition, they see it as warfare.
I am not here to cry sour grapes but rather I am here to warn the citizens of St. Charles to guard their vote and their government against wholesale purchase by the highest bidder lest we end up with the best democracy money can buy. Had the newspapers let the public know before the election that a developer was sinking thousands and thousands of dollars into council races, I think the public would have had a much different take on the matter.
I ran my race by stating my vision for ward 9, never attacking my opponent. In return, I spoke with my opponent and we agreed to run a fair race. Unfortunately, this pledge was one-sided. My record was twisted until it was metamorphosed into something that no longer represented anything close to the truth.
This local election cycle was by far the most caustic our town has ever experienced. This election is indicative of why there is such disdain for the process and why good people do not dare partake in local democracy.
In a race where usually a thousand or so dollars is raised and spent, twenty-five thousand dollars was pumped into a simple council race. I want to state for the record that I have no ties to the pornography industry, as was claimed. It was also stated that I am an activist for a pro-abortion group. This was a wholesale lie sent out a day before the election to guarantee that no defensive response could be sent out.
It was stated that I spent taxpayer’s money to go to Vegas and Germany; this was true – I went to Vegas with, nearly, the entire council and mayor to a retailers’ convention. I went to Germany along with the mayor and half of the council as a delegate for the recognition of our sister-city’s tenth anniversary.
To clarify another intentionally misrepresented fact – I did not vote to exclude seniors from a tax rebate – I voted to make certain that limited tax resources were provided for our town’s most needy seniors by placing an income cap on those who qualify for this tax rebate. Finally, I missed a vote on a particular issue regarding sex offenders because of automobile troubles and in no way was this ordinance in jeopardy of not passing due to my absence.
For about two years I have written a simple column in the local paper. My articles have been mostly about federal and state politics and some have addressed city matters, however, I have never written lies nor have I attacked anyone’s personal life.
I considered my opponent a family friend and someone of honor; however, words spoken in confidence exclusively to him were then contorted from something positive to something sinister. It had been erroneously claimed that I had an investment by a local developer in my brewery business. I stated to my opponent that this wasn’t true, but I would welcome any investment and would consider stepping down from my position on council if my interests were in conflict due to an investment. This would be the right thing to do. My opponent claimed not to know who was in control of Voters for Good Government or have anything to do with the smear-campaign against me; however, this twisting of information could have only originated from him and was sent out in a mailer against me. I was upset most of all by the breach of trust and manipulation of the facts by someone I had considered a family friend. Those in government must be trustworthy in order for us to trust the entire system.
In conclusion, I want to again thank the residents of ward 9 for their vote three years ago and for their votes this year that resulted in a virtual tie. To those who have written lies, I am compelled by my faith to forgive you. If winning at local politics means crawling into the gutter with wealthy developers and political pundits or intentionally twisting my opponents voting record beyond recognition of any original intent to win votes, I would rather take a different path. For now, we can only await a recount and perhaps a new election due to voter irregularities in our election; however, this is for the judge to decide. It does concern me when the county petitions the courts for a new election due to voting outside of the ward. It calls into question the election process when voters are given the wrong ballots, reportedly, until one o’clock in the afternoon.
Clearly, money can influence an election’s outcome enough on its own accord; we need to protect the validity of our elections by guaranteeing that voters are not disenfranchised either deliberately or by accident.
Once again for the record, the make up of the council was certain to change due to the fact that at least two council members wouldn’t be running for their seats again, however, some papers have erroneously claimed that the factionalism came to an end on election night – the truth is, our in-fighting came to an end more than a year ago once hired guns left the picture. We knew they weren’t gone forever (they stand to make too much money). What some newspapers got quite wrong, however, was the reason for the election outcome. The results have less to do with sides and more to do with who can buy and frame the message. Give anyone $25,000 to run a council race and allow a third party to print attack pieces the last four days of the election and they too could work wonders.
I do hope that things will continue to improve in St. Charles, and I’m sure that the council will continue to work together on more than 90% of all of its business as it did in the past. What I certainly do not hope for is a council of yes-men who do not have the backbone to stand up to big money and flatly state when something is bad for St. Charles regardless of the pockets that stand to be lined...
The View From The Cheap Seats
The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
I would like to use this column today to say good-by to a friend. Although I’ve only known him for a little over 4 years, I have as much respect for him as I have had for anyone I’ve known in my 64 years. He is a teacher. He is noMichelle D. McBride to Be Recognizedt just a teacher of a school subject, but a teacher of manners, respect and citizenship.
His name is Terry Martinez. He is the present Director of Bands at St. Charles West. He won’t be for long. He has accepted the same position in the O’Fallon, Illinois High School.
A few years ago, I volunteered as the driver for the St. Charles West Band. On our first overnight trip, I knew what this man did for these band members. In my 35 years as an over the road driver, I had to stay in motels where high school basketball, baseball and other sport teams stayed. I was usually kept awake well into the morning hours with yelling and running in the halls and doors slamming. On this night, there was absolute quiet at 10 o’clock, and I knew why.
Terry would have been a good drill sergeant. He instilled discipline, but with the love of a parent. In the morning, neatly dressed students came down for breakfast. All behaved like ladies and gentlemen. I was proud to be wearing a St. Charles West shirt.
I don’t know how much, but I can’t help but think that Mr. Martinez’s decision to leave was partly due to four members of our school board unceremoniously expelling his children due to where they live. You see, Terry was promised that he could have his children attend St. Charles schools as a condition of his employment. He lived just outside the district. Now that his children were tossed out, he may have felt that there was no reason to pass on a better job opportunity. I know that he was upset knowing that this board couldn’t be trusted to honor their word.
The St. Charles schools will be worse off with the loss of this teacher. How many more good teachers will leave is anyone’s guess. He is more than a band director. I know all the band parents will feel this loss, but will be glad to see him at area competitions.
Godspeed Terry Martinez. The pleasure was all mine.
That’s the view from the cheap seats.
By Jerry Haferkamp
I would like to use this column today to say good-by to a friend. Although I’ve only known him for a little over 4 years, I have as much respect for him as I have had for anyone I’ve known in my 64 years. He is a teacher. He is noMichelle D. McBride to Be Recognizedt just a teacher of a school subject, but a teacher of manners, respect and citizenship.
His name is Terry Martinez. He is the present Director of Bands at St. Charles West. He won’t be for long. He has accepted the same position in the O’Fallon, Illinois High School.
A few years ago, I volunteered as the driver for the St. Charles West Band. On our first overnight trip, I knew what this man did for these band members. In my 35 years as an over the road driver, I had to stay in motels where high school basketball, baseball and other sport teams stayed. I was usually kept awake well into the morning hours with yelling and running in the halls and doors slamming. On this night, there was absolute quiet at 10 o’clock, and I knew why.
Terry would have been a good drill sergeant. He instilled discipline, but with the love of a parent. In the morning, neatly dressed students came down for breakfast. All behaved like ladies and gentlemen. I was proud to be wearing a St. Charles West shirt.
I don’t know how much, but I can’t help but think that Mr. Martinez’s decision to leave was partly due to four members of our school board unceremoniously expelling his children due to where they live. You see, Terry was promised that he could have his children attend St. Charles schools as a condition of his employment. He lived just outside the district. Now that his children were tossed out, he may have felt that there was no reason to pass on a better job opportunity. I know that he was upset knowing that this board couldn’t be trusted to honor their word.
The St. Charles schools will be worse off with the loss of this teacher. How many more good teachers will leave is anyone’s guess. He is more than a band director. I know all the band parents will feel this loss, but will be glad to see him at area competitions.
Godspeed Terry Martinez. The pleasure was all mine.
That’s the view from the cheap seats.
Michelle D. McBride to Be Recognized
Michelle D. McBride to Be Recognized at the Annual Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon for Her Outstanding Volunteer Contributions
Michelle D. McBride, Fiscal Manager for the St. Charles County Collector of Revenue, is also a dedicated volunteer who works tirelessly on behalf of the region’s young people. She will be honored for her tremendous volunteer efforts, at the 52nd Annual Women of Achievement Luncheon, on Tuesday, May 15th, at the Ritz Carlton, in Clayton She will be recognized as a Woman of Achievement for Citizenship because of her numerous accomplishments and role modeling within the community. Since 1955, when this prestigious recognition program was first established, over 520 St. Louis area women have received this coveted award.
Since Michelle was a young child, growing up in a rural community in the metro East, she has embraced the importance of volunteerism and good citizenship. Through her active participation in a variety of 4H programs, she learned about fundraising and volunteering to help others, such as veterans and the elderly. As an adult, in addition to her fulltime professional responsibilities, she has devoted herself to the community’s youth. For more than 14 years, Michelle has served in a variety of leadership positions in the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts and the Venture Scouts, including Assistant Troop Leader, Neighborhood Postal Express Girl Scouts Coordinator, Assistant Scout Master, Troup Treasurer, Troop Merit Badge Coordinator, Troop Ad Altare Dei Counselor, Venture Crew Advisor, Crew Committee Chair, Venture Crew Pope Pius Counselor and other roles. In the midst of her political campaign for St. Charles County Collector of Revenue, she volunteered half of her personal, vacation time to participate in Scout Summer Camp. Another example of her willingness to give of her time and energy occurred when a Girl Scout Troop needed a licensed Troop Camper, in order for its unit to camp at the neighborhood “Moving On Up” event. Unselfishly, Michelle volunteered her services and spent the weekend teaching third graders many of the necessary skills of fire-building, camp cooking and more. She created the “Moving On Up Bridging Ceremony” in which scouts move up from one level of scouting to the next, even utilizing her musical ability to write meaningful lyrics for the ceremony. Helping youngsters understand and appreciate the outdoors, while developing qualities of integrity and good citizenship, which will remain with them forever, has been a passion for Michelle. She has said, “If I can act as a catalyst to mold the characters of the youth of today into credible adults of tomorrow, then I have done my job on earth.”
In addition to her incredible commitment to scouting, Michelle has served as a volunteer organist for the St. Elizabeth/St. Robert Regional School in her parish for over 12 years. She adjusts her professional schedule to ensure that she is able to do her job and still have time to play the organ for and sing with the school children. She serves as an outstanding role model for the area’s children, demonstrating that it is more than possible for an individual to integrate God, Family and Career while serving others. Michelle’s influence on young people and her passion for volunteering have earned her the honor of being selected as a 2007 Woman of Achievement.
Reservations for the Women of Achievement Award Luncheon are $50 per person with seating at table of 10. For reservations or more information about the 2007 Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon please contact Jenny Besser at 314-
584-6011. Please send checks to: Women of Achievement Luncheon c/o MAC Meetings and Events, 801 North Second Street, Suite 302, St. Louis, MO 63102. The deadline for reservations is May 1st. No reservations can be accepted after May 8th.
Michelle D. McBride, Fiscal Manager for the St. Charles County Collector of Revenue, is also a dedicated volunteer who works tirelessly on behalf of the region’s young people. She will be honored for her tremendous volunteer efforts, at the 52nd Annual Women of Achievement Luncheon, on Tuesday, May 15th, at the Ritz Carlton, in Clayton She will be recognized as a Woman of Achievement for Citizenship because of her numerous accomplishments and role modeling within the community. Since 1955, when this prestigious recognition program was first established, over 520 St. Louis area women have received this coveted award.
Since Michelle was a young child, growing up in a rural community in the metro East, she has embraced the importance of volunteerism and good citizenship. Through her active participation in a variety of 4H programs, she learned about fundraising and volunteering to help others, such as veterans and the elderly. As an adult, in addition to her fulltime professional responsibilities, she has devoted herself to the community’s youth. For more than 14 years, Michelle has served in a variety of leadership positions in the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts and the Venture Scouts, including Assistant Troop Leader, Neighborhood Postal Express Girl Scouts Coordinator, Assistant Scout Master, Troup Treasurer, Troop Merit Badge Coordinator, Troop Ad Altare Dei Counselor, Venture Crew Advisor, Crew Committee Chair, Venture Crew Pope Pius Counselor and other roles. In the midst of her political campaign for St. Charles County Collector of Revenue, she volunteered half of her personal, vacation time to participate in Scout Summer Camp. Another example of her willingness to give of her time and energy occurred when a Girl Scout Troop needed a licensed Troop Camper, in order for its unit to camp at the neighborhood “Moving On Up” event. Unselfishly, Michelle volunteered her services and spent the weekend teaching third graders many of the necessary skills of fire-building, camp cooking and more. She created the “Moving On Up Bridging Ceremony” in which scouts move up from one level of scouting to the next, even utilizing her musical ability to write meaningful lyrics for the ceremony. Helping youngsters understand and appreciate the outdoors, while developing qualities of integrity and good citizenship, which will remain with them forever, has been a passion for Michelle. She has said, “If I can act as a catalyst to mold the characters of the youth of today into credible adults of tomorrow, then I have done my job on earth.”
In addition to her incredible commitment to scouting, Michelle has served as a volunteer organist for the St. Elizabeth/St. Robert Regional School in her parish for over 12 years. She adjusts her professional schedule to ensure that she is able to do her job and still have time to play the organ for and sing with the school children. She serves as an outstanding role model for the area’s children, demonstrating that it is more than possible for an individual to integrate God, Family and Career while serving others. Michelle’s influence on young people and her passion for volunteering have earned her the honor of being selected as a 2007 Woman of Achievement.
