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   The Independent News asked both candidates for Florissant Mayor, incumbent Tom Schneider and Mark Behlmann, to answer the same questions regarding their plans for the city. The questions and the candidates’ answers follow.

1. What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the city in the next few years?

   Behlmann: I believe there are two huge challenges. First, property values need to increase and every effort must be scrutinized and focused on fostering that improvement. Secondly, the community needs to learn that diversity is a good thing. As a community, rules and regulations are in place to protect us citizens; educating our citizens must be a priority.

   Schneider: There is a hostile attitude in Jefferson City and in Washington towards all municipalities, particularly those in our metro area. We have been facing legislative and litigation challenges for a long time, but never has our threat level been higher than it is at the present time. I am a past president of the County Municipal League and have been involved in creating Missouri Metro Mayors of large cities, so I am already in position to mobilize action in defense of Florissant and other cities nearby.

2. What are the biggest strengths of the city?

   Behlmann: Of course, it is the families who live here, first and foremost. Then we have the city employees who truly care about Florissant that are expecting new fresh opportunities. The city itself has many amenities but a large asset is the geographical location with easy access to anywhere in the region.

   Schneider: Our biggest strength is the love that our residents have for the beautiful City of Florissant and their participation in helping our award winning Police Department in keeping our neighborhoods, parks and shopping areas safe. We have outstanding leadership on our command staff under the leadership of Chief Timothy Lowery.

3. What would you do to encourage more Economic Development? How can you sell the city to businesses?

   Behlmann: Before municipalities had Economic Development directors, I started the first economic development committee under the then Florissant Valley Chamber of Commerce in 1994. After a few years of our chamber committee, the city of Hazelwood hired the first paid director and after a year Mayor Eagan hired the second director. We visited and surveyed local businesses, sincerely trying to find what they needed at that time. Businesses want to move into an area that is perceived to be a vibrant area and that is welcoming and safe.

Selling the city to businesses starts with a well designed plan that is monitored, accountable, equitable, and followed through, that will strategically exploit with a impact focused on changing the negative perceptions that haunt our community. Identifying this stigma is the first step of a positive, new and productive journey.

   Schneider: My administration is proud of our record of attracting economic development and selling the advantages of locating in Florissant. Business investment in the city has been very high during each of the four years I have been mayor, so there is a very high level of confidence in the economic vitality of the city. I attribute that primarily to the purchasing power of our residents and to the success of our award winning police department who provide a safe city for developers and business people to invest in. It is also important for the administration to respect the confidentiality of privileged information so as not to interfere with the assembly of property for development.

4. Has / would you have the police department make any changes/ take any steps to change how they police in the city, in light of the Ferguson situation?

   Behlmann: As anyone can see by my endorsement list, I have spent a great deal of time talking with veteran police officers. These officers have clear insight and have discussed numerous recommendations as to what is currently going on in our police department and what may need to take place. To date the police chief has told me that the department is in fine shape and as Chief of Police that is his responsibility.

Schneider: Chief Lowery and I, along with several members of our Command Staff, have attended numerous meetings with various stakeholders in our community. We have listened to concerns and suggestions, and we have shared our mission of continuing to protect our residents and guests and our goal to be fair to all concerned.

Since I took office in 2011 we have increased the percentage of minorities serving in uniform and have made one minority promotion and encouraged others to be eligible for promotion.

5. What are some of your to assets and qualifications for being mayor.

Behlmann:

I was brought up in an area surrounded by and living in the middle of farms during an era that you are fortunate to grab a job right out of high school that was to become your career. Both my parents were self-taught, hands-on physical labor-minded and higher education after high school was not encouraged. What was encouraged was a bottom up approach; construction was to be my career. A laborer, a carpenter, a superintendent, a real estate salesperson, business manager, and business operator owner. I know what it is like struggling and fighting seven days a week to operate a business. I also know what it is like to make a conscious decision to spend every resource you have obtained over 34 years to explore every possibility to save a special life, only to not be successful. I know what it’s like to start work from the ground up and I know how to make tough decisions.

I have been a member of several community groups throught the years and held several leadership positions, including:

Director Board of Education Hazelwood School District since 1997; Boy Scouts of America North Star chairman CEO; Board Director, TEAM ; Board director Missouri Securities Investment program; Board Director, Florissant Rotary Club; Immediate past board director and past president, Pallottine Renewal Center; immediate past board director, Valley of Flowers; past president Florissant Valley Chamber of Commerce (now Greater North County Chamber of Commerce); past president Florissant Parks Foundation; Past Board Director MSBA Region 7 governmental relations chair;

Last month, I was one of five to receive the Paul Morse Community Service Award from the State of Missouri

My personal and business principle, which for years I have had on the reverse side of my business card, states, “nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Schneider:

I encourage the voters to review the credentials and accomplishments of my administration and to ask themselves several important questions. Do they feel safe? Is there robust investment taking place in the city? Do they enjoy the amenities and activities that their mayor promotes? Who in the entire state of Missouri has more experience in the business of municipal government than their current mayor?

I am about to complete a successful first term as mayor after serving first as city engineer hired by Mayor Eagan and later on the city council for many years.

As mayor, I have tried to emulate the professionalism of James J. Eagan and the enthusiasm for progress of Robert G. Lowery. It has always been my goal to gather a consensus for progress and have attempted to do that with 38 different council representatives. The people of Florissant benefit from the confidence that a continuity of governance which my many years of service to the city provides.

I serve on the St. Louis County Municipal League Board of Directors and represent the League on the East West Gateway Council of Governments networking with other prominent elected city and county officials for regional progress.

Our city and region are faced with many serious challenges and it is critical now more than ever before that our city leadership is capable of negotiating successful outcomes.

I have answered the call to duty several times in my life. I enlisted in the Navy Seabees and served in Vietnam twice and GTMO Cuba once. I received a commission in the Navy Reserve Civil Engineers Corps.

After 32 years on the city council I felt a call to duty to run for mayor in 2011. If the voters will return me to office on April 7th it would be an honor to answer that call to duty once again in service to the beautiful city in the valley of flowers.

Mayor Schneider Bids For Relelection,

Challenger is Mark Behlmann

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