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Schneider-Behlmann Mayor’s Race in Florissant Tops Ballot
School Boards Candidates, Propositions also on April 8th ballot
The mayor’s race in Florissant with Incumbent Mayor Tom Schneider opposed by challenger Mark Behlmann is garnering the most interest in the April 7th municipal elections (see page 8), but there are other races of interest including one city council race in Florissant, plus a no tax increase bond issue in the Ferguson Florissant School District and a 25-cent sales tax in the City of Hazelwood
There are also contested school board races in both Hazelwood and Ferguson-Florissant.
Black Jack Mayor Norm McCourt is seeking a fifth term against three challengers: Kenneth W. McClendon, Leo Simmons, and Micheal E. Starks. McClendon is a former Berkeley councilman. There’s also a race for city treasurer between Rodney Grady and Randy Littlejohn.
In Ferguson, there are races in all three wards. The Ferguson City Council has six members, two from each ward. Each serves a three-year term. One member from each ward will be chosen in this election. The other member from each ward was elected in April 2013. Mayor James Knowles III was elected in April 2014 and not on the ballot this year
None of the incumbent council members are running. In Ward 1, Ella M. Jones, Doyle McClellan, Adrienne J. Hawkens, and Mike McGrath are running. In Ward 2, Brian Patrick Flecther and Robert (Bob) Hudgins are running. Brian Patrick Fletcher is the former mayor of Ferguson. In Ward 3, Wesley Bell and Lee Smith are running.
In Florissant, in addition to the Mayor’s race, five council members are running, four unopposed. In Ward 9, incumbent Ben Hernandez faces challengers Doug Stuart and Tommy Siam. Florissant Municipal Judge Dan Boyle, who faced opposition in 2011, is unopposed for reelection this year.
In Hazelwood, Mayor Matt Robinson is running unopposed. There are no city council races. The only other item on the ballot in Hazelwood is Proposition P. If passes Prop P would allow the city to “impose a sales tax of one fourth or one percent for the purpose or providing general revenues that sustain police services, property protection, parks, recreation, and other critical city services.” A simple majority is required for passage.
In addition to the director races in the Ferguson Florissant School District, Proposition I is also on the ballot. The propositions would authorize a no tax increase $31 million bond issue. The district has said it would use the money to “fund upgrades to the District’s infrastructure including security improvements, building repairs and renovations.” It would also be used to convert a district school into a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) Learning Center. A four-sevenths majority (57.14%) is needed to pass the proposition.
(story written by Carol Arnett and
Bob Lindsey)