Reservations for the Women of Achievement Award Luncheon are $50 per person with seating at table of 10. For reservations or more information about the 2007 Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon please contact Jenny Besser at 314-
584-6011. Please send checks to: Women of Achievement Luncheon c/o MAC Meetings and Events, 801 North Second Street, Suite 302, St. Louis, MO 63102. The deadline for reservations is May 1st. No reservations can be accepted after May 8th.
“Money Talks”
Kevin Daniels
Vice President, Main Street Financial
One Piece Of Paper You Want To Keep
Every year in the early part of March, I start getting piles of envelopes stuffed with piles of envelopes and more envelopes, each with documents still inside...it’s tax time in the US of A! I almost always hear this statement: I don’t know what to keep and what to throw away, you decide. I have even had people bring in their files and ask our staff to “clean out” their paper accumulations. We are glad to help but realize some of these clients worry about paperwork they do not understand. And quite frankly, some of it is very difficult to understand.
I have noticed that many of us, the older we get, for some reason or another become less attached to possessions and prefer simplifying life by de-accumulation, which includes the removal of excess paper. (I am not sure why, since paper takes up a relatively small amount of space in the average American household!) I admit that because of rules, legalities/liabilities, fair reporting rules and so on, there is plenty of fine print paper that falls out of an investment sponsor envelope. Much of that paper is required by law to keep you informed and can be tossed in the name of lean files. But the real issue in my mind is what NOT to throw away. Here are a few keepers: Anything that says “Important Tax Information” is a keeper, but that should be obvious, read on.
Anything that starts with the word “Form” like Form-1099, Form-1098, Form-1099 int, or Form 1099-div, or proceeds from broker and barter transactions just to name a few. Other good keepers are documents entitled “Annual Statement” or “Annual Review” as well as statements that end on December 31st. But here is the one that sneaks up on us, probably because it is not so obvious: COST BASIS DOCUMENTS. They are not labeled so clearly because the clearing firm that holds the security or the fund sponsor does not know when you will elect to liquidate your position and they often do not come at tax time. These are documents that prove how much your investment cost you and they will come in all shapes and sizes! Here is the rule, if you still own the security, then you still need the statements. The reason for this is that you have to know about your capital gains distributions and dividends as well as you partial sales and additional purchased shares.
If you sell a stock or a mutual fund this year, you (or your tax preparer) will have to tell the government what you paid for that asset, or more accurately what it has cost you since you have been the owner. How else will you know if you made a profit? Compare this to your home. If you buy a house for $175,000, and sell it for $200,000, did you make money? Not if your renovation costs were more than the difference of these two numbers. The same is true for stocks and mutual funds. You may have purchased this asset many years ago, and may have paid capital gains on many tax returns. This is said to have increased your cost basis or in other words, it has increased the amount you have put into the security. If you shred these records, you may have a difficult time determining your capital loss or capital gain. And because of that, you may pay more taxes than you really owe. Remember, the capital gain/loss is the selling price of the security or asset minus the cost basis.
So alright then, if you must throw away some paper, make sure you are especially careful about keeping paperwork on securities. These records will prove to be valuable in the future when that security is sold.
Vice President, Main Street Financial
One Piece Of Paper You Want To Keep
Every year in the early part of March, I start getting piles of envelopes stuffed with piles of envelopes and more envelopes, each with documents still inside...it’s tax time in the US of A! I almost always hear this statement: I don’t know what to keep and what to throw away, you decide. I have even had people bring in their files and ask our staff to “clean out” their paper accumulations. We are glad to help but realize some of these clients worry about paperwork they do not understand. And quite frankly, some of it is very difficult to understand.
I have noticed that many of us, the older we get, for some reason or another become less attached to possessions and prefer simplifying life by de-accumulation, which includes the removal of excess paper. (I am not sure why, since paper takes up a relatively small amount of space in the average American household!) I admit that because of rules, legalities/liabilities, fair reporting rules and so on, there is plenty of fine print paper that falls out of an investment sponsor envelope. Much of that paper is required by law to keep you informed and can be tossed in the name of lean files. But the real issue in my mind is what NOT to throw away. Here are a few keepers: Anything that says “Important Tax Information” is a keeper, but that should be obvious, read on.
Anything that starts with the word “Form” like Form-1099, Form-1098, Form-1099 int, or Form 1099-div, or proceeds from broker and barter transactions just to name a few. Other good keepers are documents entitled “Annual Statement” or “Annual Review” as well as statements that end on December 31st. But here is the one that sneaks up on us, probably because it is not so obvious: COST BASIS DOCUMENTS. They are not labeled so clearly because the clearing firm that holds the security or the fund sponsor does not know when you will elect to liquidate your position and they often do not come at tax time. These are documents that prove how much your investment cost you and they will come in all shapes and sizes! Here is the rule, if you still own the security, then you still need the statements. The reason for this is that you have to know about your capital gains distributions and dividends as well as you partial sales and additional purchased shares.
If you sell a stock or a mutual fund this year, you (or your tax preparer) will have to tell the government what you paid for that asset, or more accurately what it has cost you since you have been the owner. How else will you know if you made a profit? Compare this to your home. If you buy a house for $175,000, and sell it for $200,000, did you make money? Not if your renovation costs were more than the difference of these two numbers. The same is true for stocks and mutual funds. You may have purchased this asset many years ago, and may have paid capital gains on many tax returns. This is said to have increased your cost basis or in other words, it has increased the amount you have put into the security. If you shred these records, you may have a difficult time determining your capital loss or capital gain. And because of that, you may pay more taxes than you really owe. Remember, the capital gain/loss is the selling price of the security or asset minus the cost basis.
So alright then, if you must throw away some paper, make sure you are especially careful about keeping paperwork on securities. These records will prove to be valuable in the future when that security is sold.
FIRST CAPITOL COUNSELING Dr, Howard Rosenthal
What Your Buying Habits Reveal About Your Personality
Dr. Howard Rosenthal
When I was a youngster my father owned a company that manufactured shampoos and hair conditioners. His bestseller was the original Rum & Egg Shampoo, a product he invented himself. Now here’s where the story gets a little humorous (or perhaps not so humorous depending on your vantage point). We would routinely receive correspondence from folks who just loved the Rum & Egg . . . heck, they thought it was the best darn shampoo on the face of the planet. In fact, they’d go a step farther and trash another brand or two of Rum & Egg and say something like, “Why can’t Brand X or Brand Y make Rum & Egg like yours? The product they manufacture is pure junk.”
Now you might be thinking that we were patting ourselves on the back for making such a great product. Well if that’s what you thought then hold onto your horses because I haven’t gotten to the punch line yet. Moments after the first call we receive another telephone message. This time it would be from an irate customer who would be ranting and raving about how inferior our product was, “Why in the heck can’t you guys make a decent Rum & Egg Shampoo like Brand X or Brand Y? I’ll even send you a bottle of their brand so you can see how good the competition’s product really is.”
And send us a bottle, they did! Now what the aforementioned dummies (um excuse me, I mean customers) didn’t know was that most of the time it was the exact same stuff! Let me put it in a different way. We’d fill a thousand bottles to the brim with Rum & Egg and some bottles would get our label, others Brand X, and others Brand Y, Z or whatever. We never had a clue which bottles received which labels. Hello folks: you’re all buying the same stuff.
Often the same shampoo or conditioner would even be made under the same name with ten different colors, ten different brand names and ten different perfumes. (Sorry to disappoint you ladies, but in cosmetics generally the most expensive part of the product is the package and the perfume, in that order.)
But this principle goes way beyond hair care products. At one time made in Japan meant junk, but that’s hardly been the case for the last twenty years. Now Japanese always stands for superior quality . . . or does it? A few years back researchers took models of automobiles and VCRs that were sold either with US nameplates (Dodge or RCA) or Japanese badges (Mitsubishi or JVC). Like the shampoo saga, the products were actually identical. Customers were given the Japanese brand and the American issue and told to rate them. Perhaps you’ve already guessed that the products sporting a Japanese label – never mind that in reality they were the same – were rated much better. Consumers made comments like, “The Japanese model just rode quieter,” or “the picture and the sound were markedly better.” Had you performed the experiment in the early 1950s the products with the US nameplate would surely have won by a landslide.
Your belief in what you purchase has a lot to do with what the media tells you and that can be altered by where you live. Recently, I was speaking with a very successful businessman visiting here from Japan for the first time. “Do you drive a Lexus?” I asked. “Why would I drive a Toyota?” he quipped. “I own a huge company and need to impress people, so I can only purchase a BMW or a Mercedes. Toyota is not a luxury car in Japan.”
“But you know it has tremendous prestige in the US,” I protested. “Yes,” he responded, “we have heard this once or twice in Japan. We just find it strange, kind of funny, I guess.”
The war to invade your wallet, that little plastic card of yours, or your pocket book, begins and ends with the battle for your mind.
Dr. Howard Rosenthal is Professor and Program Coordinator of Human Services at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and a multi-book author. His website is www.howardrosenthal.com
Dr. Howard Rosenthal
When I was a youngster my father owned a company that manufactured shampoos and hair conditioners. His bestseller was the original Rum & Egg Shampoo, a product he invented himself. Now here’s where the story gets a little humorous (or perhaps not so humorous depending on your vantage point). We would routinely receive correspondence from folks who just loved the Rum & Egg . . . heck, they thought it was the best darn shampoo on the face of the planet. In fact, they’d go a step farther and trash another brand or two of Rum & Egg and say something like, “Why can’t Brand X or Brand Y make Rum & Egg like yours? The product they manufacture is pure junk.”
Now you might be thinking that we were patting ourselves on the back for making such a great product. Well if that’s what you thought then hold onto your horses because I haven’t gotten to the punch line yet. Moments after the first call we receive another telephone message. This time it would be from an irate customer who would be ranting and raving about how inferior our product was, “Why in the heck can’t you guys make a decent Rum & Egg Shampoo like Brand X or Brand Y? I’ll even send you a bottle of their brand so you can see how good the competition’s product really is.”
And send us a bottle, they did! Now what the aforementioned dummies (um excuse me, I mean customers) didn’t know was that most of the time it was the exact same stuff! Let me put it in a different way. We’d fill a thousand bottles to the brim with Rum & Egg and some bottles would get our label, others Brand X, and others Brand Y, Z or whatever. We never had a clue which bottles received which labels. Hello folks: you’re all buying the same stuff.
Often the same shampoo or conditioner would even be made under the same name with ten different colors, ten different brand names and ten different perfumes. (Sorry to disappoint you ladies, but in cosmetics generally the most expensive part of the product is the package and the perfume, in that order.)
But this principle goes way beyond hair care products. At one time made in Japan meant junk, but that’s hardly been the case for the last twenty years. Now Japanese always stands for superior quality . . . or does it? A few years back researchers took models of automobiles and VCRs that were sold either with US nameplates (Dodge or RCA) or Japanese badges (Mitsubishi or JVC). Like the shampoo saga, the products were actually identical. Customers were given the Japanese brand and the American issue and told to rate them. Perhaps you’ve already guessed that the products sporting a Japanese label – never mind that in reality they were the same – were rated much better. Consumers made comments like, “The Japanese model just rode quieter,” or “the picture and the sound were markedly better.” Had you performed the experiment in the early 1950s the products with the US nameplate would surely have won by a landslide.
Your belief in what you purchase has a lot to do with what the media tells you and that can be altered by where you live. Recently, I was speaking with a very successful businessman visiting here from Japan for the first time. “Do you drive a Lexus?” I asked. “Why would I drive a Toyota?” he quipped. “I own a huge company and need to impress people, so I can only purchase a BMW or a Mercedes. Toyota is not a luxury car in Japan.”
“But you know it has tremendous prestige in the US,” I protested. “Yes,” he responded, “we have heard this once or twice in Japan. We just find it strange, kind of funny, I guess.”
The war to invade your wallet, that little plastic card of yours, or your pocket book, begins and ends with the battle for your mind.
Dr. Howard Rosenthal is Professor and Program Coordinator of Human Services at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and a multi-book author. His website is www.howardrosenthal.com
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS SPORTS - Mike McMurran Sports Editor
Things are finally getting back into a regular routine in the McMurran household. In case you’ve been living in a cave, or if you are not a regular reader of this column, I’ve spent most of the past two months or so campaigning for Bob Kneemiller’s City Council position. He soundly trounced me by a 2-1 margin which somewhat surprised me, but life goes on. More than anything else I was concerned how my kids would react to their dear old dad getting beat – they handled it rather well. As Maggie put it, “at least you had the courage to run Dad, no one else in the 4th ward even ran.” Well put for a 5th grader. “Sometimes when you go to bat you’re going to strike out Dad,” Joe shared with me. I wish Bob all the luck in the world.
When asked if I thought the mud-slinging campaign material that was thrown into yards the day before the election hurt my chances, I had to respond “no.” Maggie and Joe both read the articles written about me and said, “Dad, if these were true, wouldn’t you have been arrested? If these were true, why would the people of Country Club Hills have voted you in as Mayor?” Sometimes life’s lessons are priceless. I shared with my children that saying bad things about people, whether they be true are not, has long been a tool of republicans. I then shared with them the lies told about John Kerry as well as the lies told about my good friend Tom Green. I think I lost them when I went into the difference between republican ideology and democratic philosophy – but then again they are only 8 and 11 years old.
