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Schneider Wins Big For Mayor in Florissant McCourt wins in Black Jack;

Bond Issue in Ferguson-Florissant, Hazelwood Sales Tax Win Big

By Bob Lindsey

Tuesday’s elections saw the re-election of Mayor Tom Schneider in Florissant, Norm McCourt in Black Jack, two African-Americans winning Ferguson city council seats, and big majorities for a bond issue in Ferguson-Florissant and a sales tax in the City of Hazelwood.

Mayor Schneider received 63 percent of the votes for mayor with 4,520 compared to Mark Behlmann’s 2,647 or 37 percent. In a close three-candidate race, Tommy Siam, with 408 votes, narrowly defeated incumbent Ben Hernandez in Ward 9 (387 votes) in the only contested the city council race. Doug Stuart got 318 votes

Black Jack Mayor Norm McCourt won re-election for the fifth time with 557 votes to nearest challenger Kenneth McClendon with 234 votes. In the race for city treasurer, incumbent Randy Littlejohn was edged by Rodney Grady, 510-477. In Ward 3, there was a tie between long-time councilman Rick Steigerwald and challenger Veronica Patton, each with 143 votes. A recount will be conducted .

A ballot vote promoted as a no tax increase bond issue in the Ferguson-Florissant School District won handily with a 73 percent “yes” vote as did a 25-cent sales tax in the City of Hazelwood which got a 77 percent “yes” vote.

     Ferguson-Florissant’s Prop 1 authorized 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

Hazelwood Proposition P passed with 77 percent “yes” vote and will 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 was required for passage.

In contested school board races in both Hazelwood and Ferguson-Florissant, one incumbent was elected in both races. Desiree Whitlock got 7,183 voters (44 percent) for re-election. The other contested seat went to Richard Roberts who got 37 percent, 5,962 votes. Barcus Jackson got 2,918 votes, or 18 percent.

In the Ferguson-Florissant School Board race, incumbent Brian Scott Ebert got 30 percent of the vote with 4,685. He was second to the other director elected Courtney Michelle Grave who got 34 percent of the vote, 5,262. They were the two elected of the five candidates

   In Ferguson, there were races for one each in all three wards. The Ferguson City Council has six members, two from each ward. Each serves a three-year term. Mayor James Knowles III was elected in April 2014 and not on the ballot this year

In Ward 1, Ella M. Jones got 50 percent of the vote beating three other candidates: Doyle McClellan, Adrienne J. Hawkens, and Mike McGrath. In Ward 2, former mayor Brian Patrick Fletcher beat Robert (Bob) Hudgins with 57 percent of the vote. In Ward 3, Wesley Bell got 67 percent of vote beating out Lee Smith. The racial make-up now on the city council is now 3-3. in a race that was watched closed nationally. About 30 percent of the registered voters turning out for this election more than double the turnout of the election two years ago in the city

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