{"id":7658,"date":"2012-03-28T11:52:46","date_gmt":"2012-03-28T17:52:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.flovalleynews.com\/?p=7658"},"modified":"2020-01-15T22:06:12","modified_gmt":"2020-01-15T22:06:12","slug":"2-hotly-contested-races-for-florissant-council","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=7658","title":{"rendered":"2 Hotly Contested Races For Florissant Council"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Carol Arnett<\/strong><\/p>\n

All of the odd numbered wards in the city of Florissant are up for election April 3, but only two of the five incumbents have opponents.<\/p>\n

Tim Lee, from Ward 1, Joe Eagan, from Ward 3, and Keith Schildroth, from Ward 5, are all running unopposed. In Ward 7, incumbent Karen McKay faces challenger Jackie Bond Pagano, and in Ward 9, incumbent Ben Hernandez faces challenger Michael Bober.<\/p>\n

The Independent News<\/em> asked each candidate the same questions. Portions of their responses follow.<\/p>\n

Why are you running? was the first question. McKay sited her long years on the council and her 32 years of running a business in the city. \u201cMy years on the council have provided knowledge which has helped solve problems for Ward 7 residents,\u201d she said. \u201cI believe that our direction in the future will be based on the choices we make today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pagano said that she felt fortunate to grow up in a family that valued public service.\u00a0 Now that her children are grown, she said, \u201cI have the time to dedicate myself to the community.\u201d She added, \u201cNow is the time to give back to Florissant all that it has given me.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are some of the biggest challenges facing the city? McKay said that the city needs to \u201cremain diligent in maintaining the value of neighborhoods.\u201d She also said it was imperative to fully staff and fund the police department. Also, she said, \u201cour local government must continue a working relationship with other governing bodies which will improve conditions that serve the true needs of our citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pagano agrees that safety is a concern, as well as keeping neighborhoods maintained. \u201cWe also need to maintain and bring new businesses to the area,\u2019 she said, adding that she would encourage appropriate development.<\/p>\n

What are the city\u2019s biggest strengths? \u201cThe citizens are a big part of our city\u2019s strength,\u201d McKay said. She also counts the park system, city staff and many programs provided for seniors and families among the city\u2019s strengths. Another strength, she says, \u201cis the wealth of history we have to share.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pagano also calls the residents the city\u2019s biggest strength. \u201cTheir concerns and ideas need to be listed to, responded to and built upon,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Why should residents vote for you?<\/p>\n

McKay said her years of experience on the council work in her favor. \u201cI have worked to establish a high level of communication with Ward 7 residents through personal conversations, communication, and meetings.\u201d She adds that she will \u201ccontinue to be a voice for he residents by advocating for their desire and best interests at the city level.\u201d<\/p>\n

McKay, a 32-year Florissant business owner, has a list of community, civic and business involvement. She’s a former Chamber Business Person of the\u00a0 Year, founding co-chair of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, NCI’s Elmer Belsha Leadership Award winner, the Annie Malone Children’s Services Heroes and Heroines Award recipient, and Soroptimist’s Women Helping awardee.<\/p>\n

Pagano said she has grown up in a family who were deeply involved in the development of the city,\u201d Her father was the late County Councilman Don Bond. \u00a0She has also served on the Citizen Participation Committee and been active at Our Lady of Fatima parish and CBC high school.<\/p>\n

In Ward 9<\/strong>, incumbent Ben Hernandez and challenger Michael Bober were asked the same questions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am running for my third term as City Councilman because I care about Florissant,\u201d Hernandez said. \u201cI feel I have gained invaluable experience during these past six years, and I want\u00a0to continue to help address resident and city issues.\u00a0\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to keep the city a great place to live,\u201d said Bober. He said he would work to keep all residents informed and involved.<\/p>\n

Hernandez feels that the biggest challenge the city faces is housing.\u00a0 \u201cThere are many foreclosures and\u00a0abandoned homes throughout the city,\u201d he said. \u201cMy support of economic development creates new jobs.”<\/p>\n

Bober would also like to see housing maintained through stronger code enforcement. He would also work to attract new businesses.<\/p>\n

Hernandez said that one of the biggest strengths of the city is the sense of community. \u201cOur neighbors care about each other and our property, and when there is a challenge or need, our\u00a0neighbors come together.\u201d\u00a0 He also called the police department a great asset to the city.<\/p>\n

Bober said that residents were the city\u2019s biggest strength. \u201cWhen people get involved, great things can happen,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it is important to visit with residents on a regular basis and listen to their ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why should someone vote for each candidate?\u00a0 \u201cI have\u00a0always been\u00a0quick to\u00a0respond and address resident’s questions and issues.\u201d Hernandez said. \u00a0\u201cMy work experience at McDonnell Douglas, serving as a church board member and service in the United States Marine Corps has provided me with many\u00a0interpersonal and leadership skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bober said he has been an active citizen, serving on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. He was also awarded as one of the Thirty Leaders in their Thirties last year by North County Incorporated. \u201cI believe the city has a lot to offer its residents and that we can all continue to build on what makes this a great place to live.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Carol Arnett All of the odd numbered wards in the city of Florissant are up for election April 3, but only two of the five incumbents have opponents. Tim Lee, from Ward 1, Joe Eagan, from Ward 3, and Keith Schildroth, from Ward 5, are all running unopposed. In Ward 7, incumbent Karen McKay […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-florissant","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n2 Hotly Contested Races For Florissant Council - flovalleynews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/flovalleynews.com\/?p=7658\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2 Hotly Contested Races For Florissant Council - flovalleynews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Carol Arnett All of the odd numbered wards in the city of Florissant are up for election April 3, but only two of the five incumbents have opponents. 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