Like I told most of my friends and supporters who called me and offered condolences, maybe I’m just meant to be a teacher and a youth coach. After all, it’s only natural to do what one does best. As luck would have it, two days after the election I was called by the powers to be of the O’Fallon Junior Renegades Football organization. It seems the Gateway Football League is shaking up their levels of participation this season, and rather than having 7 and 8 year-olds playing together, they are going to have a separate league for 7 year-olds. My youngest son, Dee, is 7 and is going to play for the Renegades next season, along with two or three of his classmates. Well, those in charge have approached me and asked me to be the head coach of the 7 year-old team. I’m not certain, no, I’m quite certain that had I won the election I would not have had the time to coach the team and would have had to decline the offer. Like I’ve said before, the Creator of the Universe works in strange ways. I am now the official head coach of the 7 year-old O’Fallon Junior Renegades Football team. I’m sure you’ll be reading more about my endeavors in future editions.
St. Charles own Brad Soderberg seems to be getting the short end of the stick from Father Biondi and the administration at St. Louis University. Closer examination indicates it might just be Biondi himself. Any way you look at it the University did Soderberg wrong! Over the years I’ve developed a pretty close relationship with former SLU head coach and former Clayton a.d. Rich Grawer. Rich said, “There’s a right way and a wrong way to do it (release a coach). SLU seems to have done it the wrong way.” From everything I’ve read and heard about the firing, only one other head men’s’ basketball coach has been fired after April 15th in the past 5 years. That would be former Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy – and he was released for behavior off the court. I believe Soderberg will land on his feet. I’ve never met the man, but from a distance he seems well grounded to what’s important. Look at what happened to Grawer after he was fired. He landed possibly the best a.d. job in the state at Clayton high school. I’m not sure what he started out making, but by the time he retired I’m sure he was making six figures. “And I get to go home every night,” he told me once when I asked him if the Clayton job was a let down after coaching Division I basketball.
Good luck to a few baseball and softball teams this season. Maggie is playing softball for St. Cletus and will open their season this weekend in a tournament at St Elizabeth. Daniel and Joe both play in the St. Peter’s Athletic Association – Dee plays for the Cobras and Joe for the Titans. By the time this fine weekly hits the street they both will have a game under their belt.
Finally, happy 9th birthday to my oldest son, Joseph Conway McMurran. Joe, I waited 43 years to have a son – the wait was well worth buddy.
When asked if I thought the mud-slinging campaign material that was thrown into yards the day before the election hurt my chances, I had to respond “no.” Maggie and Joe both read the articles written about me and said, “Dad, if these were true, wouldn’t you have been arrested? If these were true, why would the people of Country Club Hills have voted you in as Mayor?” Sometimes life’s lessons are priceless. I shared with my children that saying bad things about people, whether they be true are not, has long been a tool of republicans. I then shared with them the lies told about John Kerry as well as the lies told about my good friend Tom Green. I think I lost them when I went into the difference between republican ideology and democratic philosophy – but then again they are only 8 and 11 years old.
Like I told most of my friends and supporters who called me and offered condolences, maybe I’m just meant to be a teacher and a youth coach. After all, it’s only natural to do what one does best. As luck would have it, two days after the election I was called by the powers to be of the O’Fallon Junior Renegades Football organization. It seems the Gateway Football League is shaking up their levels of participation this season, and rather than having 7 and 8 year-olds playing together, they are going to have a separate league for 7 year-olds. My youngest son, Dee, is 7 and is going to play for the Renegades next season, along with two or three of his classmates. Well, those in charge have approached me and asked me to be the head coach of the 7 year-old team. I’m not certain, no, I’m quite certain that had I won the election I would not have had the time to coach the team and would have had to decline the offer. Like I’ve said before, the Creator of the Universe works in strange ways. I am now the official head coach of the 7 year-old O’Fallon Junior Renegades Football team. I’m sure you’ll be reading more about my endeavors in future editions.
St. Charles own Brad Soderberg seems to be getting the short end of the stick from Father Biondi and the administration at St. Louis University. Closer examination indicates it might just be Biondi himself. Any way you look at it the University did Soderberg wrong! Over the years I’ve developed a pretty close relationship with former SLU head coach and former Clayton a.d. Rich Grawer. Rich said, “There’s a right way and a wrong way to do it (release a coach). SLU seems to have done it the wrong way.” From everything I’ve read and heard about the firing, only one other head men’s’ basketball coach has been fired after April 15th in the past 5 years. That would be former Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy – and he was released for behavior off the court. I believe Soderberg will land on his feet. I’ve never met the man, but from a distance he seems well grounded to what’s important. Look at what happened to Grawer after he was fired. He landed possibly the best a.d. job in the state at Clayton high school. I’m not sure what he started out making, but by the time he retired I’m sure he was making six figures. “And I get to go home every night,” he told me once when I asked him if the Clayton job was a let down after coaching Division I basketball.
Good luck to a few baseball and softball teams this season. Maggie is playing softball for St. Cletus and will open their season this weekend in a tournament at St Elizabeth. Daniel and Joe both play in the St. Peter’s Athletic Association – Dee plays for the Cobras and Joe for the Titans. By the time this fine weekly hits the street they both will have a game under their belt.
Finally, happy 9th birthday to my oldest son, Joseph Conway McMurran. Joe, I waited 43 years to have a son – the wait was well worth buddy.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
FIRST CAPITOL NEWS FRONT PAGE - March 31, 2007
SAVE SAVE SAVE $1.00 OFF EACH $5.00 PURCHASE AT THE OLDE TIME SPICE SHOPPE 334 SOUTH MAIN STREET IN ST. CHARLES. YOU MUST MENTION THIS AD.
(Click on image to enlarge) To read this edition please scroll down.
(Click on image to enlarge) To read this edition please scroll down.
YORK WILL FIRE POLICE CHIEF SWOPE IF SHE IS RE-ELECTED
Police Association members refute Mayor’s and Police Association’s Presidents denials!
Sources at police headquarters have told the First Capitol News, that despite the denials by the Mayor and the police association president, she pledged to fire Police Chief Tim Swope if she is re-elected and they stand by their claim that the statement was made. Asking that their identities be withheld because of fear of their jobs and physical harm, they told the First Capitol News that at a general membership meeting of the police association with more than 25 members present, a member of the executive board told the assembled officers that York pledged to fire the Chief and his staff if she is re-elected. The story was the cover story in our last edition.
Mayor Patti York called a press conference March 26, 2007 to address our story. In the council chambers at City Hall with City Administrator Allan Williams at her side and in a press release distributed by Williams, York claimed, “This press conference was in response to an article written in the First Capitol News last week where it was reported York intended to fire Chief of Police, Tim Swope. The Mayor in the press release said, “I am calling this press conference today to address the unfounded and spurious claims by a local community newspaper that I have pledged to fire our Police Chief, Tim Swope.” She went on to say “I find this disquieting and purposely inflammatory, all in the guise of news, when in reality, it is nothing short of mudslinging at best and politicking at its worst by this local paper. York presented a letter from St. Charles Police Association President, Mark Grothe, it states, “Regarding Mayor York’s pledge to fire Police Chief Tim Swope, the First Capitol News has again been misinformed by their sources.” Both these statements are in direct conflict with sources who attended the police associations meeting on March 8th.
One of our sources told us that if anyone in the association knew who they were it could create issues on the street. The sources told us that an Executive Board member stood up and announced that Mayor Patti York told them during the interview that she would fire Chief of Police, Tim Swope, Major Boerding, Captain Pollard, and the Chiefs secretary Tammy O’Laughlin, it is a package deal.
This is isn’t the first time the Mayor has adversely affected our public safety. For over a year she allowed the City to go without a permanent chief. During this period Major Bob Lowery was presented to the Mayor and Council for approval. York refused to appoint saying Lowery, “Wasn’t a good fit.” Some speculated that she refused to appoint Lowery because the St. Charles Police Association was against him. The Police Association is used to getting it’s way in St. Charles; it worked to remove Chief of Police Dave King, Paul Corbin and now is working against Chief Tim Swope.
The rift between Swope and York began when Swope refused to hand over the investigation into the Dottie Greer re-call to the Mayor . The day after Swope turned over the investigation to St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas, York began to require Swope to turn over a weekly activity report letting her know who he spoke to and where he went every day. Members of the Association have family directly involved with the recall. Linda Meyer, wife of Association member Dean Meyer, headed up the recall efforts of Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Both recalls were unsuccessful after the investigations turned up forged signatures and widespread fraud.
York was displeased when Swope fired Tommy Mayer, who was president of the state Fraternal Order of Police and who she called her top cop. Mayer was dismissed after an incident in which he ordered City Administrator Williams from his car at gun point and had him drop to the ground.
York was also upset that Swope re-opened an investigation into the alleged cashing of forged checks by her daughter.
“I think this is a lot like baseball, when George Steinbrenner would stand next to Billy Martin and say he would be our manager for the rest of the season, you knew Billy would be gone by the end of the week.” Councilman Mark Brown.
Relating to the use of public facilities for political campaigns, former attorney general Bill Webster went to prison for using a state fax machine during a political campaign. The mayor has used the council chambers and city employees for her campaign.
Sources at police headquarters have told the First Capitol News, that despite the denials by the Mayor and the police association president, she pledged to fire Police Chief Tim Swope if she is re-elected and they stand by their claim that the statement was made. Asking that their identities be withheld because of fear of their jobs and physical harm, they told the First Capitol News that at a general membership meeting of the police association with more than 25 members present, a member of the executive board told the assembled officers that York pledged to fire the Chief and his staff if she is re-elected. The story was the cover story in our last edition.
Mayor Patti York called a press conference March 26, 2007 to address our story. In the council chambers at City Hall with City Administrator Allan Williams at her side and in a press release distributed by Williams, York claimed, “This press conference was in response to an article written in the First Capitol News last week where it was reported York intended to fire Chief of Police, Tim Swope. The Mayor in the press release said, “I am calling this press conference today to address the unfounded and spurious claims by a local community newspaper that I have pledged to fire our Police Chief, Tim Swope.” She went on to say “I find this disquieting and purposely inflammatory, all in the guise of news, when in reality, it is nothing short of mudslinging at best and politicking at its worst by this local paper. York presented a letter from St. Charles Police Association President, Mark Grothe, it states, “Regarding Mayor York’s pledge to fire Police Chief Tim Swope, the First Capitol News has again been misinformed by their sources.” Both these statements are in direct conflict with sources who attended the police associations meeting on March 8th.
One of our sources told us that if anyone in the association knew who they were it could create issues on the street. The sources told us that an Executive Board member stood up and announced that Mayor Patti York told them during the interview that she would fire Chief of Police, Tim Swope, Major Boerding, Captain Pollard, and the Chiefs secretary Tammy O’Laughlin, it is a package deal.
This is isn’t the first time the Mayor has adversely affected our public safety. For over a year she allowed the City to go without a permanent chief. During this period Major Bob Lowery was presented to the Mayor and Council for approval. York refused to appoint saying Lowery, “Wasn’t a good fit.” Some speculated that she refused to appoint Lowery because the St. Charles Police Association was against him. The Police Association is used to getting it’s way in St. Charles; it worked to remove Chief of Police Dave King, Paul Corbin and now is working against Chief Tim Swope.
The rift between Swope and York began when Swope refused to hand over the investigation into the Dottie Greer re-call to the Mayor . The day after Swope turned over the investigation to St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas, York began to require Swope to turn over a weekly activity report letting her know who he spoke to and where he went every day. Members of the Association have family directly involved with the recall. Linda Meyer, wife of Association member Dean Meyer, headed up the recall efforts of Dottie Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Both recalls were unsuccessful after the investigations turned up forged signatures and widespread fraud.
York was displeased when Swope fired Tommy Mayer, who was president of the state Fraternal Order of Police and who she called her top cop. Mayer was dismissed after an incident in which he ordered City Administrator Williams from his car at gun point and had him drop to the ground.
York was also upset that Swope re-opened an investigation into the alleged cashing of forged checks by her daughter.
“I think this is a lot like baseball, when George Steinbrenner would stand next to Billy Martin and say he would be our manager for the rest of the season, you knew Billy would be gone by the end of the week.” Councilman Mark Brown.
Relating to the use of public facilities for political campaigns, former attorney general Bill Webster went to prison for using a state fax machine during a political campaign. The mayor has used the council chambers and city employees for her campaign.
An Open Letter To St. Charles Residents from Councilman John Gieseke, candidate for mayor
Dear Residents,
I want to take this opportunity to explain my feelings regarding this Mayor race. When I first decided to run for Mayor many of those from whom I solicited counsel suggested I use negative ads against my opponent. I refused to do so. I have two kids and being negative would set an example from which I could never recover. Jack and Gillian would have been taught that the easy road of tearing one down to make yourself look better is the right road. I decided to teach them that communicating your vision and what can be, might be harder, but it’s the right thing to do.
