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By Carol Arnett

It will be a crowded ballot on April 5, when seven candidates vie for mayor of Florissant. Two current councilmen, two former council members, a former State Representative, and a Hazelwood School Board member are among the candidates.

All seven turned in over 500 signatures to City Clerk Karen Goodwin by the Tuesday, 5 p.m. deadline. The signatures were due Tuesday. Goodwin must still verify the signatures for some of the candidates. If 500 are valid, the candidate will appear on the ballot.

Current Councilmen Andrew Podleski and Tom Schneider are running. Podleski ran in the last mayoral election, losing to current Mayor Robert Lowery, but getting over 40 percent of the votes. Schneider has been on the council for over 30 years.

Former Councilman Bob Garrett and former Councilwoman Susan Geerling have also turned in petitions.

Mark Behlmann, who has been on the Hazelwood School Board for several years, and former state representative Michael Spreng also turned in petitions. They are joined by Virgil L. R. Wiles, who said he ran for U.S. President on the Missouri primary ballot in the 2008 election.

Lowery announced earlier that he would not seek re-election, and would step down when his term ends in April.

Council Races Shape Up

The even-numbered wards will also be electing council members. In Ward 2, incumbent John Grib is running unopposed. In Ward 8, incumbent Mark Schmidt is also running unopposed.

In Ward 4, incumbent Keith English faces a challenge by Jeff Caputa.

Podleski currently represents Ward 6. Since he is running for mayor, he cannot also run for council, leaving his seat open. Four candidates filed petitions for the ward. They are Girard Henke, R. Patrick Stinnett, Ben Eye, and Steve Purgahn.

For Municipal Judge, incumbent Tom Kelly is facing a challenge by Dan Boyle.

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