In the past three days I have received mail from my opponent and her supporters that are full of distortions and untruths. My opponent signed a clean campaign pledge that stated, “I promise by my signature that my campaign, including myself and those who work in support of me, will NOT make untrue statements, either verbally or written, about my opponent in this campaign. Nor will I engage in personal or character attacks in any manner. I make these promises to the People of St. Charles.” I know I can look in a mirror and know I lived up to that promise.
This election is about you and the future of the City of St. Charles. How someone conducts themselves during a campaign is a good indicator of what they will be like in office. I would ask that you review every piece of mail you have received from me and compare them to my opponents. Not one piece of literature even mentions my opponent or attacks her.
On April 3rd we have a chance to tell those who would tear apart our neighbors, who’s only crime is to step up and be part of the solution by running for office, enough is enough. When your ballot goes in the box you can say no to negativity in City politics. A vote for me, John Gieseke, is the only new beginning we can take. Together we can do better, together we deserve better.
John Gieseke
I want to take this opportunity to explain my feelings regarding this Mayor race. When I first decided to run for Mayor many of those from whom I solicited counsel suggested I use negative ads against my opponent. I refused to do so. I have two kids and being negative would set an example from which I could never recover. Jack and Gillian would have been taught that the easy road of tearing one down to make yourself look better is the right road. I decided to teach them that communicating your vision and what can be, might be harder, but it’s the right thing to do.
In the past three days I have received mail from my opponent and her supporters that are full of distortions and untruths. My opponent signed a clean campaign pledge that stated, “I promise by my signature that my campaign, including myself and those who work in support of me, will NOT make untrue statements, either verbally or written, about my opponent in this campaign. Nor will I engage in personal or character attacks in any manner. I make these promises to the People of St. Charles.” I know I can look in a mirror and know I lived up to that promise.
This election is about you and the future of the City of St. Charles. How someone conducts themselves during a campaign is a good indicator of what they will be like in office. I would ask that you review every piece of mail you have received from me and compare them to my opponents. Not one piece of literature even mentions my opponent or attacks her.
On April 3rd we have a chance to tell those who would tear apart our neighbors, who’s only crime is to step up and be part of the solution by running for office, enough is enough. When your ballot goes in the box you can say no to negativity in City politics. A vote for me, John Gieseke, is the only new beginning we can take. Together we can do better, together we deserve better.
John Gieseke
York distorts truth in political ad. GIESEKE Sponsored Eminent Domain Bill not Kneemiller
.In a recent political ad Mayor Patti York claims she and Councilman Bob Kneemiller were responsible for creating and passing eminent domain limitations. This ad is a blatant lie. Councilman John Gieseke and Jerry Reese co-sponsored the eminent domain bill passed by and signed by the Mayor. Gieseke wouldn’t comment to the ad but did tell the FCN, “the bill passed 10-0 and I was proud to sponsor it.” York has repeatedly claimed that it was Kneemiller's bill in an attempt to take credit away from Gieseke. Many of those in Frenchtown who we spoke to told the FCN that they know who the true champion of Eminent Domain abuse is. They told us without John Gieseke their property would have been taken by a developer.
RAMBLING WITH THE EDITOR - Tony Brockmeyer
Connecting The Dots
Mailings Reveal Political Slate
Trying To Take Over City Hall
At deadline, the First Capitol News received a copy of a political attack mailer sent out by Citizens for Responsible Community endorsing a “Slate” of candidates for Mayor and the council. Citizens for Responsible Communty is a front organization comprised of a few officers who don’t even live in St. Charles.
Their Chairman is Carl Maus, the full-time patronage assistant to the controversial Mayor Donna Morrow in O’Fallon. The group funnels hundreds of thousands of dollars from millionaire developers like homebuilders Tom Hughes and Mike Sellenschuetter. They have worked for slates of candidates in St. Peters and O’Fallon, as well as St. Charles County Government.
They are known for their last minute smear attacks and mean-spirited personal attacks. This mailer was true to form with crude caricatures of clowns superimposed with the heads of Councilmembers they were attacking.
On the back, the group revealed the official “SLATE” of candidates they are supporting. The group only supports those candidates they are told to by their big money backers. When some of their candidates turned out to be “too” politically independent of developers in O’Fallon, they ran another slate against them in the very next election. In addition to millionaire homebuilders they are financed by Adolphus Busch and other millionaire duck hunters. Their most recent claim to fame was having Shaun Brown elected as Mayor of St. Peters. Brown is either on the way to or incercated in a federal prision for taking a bribe.
According to those who have seen the mailer, those on their approved slate to try to take over City Hall include, Veit (Ward One), Feldman (Ward Three), Kneemiller (Ward Four), Becherle (Ward Seven), Kielty (Ward Eight), Stivinson (Ward Nine) and Mayor Patti York.
“Their actions are reprehensible and is what adds to the divisiveness at City Hall,” commented Mayoral candidate and Councilman John Gieseke.
“At last the select candidates of the big money special interests and developers have been revealed. Voters will now have a clear choice between candidates who will listen to them and those who are sworn to follow orders from outside our own community,” pointed out Councilman Mark Brown.
Also, on Wednesday mailers arrived in the 3rd and 9th Wards that were nearly identical supporting Laurie Feldman and Ron Stivinson against Councilmen Mark Brown and Joe Koester. The mailers claim to be a comparison of the candidates, but they are anything but a “fair” comparison.
An example is from the mailer for Laurie Feldman against Mark Brown. In big type it says that Mark brown voted to “raise” your taxes. There is then a tiny footnote number one that says he did so in 1994, ten years before Mark Brown was even elected to the St. Charles City Council in 2004.
“I have never voted to raise taxes on the residents of St. Charles and will never do so. In fact, I have voted to cut taxes, lowering the utility tax for everyone and giving Seniors a rebate of utility taxes on gas, electric and phone service,” emphatically stated Councilman Brown.
Every candidate running for the City Council signed a Clean Campaign Pledge. That pledge states that, “I promise by my signature that my campaign, including myself and those who work in support of me, will NOT make untrue statements, either verbally or written, about my opponent in this campaign.” A copy of the pledge bearing Laurie Feldman’s signature is on file with the City Clerk of the City of St. Charles.
“It is a shame that our opponents broke their pledge and engaged in this sort of distortion of the record,” added Councilman Joe Koester, adding, “The fact that identical campaign attacks arrived on the same day, in two different wards, points to a coordinated and well funded effort to try to take over City Hall.
Requests from records from the City Clerk’s Office also give interesting insight into the Secret Slate. Former Councilman Richard Baum, a close political ally of Mayor York, requested records on Councilmen Brown and Koester on February 27th. Brian Audrey, a bodyguard for Mike Kielty, son of Council candidate Ken Kielty, running against Mike Klinghammer in the Eighth Ward, requested documents on Councilman Rory Riddler and John Gieseke on February 26. Previously the First Capitol News reported that Chesterfield based John Hancock & Associates, political consultants for the Missouri Republican Party and ATT, requested information on numerous meetings.
This is the information that later gets distorted and ends up in negative campaign mailings.
Other connections that pointed to a “Secret Slate” of candidates, prior to the revealing o the slate this week, was who was invited to speak before the local Pachyderms Club. Only certain candidates were invited to give presentations. How did they determine whom they were going to hear from except from a slate?
NO EDITION NEWS WEEK EASTER HOLIDAY
Beginning April 21, home delivery by subscrition only.
636 724-1955
Mailings Reveal Political Slate
Trying To Take Over City Hall
At deadline, the First Capitol News received a copy of a political attack mailer sent out by Citizens for Responsible Community endorsing a “Slate” of candidates for Mayor and the council. Citizens for Responsible Communty is a front organization comprised of a few officers who don’t even live in St. Charles.
Their Chairman is Carl Maus, the full-time patronage assistant to the controversial Mayor Donna Morrow in O’Fallon. The group funnels hundreds of thousands of dollars from millionaire developers like homebuilders Tom Hughes and Mike Sellenschuetter. They have worked for slates of candidates in St. Peters and O’Fallon, as well as St. Charles County Government.
They are known for their last minute smear attacks and mean-spirited personal attacks. This mailer was true to form with crude caricatures of clowns superimposed with the heads of Councilmembers they were attacking.
On the back, the group revealed the official “SLATE” of candidates they are supporting. The group only supports those candidates they are told to by their big money backers. When some of their candidates turned out to be “too” politically independent of developers in O’Fallon, they ran another slate against them in the very next election. In addition to millionaire homebuilders they are financed by Adolphus Busch and other millionaire duck hunters. Their most recent claim to fame was having Shaun Brown elected as Mayor of St. Peters. Brown is either on the way to or incercated in a federal prision for taking a bribe.
According to those who have seen the mailer, those on their approved slate to try to take over City Hall include, Veit (Ward One), Feldman (Ward Three), Kneemiller (Ward Four), Becherle (Ward Seven), Kielty (Ward Eight), Stivinson (Ward Nine) and Mayor Patti York.
“Their actions are reprehensible and is what adds to the divisiveness at City Hall,” commented Mayoral candidate and Councilman John Gieseke.
“At last the select candidates of the big money special interests and developers have been revealed. Voters will now have a clear choice between candidates who will listen to them and those who are sworn to follow orders from outside our own community,” pointed out Councilman Mark Brown.
Also, on Wednesday mailers arrived in the 3rd and 9th Wards that were nearly identical supporting Laurie Feldman and Ron Stivinson against Councilmen Mark Brown and Joe Koester. The mailers claim to be a comparison of the candidates, but they are anything but a “fair” comparison.
An example is from the mailer for Laurie Feldman against Mark Brown. In big type it says that Mark brown voted to “raise” your taxes. There is then a tiny footnote number one that says he did so in 1994, ten years before Mark Brown was even elected to the St. Charles City Council in 2004.
“I have never voted to raise taxes on the residents of St. Charles and will never do so. In fact, I have voted to cut taxes, lowering the utility tax for everyone and giving Seniors a rebate of utility taxes on gas, electric and phone service,” emphatically stated Councilman Brown.
Every candidate running for the City Council signed a Clean Campaign Pledge. That pledge states that, “I promise by my signature that my campaign, including myself and those who work in support of me, will NOT make untrue statements, either verbally or written, about my opponent in this campaign.” A copy of the pledge bearing Laurie Feldman’s signature is on file with the City Clerk of the City of St. Charles.
“It is a shame that our opponents broke their pledge and engaged in this sort of distortion of the record,” added Councilman Joe Koester, adding, “The fact that identical campaign attacks arrived on the same day, in two different wards, points to a coordinated and well funded effort to try to take over City Hall.
Requests from records from the City Clerk’s Office also give interesting insight into the Secret Slate. Former Councilman Richard Baum, a close political ally of Mayor York, requested records on Councilmen Brown and Koester on February 27th. Brian Audrey, a bodyguard for Mike Kielty, son of Council candidate Ken Kielty, running against Mike Klinghammer in the Eighth Ward, requested documents on Councilman Rory Riddler and John Gieseke on February 26. Previously the First Capitol News reported that Chesterfield based John Hancock & Associates, political consultants for the Missouri Republican Party and ATT, requested information on numerous meetings.
This is the information that later gets distorted and ends up in negative campaign mailings.
Other connections that pointed to a “Secret Slate” of candidates, prior to the revealing o the slate this week, was who was invited to speak before the local Pachyderms Club. Only certain candidates were invited to give presentations. How did they determine whom they were going to hear from except from a slate?
NO EDITION NEWS WEEK EASTER HOLIDAY
Beginning April 21, home delivery by subscrition only.
636 724-1955
EDITORIAL - The Truth Is; Eight Is Enough
EDITORIAL
THE TRUTH IS; EIGHT IS ENOUGH
In the political world politicians often take credit for things they had little to do with. We find that to be happening in this Mayoral election.
The current Mayor would have you think if it weren’t for her, Ameristar Casino would not be in St. Charles. The truth is the owners of Stations Casinos are responsible for Ameristar being in St. Charles. The current Mayor is taking credit for rolling back taxes 12%. The truth is these rollbacks are required under state law; it’s called the Hancock Amendment. The current Mayor would have you believe she was in favor of the utility tax rebates. The truth is she fought against rebating all the taxes back for seniors.
The truth is sometimes hard to find in St. Charles politics but I think the best way to find the truth is simple. Look for the truth as you exit 5th Street and drive north. Look around and see if you think the current Mayor has passed or failed her beautification of St. Charles. Drive down First Capitol and look at the businesses she brags about bringing to St. Charles. Checks Cashed and pawnshops along the busiest road in St. Charles is not economic development. Drive down Elm Street, Deikamp Lane or Paula Drive and tell me if the current Mayor told the truth when she speaks about her road improvements.
No this Mayor has failed and eight years are enough.
On the other hand the City of St. Charles has someone running who has proven he will stand up for the residents. John Gieseke has proven that he can lead on the council and will lead this great city as Mayor. His ability to understand the business aspect is heads and shoulders above that of the current Mayor. Gieseke stood strong against the threat of eminent domain and lead the way to stop the use in St. Charles. Gieseke lead the way for real tax relief from the nuisance Utility Tax when all others had failed. This was tax relief for all and then he worked to get utility tax relief for seniors.
When it comes to understanding how you really relieve the tax burden on the residents Gieseke knows it takes real economic development. Gieseke’s ward has created more jobs in two years than the current Mayor has for the past 8 years. The investment in Gieseke’s ward will help grow the city’s economy and he did it all without any use of your tax dollars.
Gieseke has an unusual tactic when it comes to politics in St. Charles, he tells it the way it is and doesn’t lie about what he has accomplished. Gieseke is a refreshing change from our current leadership who has abused the position and used your taxes to further her political career. Leadership is hard to define and harder to find. If you really look at great leaders they seldom take credit as an individual. When you listen to Gieseke speak he always speaks in we’s and us, not I’s. That is a true testament to real leadership.
That is why this paper whole-heartedly supports and endorses John Gieseke for Mayor of St. Charles.
THE TRUTH IS; EIGHT IS ENOUGH
In the political world politicians often take credit for things they had little to do with. We find that to be happening in this Mayoral election.
The current Mayor would have you think if it weren’t for her, Ameristar Casino would not be in St. Charles. The truth is the owners of Stations Casinos are responsible for Ameristar being in St. Charles. The current Mayor is taking credit for rolling back taxes 12%. The truth is these rollbacks are required under state law; it’s called the Hancock Amendment. The current Mayor would have you believe she was in favor of the utility tax rebates. The truth is she fought against rebating all the taxes back for seniors.
The truth is sometimes hard to find in St. Charles politics but I think the best way to find the truth is simple. Look for the truth as you exit 5th Street and drive north. Look around and see if you think the current Mayor has passed or failed her beautification of St. Charles. Drive down First Capitol and look at the businesses she brags about bringing to St. Charles. Checks Cashed and pawnshops along the busiest road in St. Charles is not economic development. Drive down Elm Street, Deikamp Lane or Paula Drive and tell me if the current Mayor told the truth when she speaks about her road improvements.
No this Mayor has failed and eight years are enough.
On the other hand the City of St. Charles has someone running who has proven he will stand up for the residents. John Gieseke has proven that he can lead on the council and will lead this great city as Mayor. His ability to understand the business aspect is heads and shoulders above that of the current Mayor. Gieseke stood strong against the threat of eminent domain and lead the way to stop the use in St. Charles. Gieseke lead the way for real tax relief from the nuisance Utility Tax when all others had failed. This was tax relief for all and then he worked to get utility tax relief for seniors.
When it comes to understanding how you really relieve the tax burden on the residents Gieseke knows it takes real economic development. Gieseke’s ward has created more jobs in two years than the current Mayor has for the past 8 years. The investment in Gieseke’s ward will help grow the city’s economy and he did it all without any use of your tax dollars.
Gieseke has an unusual tactic when it comes to politics in St. Charles, he tells it the way it is and doesn’t lie about what he has accomplished. Gieseke is a refreshing change from our current leadership who has abused the position and used your taxes to further her political career. Leadership is hard to define and harder to find. If you really look at great leaders they seldom take credit as an individual. When you listen to Gieseke speak he always speaks in we’s and us, not I’s. That is a true testament to real leadership.
That is why this paper whole-heartedly supports and endorses John Gieseke for Mayor of St. Charles.
The PEOPLE SPEAK - Letters To The Editor
Editor’s note,
On March 16th a South Main business owner observed City Council Candidate Venetia McIntire for Ward 2 in what he described as unusual behavior and actions. He sent her the following letter to which he has not received a response. He is awaiting her reply.
Venetia McIntire
City Council Candidate, Ward #2
1014 South Main Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
Ms. McEntire;
I wanted to give you another opportunity to comment on what I observed you doing at 6:10pm Friday, March 16, 2007. The rude and unprofessional manner in which you answered my inquiry, is certainly worth our review.
I was on my way home from work on Friday, March 16, 2007, at 6:10pm. I knew this because I was on my phone at the time. It happens not to be just a simple phone, but a VIDEO & CAMERA phone. The quality of pictures are amazing!
I happened to see you walking a cute Labrador puppy between the 1014 and 1038 Block of South Main Street, in St. Charles, MO. We (My phone and I) happened to see you walk on several of the properties, take things from the buildings and remove items from some of the properties, all while allowing the puppy to do it’s puppy thing. Since you are a resident and Candidate for City Council Ward #2, I am requesting you to comment on the following questions and observations:
Why did you remove things from at least 2 buildings?
Why did you remove items from at least two properties? (The Bagged items)
Did you have permission to be on all the properties?
Did you have permission to walk your dog on all the properties?
Do you carry a scoop for the Puppy when you walk?
Why don’t you let the puppy do its business on your property?
Why did you set the ‘Bag’ you removed from the properties against the telephone pole at the corner of Main Street and Barbour Street when I confronted you?
Why was your answer “WHAT EVER!” and then stormed off yelling?
Is this the way you’ll behave and communicate to the citizens of Ward #2?
I am looking forward to your answers regarding your behavior and actions observed on Friday, March 16, 2007 at 6:10pm. I am a very concerned citizen of this Ward, and will give you reasonable time to respond before I review my options.
Respectfully Submitted,
David R. Campbell, Ward #2
Property Owner
To the editor,
Former Mayor Nichols has placed an ad in an out of town newspaper saying that Mayor York and John Gieseke didn’t look after the city’s “core”. I beg to differ.
John Gieseke has worked hard to get business and industry into St. Charles that would increase the tax base. This money is what is necessary to provide for the “core”. He has also worked to get our decrepit sewer system replaced. Is this not “core”? Is the upcoming replacement of Elm Street and the work done on Zumbehl Road not “core”?
Mayor Nichols apparently thinks that if you don’t reside between Tecumseh, Kingshighway, Boonslick and the river you don’t deserve to be heard. Maybe that’s why she didn’t win or place. Third place in racing is a “show”. Grace needs to look at a map. St. Charles has grown beyond Lindenwood College (Grace, it’s now even changed to Lindenwood University) . It even goes south of I-70.
She goes on to imply blame to Gieseke for anything that the council did that was not to her liking. John was only one member on the council. He wasn’t even the president. He was, however, one who asked the tough questions. Some of those questions helped transform our Public Works department into arguably one of the best in this state. They are easy to work with and very responsive to the residents.
She also said that Mayor York made some “mistakes”. No, mistakes are when you take a wrong exit off the Interstate. A mistake is when I make a typographical error. A mistake is when you show up for a three o’clock appointment at four o’clock.
When someone intentionally commits a wrong, it is no mistake. I get damned tired of hearing that a politician like Shaun Brown made a “mistake” in judgement or that when Leonard Little decided to drive drunk he made a “mistake”. No, Shaun Brown committed a crime. Leonard Little killed a human being. Both deserve prison time.
Mayor York’s deeds were not “mistakes”. She committed them with full knowledge that they were wrong, but committed them anyway.
Mayor Nichols, the implications in your ad in the out of town paper were wrong, but the ad was no “mistake”. I wonder why she didn’t think about the St. Charles “core” and place her ad in a local paper?
Now for my George Burns imitation:
Say goodnight, Gracie.
Jerry Haferkamp
To the Editor and Citizens of St. Charles;
Well, I might have known, because it happened during the last council election also. Someone runs against Councilman Riddler. They must think that they are better than him, since they are running. I think not.
I received, not once, but twice, through the mail, full postage, an election smear against Councilman Riddler. First of all, let me say that it was a really dumb attempt, because six reasons written on the back of this $1,000,000 bill were so small that most people couldn’t read it, if they tried.
Also, it is a shame that both of Councilman Riddler’s opponents have to be painted with the same brush (this smear), because now we won’t know which one is really that dumb. You see, I don’t live in Councilman Riddler’s ward. I’m glad to know that they spent $.78 trying to get me to not vote for someone that I can’t legally vote for anyhow.
The reason both opponents will appear guilty? The smear had no disclaimer, name or anything that could be used to identify them.
To all of those people who live in Councilman Riddler’s ward please allow me to make a suggestion to all of you.
First: VOTE FOR RIDDLER! Why? Because someone who likes to think that they would be better in this job has already proven their mistrust by smearing;
Second: AND they had no qualms about making the other opponent look as bad as they are by anonymously smearing;
Third: AND, in my opinion, if a person TRULY thinks that they are the best person for this job, they should feel confident of making others believe it without stooping to such disgraceful methods. If you can’t win with truth and honesty, STAY OUT OF IT.
I hope that you all feel as I do, that this person, who wants control over your standard of living, is a poor, pathetic, sad, little person. Much like the Yorks, Kieltys and their ilk. Sad.
Lynn Rush
Dear Tony,
Yesterday, March 26, 2007, we received our first mailer from Mayor York. There she was smiling to beat the band with 12 police officers. The ad went on to say that public safety is the most important service we provide. Once again I remember Mayor York’s favorite cop. Tommy Mayer. I also remember our City Administrator on the ground with a gun to his head. WHAT PROTECTION IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?
Today’s paper, March 27, 2007, headlined YORK DENIES MAKING DEAL TO FIRE CHIEF. All of the council members are aware of her pledge to fire Chief Swope the day after she is reelected. It has made its way around town. Now we have a political news conference at City Hall. Mr. Gieseke is right the City Hall is no place for a political news conference.
Ms. York seems to fabricate her stories to meet her needs. Anything to win, huh?
I do have some burning questions.
SINCE WHEN DOES A STEWARDESS KNOW HOW TO RUN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? DID SHE GO TO THE POLICE ACADEMY? DID SHE TAKE ACADEMIC CLASSES IN HOW TO RUN A POLICE DEPARTMENT? WHERE DID SHE GET HER PROFICIENCY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?
Jane Horning
On March 16th a South Main business owner observed City Council Candidate Venetia McIntire for Ward 2 in what he described as unusual behavior and actions. He sent her the following letter to which he has not received a response. He is awaiting her reply.
Venetia McIntire
City Council Candidate, Ward #2
1014 South Main Street
St. Charles, MO 63301
Ms. McEntire;
I wanted to give you another opportunity to comment on what I observed you doing at 6:10pm Friday, March 16, 2007. The rude and unprofessional manner in which you answered my inquiry, is certainly worth our review.
I was on my way home from work on Friday, March 16, 2007, at 6:10pm. I knew this because I was on my phone at the time. It happens not to be just a simple phone, but a VIDEO & CAMERA phone. The quality of pictures are amazing!
I happened to see you walking a cute Labrador puppy between the 1014 and 1038 Block of South Main Street, in St. Charles, MO. We (My phone and I) happened to see you walk on several of the properties, take things from the buildings and remove items from some of the properties, all while allowing the puppy to do it’s puppy thing. Since you are a resident and Candidate for City Council Ward #2, I am requesting you to comment on the following questions and observations:
Why did you remove things from at least 2 buildings?
Why did you remove items from at least two properties? (The Bagged items)
Did you have permission to be on all the properties?
Did you have permission to walk your dog on all the properties?
Do you carry a scoop for the Puppy when you walk?
Why don’t you let the puppy do its business on your property?
Why did you set the ‘Bag’ you removed from the properties against the telephone pole at the corner of Main Street and Barbour Street when I confronted you?
Why was your answer “WHAT EVER!” and then stormed off yelling?
Is this the way you’ll behave and communicate to the citizens of Ward #2?
I am looking forward to your answers regarding your behavior and actions observed on Friday, March 16, 2007 at 6:10pm. I am a very concerned citizen of this Ward, and will give you reasonable time to respond before I review my options.
Respectfully Submitted,
David R. Campbell, Ward #2
Property Owner
To the editor,
Former Mayor Nichols has placed an ad in an out of town newspaper saying that Mayor York and John Gieseke didn’t look after the city’s “core”. I beg to differ.
John Gieseke has worked hard to get business and industry into St. Charles that would increase the tax base. This money is what is necessary to provide for the “core”. He has also worked to get our decrepit sewer system replaced. Is this not “core”? Is the upcoming replacement of Elm Street and the work done on Zumbehl Road not “core”?
Mayor Nichols apparently thinks that if you don’t reside between Tecumseh, Kingshighway, Boonslick and the river you don’t deserve to be heard. Maybe that’s why she didn’t win or place. Third place in racing is a “show”. Grace needs to look at a map. St. Charles has grown beyond Lindenwood College (Grace, it’s now even changed to Lindenwood University) . It even goes south of I-70.
She goes on to imply blame to Gieseke for anything that the council did that was not to her liking. John was only one member on the council. He wasn’t even the president. He was, however, one who asked the tough questions. Some of those questions helped transform our Public Works department into arguably one of the best in this state. They are easy to work with and very responsive to the residents.
She also said that Mayor York made some “mistakes”. No, mistakes are when you take a wrong exit off the Interstate. A mistake is when I make a typographical error. A mistake is when you show up for a three o’clock appointment at four o’clock.
When someone intentionally commits a wrong, it is no mistake. I get damned tired of hearing that a politician like Shaun Brown made a “mistake” in judgement or that when Leonard Little decided to drive drunk he made a “mistake”. No, Shaun Brown committed a crime. Leonard Little killed a human being. Both deserve prison time.
Mayor York’s deeds were not “mistakes”. She committed them with full knowledge that they were wrong, but committed them anyway.
Mayor Nichols, the implications in your ad in the out of town paper were wrong, but the ad was no “mistake”. I wonder why she didn’t think about the St. Charles “core” and place her ad in a local paper?
Now for my George Burns imitation:
Say goodnight, Gracie.
Jerry Haferkamp
To the Editor and Citizens of St. Charles;
Well, I might have known, because it happened during the last council election also. Someone runs against Councilman Riddler. They must think that they are better than him, since they are running. I think not.
I received, not once, but twice, through the mail, full postage, an election smear against Councilman Riddler. First of all, let me say that it was a really dumb attempt, because six reasons written on the back of this $1,000,000 bill were so small that most people couldn’t read it, if they tried.
Also, it is a shame that both of Councilman Riddler’s opponents have to be painted with the same brush (this smear), because now we won’t know which one is really that dumb. You see, I don’t live in Councilman Riddler’s ward. I’m glad to know that they spent $.78 trying to get me to not vote for someone that I can’t legally vote for anyhow.
The reason both opponents will appear guilty? The smear had no disclaimer, name or anything that could be used to identify them.
To all of those people who live in Councilman Riddler’s ward please allow me to make a suggestion to all of you.
First: VOTE FOR RIDDLER! Why? Because someone who likes to think that they would be better in this job has already proven their mistrust by smearing;
Second: AND they had no qualms about making the other opponent look as bad as they are by anonymously smearing;
Third: AND, in my opinion, if a person TRULY thinks that they are the best person for this job, they should feel confident of making others believe it without stooping to such disgraceful methods. If you can’t win with truth and honesty, STAY OUT OF IT.
I hope that you all feel as I do, that this person, who wants control over your standard of living, is a poor, pathetic, sad, little person. Much like the Yorks, Kieltys and their ilk. Sad.
Lynn Rush
Dear Tony,
Yesterday, March 26, 2007, we received our first mailer from Mayor York. There she was smiling to beat the band with 12 police officers. The ad went on to say that public safety is the most important service we provide. Once again I remember Mayor York’s favorite cop. Tommy Mayer. I also remember our City Administrator on the ground with a gun to his head. WHAT PROTECTION IS SHE TALKING ABOUT?
Today’s paper, March 27, 2007, headlined YORK DENIES MAKING DEAL TO FIRE CHIEF. All of the council members are aware of her pledge to fire Chief Swope the day after she is reelected. It has made its way around town. Now we have a political news conference at City Hall. Mr. Gieseke is right the City Hall is no place for a political news conference.
Ms. York seems to fabricate her stories to meet her needs. Anything to win, huh?
I do have some burning questions.
SINCE WHEN DOES A STEWARDESS KNOW HOW TO RUN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT? DID SHE GO TO THE POLICE ACADEMY? DID SHE TAKE ACADEMIC CLASSES IN HOW TO RUN A POLICE DEPARTMENT? WHERE DID SHE GET HER PROFICIENCY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?
Jane Horning
The City DESK - Rory Riddler, Councilman Ward 1
Don’t Compromise Safety
Or Pride In Our Schools…
For Short Term Financial Gain
School Board candidates in St. Charles used to have it easy. Their platforms were always the same. They all promised to put the needs of our children first. Many were true to their word and served with distinction. But somewhere along the way it stopped being so easy as tough decisions were handed them. I can appreciate making tough decision, but some shortsighted decisions have also been made that don’t seem very student friendly.
We all know the St. Charles School District made its decision to close two elementary schools. But what is the projected impact? What about the impact of other changes still to come?
The fact that the cuts were too extreme is borne out by the fact that there wasn’t enough room left in the remaining elementary schools to handle Fifth Grade. I spoke with a woman the other day who will now have children in four different schools when they had been in two. Her life will suddenly become a lot more stressed.
Closing the schools will save the District money…perhaps a little too much money. I understand the District has a projected three million dollar surplus at the end of the year. I was told the School District’s normal operating surplus of 8% has nearly doubled in the projections to 15%. The schools aren’t even closed yet and the full impact of teacher layoffs, being spread out through time by attrition, hasn’t been fully realized. Hmmm. Maybe one of those elementary schools should have been kept open after all.
Financially the future looks even rosier. Some of the land that Lindenwood took off the tax rolls along First Capitol, will soon go back on the tax rolls at commercial rates. The Ameristar hotel and new garage will come on line and start paying property taxes, which should be in excess of half-a-million dollars per year to the St. Charles School District. Property tax assessments continue to go up on property in St. Charles. If you hear of someone’s tax assessment going down let me know.
A few years ago, I supported selling a building the City owned on West Clay to the School District at a reduced price. I was willing to take the criticism from some quarters, because it was for the public good. The School District wanted to offer an alternative education for those who had lost the privilege to be in a regular school environment due to violent, disruptive or anti-social behavior.
Removing these students from our schools was the right thing to do.
But now I hear the School District wants to sell the building the City sold them and move those students into D Building on the St. Charles High School campus. So in other words, a bully that terrorized students at the High School could in theory be standing on the same street corner every day as his victims.
I’ve been told some school officials hoped this would “save money” as the students would be closer to labs they could use in the High School. What part of separating these disruptive students from the majority of the well-behaved student population isn’t registering?
Sure the School District can put a few extra dollars in its pocket from the increased value of the property they now want to sell. But the short-term gain doesn’t come close to the increased liability and risk of putting those with known problems in close proximity to the general school population.
I also know that when a governmental entity knows about a problem and fails to take precautions to address the situation, their liability is greater. If a student kicked out of school for doing drugs, is put back in close proximity to other students and gives another child what turns out to be a fatal drug, how much do you think a jury will award the victim’s parents?
There is nothing wrong with trying to cut waste, but providing a separate facility for students with severe behavioral problems is not waste. Nor is providing neighborhood schools convenient to parents and students instead of busing more young kids across town.
Trying to squeeze every nickel out of the School District has gone too far. My wife and I joined other parents to watch the first game of the Ladies JV Soccer Team at SCHS. Not knowing what to expect I didn’t at first notice that the scoreboard wasn’t on for the game, there was no announcer and the lights weren’t turned on when dusk came.
Then we went on our first away game to Francis Howell High School. The scoreboard was lighted and being used. There was an announcer in the booth who, at the end of the game, thanked St. Charles High for coming. The lights came on at 5:30 and they even played music to entertain the crowd between the JV and Varsity games.
We gladly paid the same $4 per person to get into each game.
Having graduated from St. Charles High School, I’m pretty darn proud of my alma mater. Our District has enough money to hire the help and pay the electric bills to not make visitors think the School District is going out of business. Have some pride…Pirate Pride!
Or Pride In Our Schools…
For Short Term Financial Gain
School Board candidates in St. Charles used to have it easy. Their platforms were always the same. They all promised to put the needs of our children first. Many were true to their word and served with distinction. But somewhere along the way it stopped being so easy as tough decisions were handed them. I can appreciate making tough decision, but some shortsighted decisions have also been made that don’t seem very student friendly.
We all know the St. Charles School District made its decision to close two elementary schools. But what is the projected impact? What about the impact of other changes still to come?
The fact that the cuts were too extreme is borne out by the fact that there wasn’t enough room left in the remaining elementary schools to handle Fifth Grade. I spoke with a woman the other day who will now have children in four different schools when they had been in two. Her life will suddenly become a lot more stressed.
Closing the schools will save the District money…perhaps a little too much money. I understand the District has a projected three million dollar surplus at the end of the year. I was told the School District’s normal operating surplus of 8% has nearly doubled in the projections to 15%. The schools aren’t even closed yet and the full impact of teacher layoffs, being spread out through time by attrition, hasn’t been fully realized. Hmmm. Maybe one of those elementary schools should have been kept open after all.
Financially the future looks even rosier. Some of the land that Lindenwood took off the tax rolls along First Capitol, will soon go back on the tax rolls at commercial rates. The Ameristar hotel and new garage will come on line and start paying property taxes, which should be in excess of half-a-million dollars per year to the St. Charles School District. Property tax assessments continue to go up on property in St. Charles. If you hear of someone’s tax assessment going down let me know.
A few years ago, I supported selling a building the City owned on West Clay to the School District at a reduced price. I was willing to take the criticism from some quarters, because it was for the public good. The School District wanted to offer an alternative education for those who had lost the privilege to be in a regular school environment due to violent, disruptive or anti-social behavior.
Removing these students from our schools was the right thing to do.
But now I hear the School District wants to sell the building the City sold them and move those students into D Building on the St. Charles High School campus. So in other words, a bully that terrorized students at the High School could in theory be standing on the same street corner every day as his victims.
I’ve been told some school officials hoped this would “save money” as the students would be closer to labs they could use in the High School. What part of separating these disruptive students from the majority of the well-behaved student population isn’t registering?
Sure the School District can put a few extra dollars in its pocket from the increased value of the property they now want to sell. But the short-term gain doesn’t come close to the increased liability and risk of putting those with known problems in close proximity to the general school population.
I also know that when a governmental entity knows about a problem and fails to take precautions to address the situation, their liability is greater. If a student kicked out of school for doing drugs, is put back in close proximity to other students and gives another child what turns out to be a fatal drug, how much do you think a jury will award the victim’s parents?
There is nothing wrong with trying to cut waste, but providing a separate facility for students with severe behavioral problems is not waste. Nor is providing neighborhood schools convenient to parents and students instead of busing more young kids across town.
Trying to squeeze every nickel out of the School District has gone too far. My wife and I joined other parents to watch the first game of the Ladies JV Soccer Team at SCHS. Not knowing what to expect I didn’t at first notice that the scoreboard wasn’t on for the game, there was no announcer and the lights weren’t turned on when dusk came.
Then we went on our first away game to Francis Howell High School. The scoreboard was lighted and being used. There was an announcer in the booth who, at the end of the game, thanked St. Charles High for coming. The lights came on at 5:30 and they even played music to entertain the crowd between the JV and Varsity games.
We gladly paid the same $4 per person to get into each game.
Having graduated from St. Charles High School, I’m pretty darn proud of my alma mater. Our District has enough money to hire the help and pay the electric bills to not make visitors think the School District is going out of business. Have some pride…Pirate Pride!
Case In Point By Joe Koester, Councilman Ward 9
“ Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.”
Mahatma Gandhi
It’s that time of week again to sit down and put a few thoughts onto paper for the local paper. I appreciate hearing from everyone who calls or writes to share his or her thoughts. Usually, I do not know what I’m going to write about until I sit down and begin. The subjects I write about are sometimes about national, state, or local politics, sometimes just about our town, and sometimes just
observances made that week.
This week I will just put down a poem and see if any reader knows the author. As Click and Clack on Car Talk always say, “Send your answer on a $20 bill to…” Actually, just email: FirstCapitolNews@aol.com with “Poem Contest” in the subject line.
The Sounds Unheard by Man
“I have heard the moon’s beams
Sweeping the waters, making a sound
Like threads of silver, wept upon.
I have heard the scratch of the
Pulsing stars, and the purring sound
Of the slow moon as she rolled across
The Night, I have heard the shadows
Slapping the waters, and the licking
Sound of the wave’s edge as it sinks
Into the sand upon the shore.
I have heard the sunlight as it pierced
The gloom with a golden bar, which
Whirred in a voice of myriad colors.
I have heard the sound which lay
Between the arms which danced in the
Golden Bar. I have heard the sound
Of the leaves reclining upon their
Cushions of air, and the swish of the willow
Tassels as the wind whistled upon them.
And the sharp sound which the crawling
Mites proclaim upon the grasses’ blades,
And the multitude of sounds which lie
At the root of things. Oh, I have heard
The song of resurrection which each seed
Makes as it spurs. I have heard the sound
Of the night’s first shadow, when it
Intermingles with the day, and the
Rushing sound of Morning’s wings as she
Flies over the Eastern gateway.
All of these I heard, yet man
Hath not an ear for them, Behold,
The miracle He hath writ within me;
Letting the chord of imagination strum!”
Okay, I have to admit this Case in Point is sort of the lazy man’s way out, but hey, I’m busy and it is a pretty good poem anyhow.
In the next edition the author will be revealed along with those who submit the correct answer to the FCN.
JOE KOESTER’s
Response to Negative Campaign Material sent out the last week before the election:
When I ran for state rep. this past year, I was frustrated with a mailer that was sent out against me just before the election that called me a liar. The mailer offered nothing to back up their statement, it was just name-calling that is, sadly, typical of the election process. When you decide to run for council you are offered an opportunity to sign a pledge that says you will run a clean campaign. Everyone currently running signed this pledge.
Of course, “clean” is a very subjective term. Let me show you what I mean. A mailer you received on Wednesday or Thursday stated that I “supported a proposal to disqualify seniors from utility tax breaks.” Welcome to semantics class 101. What the mailer wants you to read is that all seniors would be disqualified. What the writers of the mailer knowingly misrepresents is that a limited amount of money was made available for utility tax rebates so I proposed allocating the limited dollars to the most needy seniors based upon income. The $200 cap I wanted also made certain that the tax dollars were going to the most seniors possible. True, if you are 65 and have a 6,000 square foot house and your utility taxes run you $100 per month – you would be disqualified from receiving more than $200 in tax refunds. The fact of the matter is, almost no senior received more than $200 in tax refunds in a one-year period anyway. Another fact of the matter is that the current council put greater tax breaks for senior into place regardless how you see it – with or without limitations in place! The rest of the tax issues brought up on this mailer is just bizarre and talks about my stance on federal and state tax cuts? I would encourage you to go to: Firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com and read Case in Point from August 28, 2006.
Wait, the spin continues. I voted against the city budget that cut $6 million in wasteful spending. Do you think I voted against the budget because it cut $6 million in wasteful spending or perhaps because there were parts that were more wasteful or contained allocations for pork projects that I didn’t think we needed?
Next, it continues – I traveled to Las Vegas and Germany at the taxpayers’ expense. When I flew to Vegas for several days to attend a retailers’ convention where we could meet business reps from all over the country and hopefully entice some of those businesses to open up shop in town, I certainly did use my expense account money to attend this meeting. You see, if I had gone to Vegas to gamble (which I don’t) then it would have been a misuse of tax money. In fact, I kept appointments with different retail representatives, explored retailers that would fit well into our town and worked. Currently, I am working with a major developer on a project in our ward and the contact was a result of this trip. I did fly over once to Germany for the ten-year celebration of our sister city, Ludwigsburg along with the mayor and about half of council, the city clerk and the fire chief. I lived for years in Germany and in no way was 6 days in Germany and going from official ceremony to official ceremony the way I would spend my vacation. I turned down previous offers to go to Germany on the city’s dime because I thought the anniversary was the appropriate time for us to send a delegation.
Here’s one of the last spin pieces, “on public safety.” It was stated that I “failed to show for a key vote to crack down on sex offenders.” This ordinance passed, my failure to show up to this meeting had nothing to do with this ordinance. As each and every councilperson can tell you, sometimes you cannot make a meeting because of illness, family matters, etc. Not one councilperson has a perfect attendance record. I guess the spin from my opponent surprises me. I certainly felt that each of us would talk about our plans for ward 9 and not attempt to manipulate voting records that do not tell the whole story or worse still, purposefully misrepresent our voting records. You will hear it said that if it is too good to be true, it probably is. If you receive half-truths and outrages claims such as, “I oppose $186 million in state breaks” please take the time to email me so as Paul Harvey puts it, you can get “the rest of the story.”
STCWard9@hotmail.com
Thank You!
Joe Koester
Councilman – Ward 9
Paid for by Committee to Elect Joe Koester
Mahatma Gandhi
It’s that time of week again to sit down and put a few thoughts onto paper for the local paper. I appreciate hearing from everyone who calls or writes to share his or her thoughts. Usually, I do not know what I’m going to write about until I sit down and begin. The subjects I write about are sometimes about national, state, or local politics, sometimes just about our town, and sometimes just
observances made that week.
This week I will just put down a poem and see if any reader knows the author. As Click and Clack on Car Talk always say, “Send your answer on a $20 bill to…” Actually, just email: FirstCapitolNews@aol.com with “Poem Contest” in the subject line.
The Sounds Unheard by Man
“I have heard the moon’s beams
Sweeping the waters, making a sound
Like threads of silver, wept upon.
I have heard the scratch of the
Pulsing stars, and the purring sound
Of the slow moon as she rolled across
The Night, I have heard the shadows
Slapping the waters, and the licking
Sound of the wave’s edge as it sinks
Into the sand upon the shore.
I have heard the sunlight as it pierced
The gloom with a golden bar, which
Whirred in a voice of myriad colors.
I have heard the sound which lay
Between the arms which danced in the
Golden Bar. I have heard the sound
Of the leaves reclining upon their
Cushions of air, and the swish of the willow
Tassels as the wind whistled upon them.
And the sharp sound which the crawling
Mites proclaim upon the grasses’ blades,
And the multitude of sounds which lie
At the root of things. Oh, I have heard
The song of resurrection which each seed
Makes as it spurs. I have heard the sound
Of the night’s first shadow, when it
Intermingles with the day, and the
Rushing sound of Morning’s wings as she
Flies over the Eastern gateway.
All of these I heard, yet man
Hath not an ear for them, Behold,
The miracle He hath writ within me;
Letting the chord of imagination strum!”
Okay, I have to admit this Case in Point is sort of the lazy man’s way out, but hey, I’m busy and it is a pretty good poem anyhow.
In the next edition the author will be revealed along with those who submit the correct answer to the FCN.
JOE KOESTER’s
Response to Negative Campaign Material sent out the last week before the election:
When I ran for state rep. this past year, I was frustrated with a mailer that was sent out against me just before the election that called me a liar. The mailer offered nothing to back up their statement, it was just name-calling that is, sadly, typical of the election process. When you decide to run for council you are offered an opportunity to sign a pledge that says you will run a clean campaign. Everyone currently running signed this pledge.
Of course, “clean” is a very subjective term. Let me show you what I mean. A mailer you received on Wednesday or Thursday stated that I “supported a proposal to disqualify seniors from utility tax breaks.” Welcome to semantics class 101. What the mailer wants you to read is that all seniors would be disqualified. What the writers of the mailer knowingly misrepresents is that a limited amount of money was made available for utility tax rebates so I proposed allocating the limited dollars to the most needy seniors based upon income. The $200 cap I wanted also made certain that the tax dollars were going to the most seniors possible. True, if you are 65 and have a 6,000 square foot house and your utility taxes run you $100 per month – you would be disqualified from receiving more than $200 in tax refunds. The fact of the matter is, almost no senior received more than $200 in tax refunds in a one-year period anyway. Another fact of the matter is that the current council put greater tax breaks for senior into place regardless how you see it – with or without limitations in place! The rest of the tax issues brought up on this mailer is just bizarre and talks about my stance on federal and state tax cuts? I would encourage you to go to: Firstcapitolnews.blogspot.com and read Case in Point from August 28, 2006.
Wait, the spin continues. I voted against the city budget that cut $6 million in wasteful spending. Do you think I voted against the budget because it cut $6 million in wasteful spending or perhaps because there were parts that were more wasteful or contained allocations for pork projects that I didn’t think we needed?
Next, it continues – I traveled to Las Vegas and Germany at the taxpayers’ expense. When I flew to Vegas for several days to attend a retailers’ convention where we could meet business reps from all over the country and hopefully entice some of those businesses to open up shop in town, I certainly did use my expense account money to attend this meeting. You see, if I had gone to Vegas to gamble (which I don’t) then it would have been a misuse of tax money. In fact, I kept appointments with different retail representatives, explored retailers that would fit well into our town and worked. Currently, I am working with a major developer on a project in our ward and the contact was a result of this trip. I did fly over once to Germany for the ten-year celebration of our sister city, Ludwigsburg along with the mayor and about half of council, the city clerk and the fire chief. I lived for years in Germany and in no way was 6 days in Germany and going from official ceremony to official ceremony the way I would spend my vacation. I turned down previous offers to go to Germany on the city’s dime because I thought the anniversary was the appropriate time for us to send a delegation.
Here’s one of the last spin pieces, “on public safety.” It was stated that I “failed to show for a key vote to crack down on sex offenders.” This ordinance passed, my failure to show up to this meeting had nothing to do with this ordinance. As each and every councilperson can tell you, sometimes you cannot make a meeting because of illness, family matters, etc. Not one councilperson has a perfect attendance record. I guess the spin from my opponent surprises me. I certainly felt that each of us would talk about our plans for ward 9 and not attempt to manipulate voting records that do not tell the whole story or worse still, purposefully misrepresent our voting records. You will hear it said that if it is too good to be true, it probably is. If you receive half-truths and outrages claims such as, “I oppose $186 million in state breaks” please take the time to email me so as Paul Harvey puts it, you can get “the rest of the story.”
STCWard9@hotmail.com
Thank You!
Joe Koester
Councilman – Ward 9
Paid for by Committee to Elect Joe Koester
Unsigned Campaign Mailer Violates Missouri Law
Unsigned Campaign Mailer Violates Missouri Law
A facsimile of United States currency was recently mailed out in the First Ward in a plain white envelope with no return address. The flyer is a negative campaign piece that attacks incumbent Councilman Rory Riddler. The flyer does not have a campaign disclaimer telling who paid for its production and distribution. That is a violation of State Law and has prompted a formal complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Every candidate running for office in the City of St. Charles voluntarily signed a Clean Campaign Pledge. Copies are on file with the City Clerk. The campaign flyer, however, contains nothing but distortions and personal attacks.
“You can readily tell the content is false because they waited till just a few days before the campaign to launch this negative attack,” explained Councilman Riddler, adding, “It appears to be the same big money special interests that tried to take over City Hall through forgery and lies last year, back at it again.”
Rory went on to say, “I kept my Clean Campaign Pledge. Every piece of literature I have sent out has been about my record and vision for the future. I believe that how you conduct yourself during a campaign is a test of character. Those responsible did not have the courage to sign their names to this literature, which I feel clearly demonstrates that the content is false and without merit.”
A facsimile of United States currency was recently mailed out in the First Ward in a plain white envelope with no return address. The flyer is a negative campaign piece that attacks incumbent Councilman Rory Riddler. The flyer does not have a campaign disclaimer telling who paid for its production and distribution. That is a violation of State Law and has prompted a formal complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission.
Every candidate running for office in the City of St. Charles voluntarily signed a Clean Campaign Pledge. Copies are on file with the City Clerk. The campaign flyer, however, contains nothing but distortions and personal attacks.
“You can readily tell the content is false because they waited till just a few days before the campaign to launch this negative attack,” explained Councilman Riddler, adding, “It appears to be the same big money special interests that tried to take over City Hall through forgery and lies last year, back at it again.”
Rory went on to say, “I kept my Clean Campaign Pledge. Every piece of literature I have sent out has been about my record and vision for the future. I believe that how you conduct yourself during a campaign is a test of character. Those responsible did not have the courage to sign their names to this literature, which I feel clearly demonstrates that the content is false and without merit.”
Has The Identity of the Phoneix Been Unmasked
Has Identity of The Phoneix Been Unmasked?
Last year, before filing for the Council even opened, another anonymous letter was sent to voters in the first Ward attacking Councilman Riddler. It was sent in an identical white envelope with a first class stamp and no return address. The writer of the letter at the time, said he would use the name “Phoenix” to disguise his true identity, but that he was going to run against Councilman Riddler and reveal his true identity later.
The letter said the writer was also responsible for conducting an electronic phone survey as the first step in organizing a recall similar to the one being conducted against Councilwoman Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Those recall efforts we know were partly funded through a committee set up by Ken Kielty through a Jefferson City Bank. And, in fact, such electronic phone calls were made into Councilman Riddler’s ward asking if voters would support a recall at the same time such calls were being made about Councilmen Brown and Councilwoman Greer.
After making the phone surveys, the group behind the calls decided not to try to recall Councilman Riddler and focused their attention on Greer and Brown. The group circulating the recall petitions against Greer was later connected to charges of forgery, following an investigation by St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas.
Kielty has also been mentioned as working with Buddy Hardin as campaign consultants for Richard Veit, who is challenging Councilman Riddler. Neither live in the First Ward. Kielty is running for the City Council himself in Ward Eight against former Councilman Mike Klinghammer and Buddy Hardin, who operates a State License Bureau as Kielty once did, is running for the Orchard Farm School Board.
Local political pundits are now speculating if the “Phoenix” and Richard Veit are one in the same or if Ken Kielty or Buddy Hardin had a hand in producing or distributing these illegal mailers on Veit’s behalf.
Last year, before filing for the Council even opened, another anonymous letter was sent to voters in the first Ward attacking Councilman Riddler. It was sent in an identical white envelope with a first class stamp and no return address. The writer of the letter at the time, said he would use the name “Phoenix” to disguise his true identity, but that he was going to run against Councilman Riddler and reveal his true identity later.
The letter said the writer was also responsible for conducting an electronic phone survey as the first step in organizing a recall similar to the one being conducted against Councilwoman Greer and Councilman Mark Brown. Those recall efforts we know were partly funded through a committee set up by Ken Kielty through a Jefferson City Bank. And, in fact, such electronic phone calls were made into Councilman Riddler’s ward asking if voters would support a recall at the same time such calls were being made about Councilmen Brown and Councilwoman Greer.
After making the phone surveys, the group behind the calls decided not to try to recall Councilman Riddler and focused their attention on Greer and Brown. The group circulating the recall petitions against Greer was later connected to charges of forgery, following an investigation by St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Jack Banas.
Kielty has also been mentioned as working with Buddy Hardin as campaign consultants for Richard Veit, who is challenging Councilman Riddler. Neither live in the First Ward. Kielty is running for the City Council himself in Ward Eight against former Councilman Mike Klinghammer and Buddy Hardin, who operates a State License Bureau as Kielty once did, is running for the Orchard Farm School Board.
Local political pundits are now speculating if the “Phoenix” and Richard Veit are one in the same or if Ken Kielty or Buddy Hardin had a hand in producing or distributing these illegal mailers on Veit’s behalf.
The View From The Cheap Seats BY Jerry Haferkamp
The View From The Cheap Seats
By Jerry Haferkamp
By now everyone who will vote in the upcoming city election has made his or her choices. Nothing in this column or in this edition of the First Capitol News will change that. Today I want to address the election of which few take notice. I refer to the two vacancies on the St. Charles School Board.
There are two openings and there will be three names on the ballot. One of these candidates has dropped out of the race. His name is Bernie Weinrich. He dropped out due to health concerns. This will create a situation that could be a problem.
Mr. Weinrich has removed himself from the race, but too late to have his name removed from the ballot. The problem will rear its ugly head if voters unknowingly vote for him anyway. If he is elected, he won’t serve. This creates a situation where someone will be appointed to fill the seat. There is little doubt that this appointee will be someone that agrees with the President of the Board. We already have one member whose seat on the Board that was filled by appointment, and she is an embarrassment.
The president of the Board, along with three others has shown that they and he are not responsive to the residents. We cannot afford to have another of that mind set join the board. There is still hope that one of these four will come to their senses, but there has been no indication of that.
Since Mr. Weinrich opposed the action that has caused the current distrust of this Board, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t want these four to have another of their ilk join them. The only way to avoid this is to not vote for Mr. Weinrich. Bernie Weinrich is not running, even though his name is on the ballot.
Vote! Your voice needs to be heard. In our city government we have the chance to bring the mayor’s office back to something people can respect instead of a feeding trough for whoever pays for the privilege.
You have the chance to turn away council hopefuls that would threaten physical harm to anyone that holds an opinion different from theirs.
You can say “no” to a candidate that believes that we all should spend our tax dollars subsidizing her bed and breakfast and has earned the nickname given to her by several South Main businessmen. Say “No” to Vendetta.
Don’t waste your vote in the School Board election. Although he would be one of my choices, do not vote for Bernie Weinrich. He will thank you.
That’s the view from the cheap seats.
By Jerry Haferkamp
By now everyone who will vote in the upcoming city election has made his or her choices. Nothing in this column or in this edition of the First Capitol News will change that. Today I want to address the election of which few take notice. I refer to the two vacancies on the St. Charles School Board.
There are two openings and there will be three names on the ballot. One of these candidates has dropped out of the race. His name is Bernie Weinrich. He dropped out due to health concerns. This will create a situation that could be a problem.
Mr. Weinrich has removed himself from the race, but too late to have his name removed from the ballot. The problem will rear its ugly head if voters unknowingly vote for him anyway. If he is elected, he won’t serve. This creates a situation where someone will be appointed to fill the seat. There is little doubt that this appointee will be someone that agrees with the President of the Board. We already have one member whose seat on the Board that was filled by appointment, and she is an embarrassment.
The president of the Board, along with three others has shown that they and he are not responsive to the residents. We cannot afford to have another of that mind set join the board. There is still hope that one of these four will come to their senses, but there has been no indication of that.
Since Mr. Weinrich opposed the action that has caused the current distrust of this Board, I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t want these four to have another of their ilk join them. The only way to avoid this is to not vote for Mr. Weinrich. Bernie Weinrich is not running, even though his name is on the ballot.
Vote! Your voice needs to be heard. In our city government we have the chance to bring the mayor’s office back to something people can respect instead of a feeding trough for whoever pays for the privilege.
You have the chance to turn away council hopefuls that would threaten physical harm to anyone that holds an opinion different from theirs.
You can say “no” to a candidate that believes that we all should spend our tax dollars subsidizing her bed and breakfast and has earned the nickname given to her by several South Main businessmen. Say “No” to Vendetta.
Don’t waste your vote in the School Board election. Although he would be one of my choices, do not vote for Bernie Weinrich. He will thank you.
That’s the view from the cheap seats.
First Capitol News Sports - Mike McMurran Sports Editor
Some of you seemed to think I was joking last week when I said my hobby was coaching youth sports. Ain’t no joke. I guess I could have added to the list “attending sporting events,” as I do a lot of that with my kids, too. I would hate for anyone to think that I was some kind of a mean spirited dad, but once Joe came home from school and asked if he could join the Cub Scouts. “Sure,” I said, “but I am not going to go on any camping trips, that’s where I draw the line. I’ll coach your baseball team, help with your football team, but I’m not a Cub Scout kind of guy. I think Dee and I had pretty much the same conversation. Both basically said, “Well Dad, if you’re not going to be a Cub Scout Dad, I’m not going to be a Cub Scout.”
Now before you go off on the deep end and tell me how All-American the Cub Scouts are, I’ll ask you the question: Did you serve in the military? Cause I did, and I got all the camping out I wanted in my short two and one-half years of active duty – and I was in the Navy! Never traveled on a ship, took tours upon them though – carriers, submarines, destroyers and such. No, I was in an outfit called the Seabees – our saying was: “We build, we fight.” We were mostly a construction outfit; that’s where we got our name, construction battalion, CB, Seabees, get it? We went out into “the field” once a year for a period of a week or so for heavy weapons training. My specialty? Mortar firing; scary, huh? Remember, that was heavy weapons. I was also an expert with an M-16 rifle and a sharpshooter with a .45 caliber pistol. Come to think of it, I don’t own any guns either.
No, I’m a sports centered guy. Sports is the one arena in life I have found where everything is pretty much equal; at least once you get to a certain level, that is. I cannot imagine a college coach playing someone with sub par talent. Unless of course he might be sitting someone out for disciplinary reasons. No, in the field of athletic competition advancement is usually based upon merit, not who you know. Let’s face it, in pretty much every other arena in life it’s who you know – not really what you can do.
So I’m a sports guy, and for those of you who wanted to know how Maggie’s basketball team did in their final game of the season last week, well, they won – rather handily at that. We finished with a 7-3 record, improving on last year’s 2-8 season. More importantly, it took all ten games, but finally, all ten members of the team scored. We had the game wrapped up by half time, and the girls were instructed only one of them could shoot from that point on, the only girl who had not scored yet this season. It took her three shots or so, but she finally got her field goal – her first points ever, for that matter. That’s why I’m in youth sports.
For the past four weeks or so it has been Maggie’s basketball team AND Joe’s baseball team. You see Joe’s baseball season begins in less than two weeks, so for the past four weeks, every Sunday, the boys have been going to the batting cages from 1-2. Over kill? Nope, just good old fashion hard work. Batting, more than most endeavors in life, is improved upon with repetition; repetition and instruction. Every Sunday the boys take 15-20 swings, take a 5-minute break or so, then back into the cage for another 15-20 swings. In the course of an hour they get well over 100 quality swings. Believe me, this hard work and dedication will pay off later in the season.
Beginning this week we will take the show outside; as many of you are picking up this week’s edition of the First Capitol News, the Titans will start their annual outdoor practices, every Friday from 3:30 – 5:30. God forbid it should rain, if it does we simply move inside to the batting cages. This year we have a few new players and will have to adjust our positioning, but like I said a paragraph or two ago, everything will be determined on merit; merit, hard work and attitude. Which reminds me of one of my all time favorite motivational sayings: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” This applies to pretty much every aspect of life. If you believe it, and I really do, imagine what can be done when talent works hard? That is what the Titans are all about.
While I’m at it, take the family to Family Arena this Saturday night and watch the new and improved RiverCity Rage. I don’t think you are going to see the blowouts like you did the past two seasons, but remember, the Rage has upgraded to the United Indoor Football league. I’ve never heard anyone in the Rage organization say this, but I really do get the feeling their goal is to make it to the big-time indoor football circuit. Joining the UIF
ttt
puts them one step closer.
See y’ next edition.
Rage win season opener
Move to Family Arena pays off before first home contest
By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
The RiverCity Rage traveled to Evansville, Indiana for their first United Indoor Football contest in team history. The Rage moved from the National Indoor Football League at the conclusion of last season. Not only did they change leagues, they changed homes as they now play, and practice at Family Arena in St. Charles.
Playing on the Evansville Bluecat’s smaller field didn’t seem to bother the Rage as they took a 23-21 cushion into the fourth quarter. After trading a couple of scores with the Bluecat's, the Rage seemed to have the game wrapped up when Muhammad Abdulqaadir scrambled 13 yards into the end zone give the visitors a 37-30 lead with 13 ticks of the clock remaining. The Bluecat's returned the kickoff to midfield, where Bluecat quarterback Richard Johnson tossed a pass to Tommy Manus on the first play from scrimmage, knotting the contest at 37 with seconds remaining.
River City downed the following kickoff leaving 1.7 seconds on the game clock, and a chance for Derek Kutz to win it. Kutz drilled a 42 yard field goal with no time left on the clock to seal a 40-37 victory in River City’s first ever game as a member of the United Football League, and sending the team into a celebratory frenzy on the field in Roberts Stadium in Evansville.
Last season the Rage practice facility was too small to allow field goal and extra point practice – such is not the case at their new Family Arena home. In their first game, in a new league, with a new home, before they even had a chance to play at their new home, the move to Family Arena is already paying benefits.
Next game for the Rage is the home opener against the Lexington Horsemen, Saturday March 31 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are still on sale. For more information call the River City Rage at 636-896-4285 or visit ragefootball.com
Now before you go off on the deep end and tell me how All-American the Cub Scouts are, I’ll ask you the question: Did you serve in the military? Cause I did, and I got all the camping out I wanted in my short two and one-half years of active duty – and I was in the Navy! Never traveled on a ship, took tours upon them though – carriers, submarines, destroyers and such. No, I was in an outfit called the Seabees – our saying was: “We build, we fight.” We were mostly a construction outfit; that’s where we got our name, construction battalion, CB, Seabees, get it? We went out into “the field” once a year for a period of a week or so for heavy weapons training. My specialty? Mortar firing; scary, huh? Remember, that was heavy weapons. I was also an expert with an M-16 rifle and a sharpshooter with a .45 caliber pistol. Come to think of it, I don’t own any guns either.
No, I’m a sports centered guy. Sports is the one arena in life I have found where everything is pretty much equal; at least once you get to a certain level, that is. I cannot imagine a college coach playing someone with sub par talent. Unless of course he might be sitting someone out for disciplinary reasons. No, in the field of athletic competition advancement is usually based upon merit, not who you know. Let’s face it, in pretty much every other arena in life it’s who you know – not really what you can do.
So I’m a sports guy, and for those of you who wanted to know how Maggie’s basketball team did in their final game of the season last week, well, they won – rather handily at that. We finished with a 7-3 record, improving on last year’s 2-8 season. More importantly, it took all ten games, but finally, all ten members of the team scored. We had the game wrapped up by half time, and the girls were instructed only one of them could shoot from that point on, the only girl who had not scored yet this season. It took her three shots or so, but she finally got her field goal – her first points ever, for that matter. That’s why I’m in youth sports.
For the past four weeks or so it has been Maggie’s basketball team AND Joe’s baseball team. You see Joe’s baseball season begins in less than two weeks, so for the past four weeks, every Sunday, the boys have been going to the batting cages from 1-2. Over kill? Nope, just good old fashion hard work. Batting, more than most endeavors in life, is improved upon with repetition; repetition and instruction. Every Sunday the boys take 15-20 swings, take a 5-minute break or so, then back into the cage for another 15-20 swings. In the course of an hour they get well over 100 quality swings. Believe me, this hard work and dedication will pay off later in the season.
Beginning this week we will take the show outside; as many of you are picking up this week’s edition of the First Capitol News, the Titans will start their annual outdoor practices, every Friday from 3:30 – 5:30. God forbid it should rain, if it does we simply move inside to the batting cages. This year we have a few new players and will have to adjust our positioning, but like I said a paragraph or two ago, everything will be determined on merit; merit, hard work and attitude. Which reminds me of one of my all time favorite motivational sayings: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” This applies to pretty much every aspect of life. If you believe it, and I really do, imagine what can be done when talent works hard? That is what the Titans are all about.
While I’m at it, take the family to Family Arena this Saturday night and watch the new and improved RiverCity Rage. I don’t think you are going to see the blowouts like you did the past two seasons, but remember, the Rage has upgraded to the United Indoor Football league. I’ve never heard anyone in the Rage organization say this, but I really do get the feeling their goal is to make it to the big-time indoor football circuit. Joining the UIF
ttt
puts them one step closer.
See y’ next edition.
Rage win season opener
Move to Family Arena pays off before first home contest
By: Mike McMurran
Sports Editor
The RiverCity Rage traveled to Evansville, Indiana for their first United Indoor Football contest in team history. The Rage moved from the National Indoor Football League at the conclusion of last season. Not only did they change leagues, they changed homes as they now play, and practice at Family Arena in St. Charles.
Playing on the Evansville Bluecat’s smaller field didn’t seem to bother the Rage as they took a 23-21 cushion into the fourth quarter. After trading a couple of scores with the Bluecat's, the Rage seemed to have the game wrapped up when Muhammad Abdulqaadir scrambled 13 yards into the end zone give the visitors a 37-30 lead with 13 ticks of the clock remaining. The Bluecat's returned the kickoff to midfield, where Bluecat quarterback Richard Johnson tossed a pass to Tommy Manus on the first play from scrimmage, knotting the contest at 37 with seconds remaining.
River City downed the following kickoff leaving 1.7 seconds on the game clock, and a chance for Derek Kutz to win it. Kutz drilled a 42 yard field goal with no time left on the clock to seal a 40-37 victory in River City’s first ever game as a member of the United Football League, and sending the team into a celebratory frenzy on the field in Roberts Stadium in Evansville.
Last season the Rage practice facility was too small to allow field goal and extra point practice – such is not the case at their new Family Arena home. In their first game, in a new league, with a new home, before they even had a chance to play at their new home, the move to Family Arena is already paying benefits.
Next game for the Rage is the home opener against the Lexington Horsemen, Saturday March 31 at 7:00 PM. Tickets are still on sale. For more information call the River City Rage at 636-896-4285 or visit ragefootball.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)