West Newsmagazine 3-21-18

FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
ELECTION PREVIEW
March 21, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
I ELECTION PREVIEW I 53
business owners and the board of aldermen.
What I would do as mayor is to invite
residents, in an informal setting, [to have a
dialog] about the community to see what’s
working and what are the concerns. What we
need are face-to-face conversations.
Mayor • David L. Willson*
I am the incumbent and have been mayor
since 2008. I find being mayor very rewarding,
especially interacting with the citizens,
business owners and community partners.
Out of 86 Missouri municipalities, Manchester
was ranked the 15th best city to raise
a family, with Manchester ranked as the
safest city overall. We have a great community
and I want to keep that momentum. My
top priority is ensuring that city employees
are at a comparable level in salary and benefits
to nearby cities. If we don’t value our
experienced employees, we won’t be able to
provide the excellent services.
Board of Aldermen
Ward 1 • Nelson D. Nolte*
Ward 2 • Marilyn L. Ottenad*
Ward 3 • Jerome [Jerry] Meyer
I have lived in Manchester for 20 years,
been a trustee for 15 years, attended board
meetings for 12 years, been on the citizen
core council for five years and planning
and zoning for the past year. These qualifications
make me the best candidate. We
must retain our police officers in a longterm
environment. We do not want to be
the training ground for other municipalities.
To achieve this, we must be financially
responsible. We need to make our government
more accessible. This would come
from better use of social media, making our
website easier to navigate and to webcast
aldermanic meetings.
Ward 3 • Benjamin Toben
I was born and raised in Manchester
and I am running to ensure this city
continues to be a great place to live for
my family and the families that live here.
My top priorities would include fiscal
responsibility, the growth of the community
and businesses, police support and
community involvement. Manchester is
proud of its history and is rich in hometown
tradition. I am excited to serve the
city and its people. To learn more, visit
tobenforalderman.com.
TOWN & COUNTRY
Board of Aldermen
Ward 1 • Richard [Skip] Mange*
Ward 2 • Lindsey Butler*
The residents of Town & Country are
why I am running for re-election. Our
city deserves a representative who has a
proven track record of committing time
and resources to meeting with residents
and listening to their thoughts and concerns.
During my first term, I fulfilled
promises to improve transparency, fiscal
responsibility, community quality and
safety. I will continue to focus on these
priorities while addressing projects like
Town Square, trails and stormwater infrastructure.
Ward 2 • William McKnight
As alderman, I’ll focus on addressing the
needs and concerns of residents in Ward 2,
with a view toward maintaining Town &
Country as a wonderful place to live, work
and raise a family. I will be vigilant about
safeguarding our city’s future prosperity.
My top priorities will be responsible, balanced
development in line with the city’s
comprehensive plan and active resident
input; fiscal responsibility, emphasizing
timely, transparent reporting to residents;
expansion of the city’s walkability options
aligned with the trail master plan, including
seeking consensus on three planned
trail expansions; and successful completion
of the Town Square project.
Ward 3 • Gussie Crawford*
Having been a resident of the city of
Town & Country for over 50 years and an
alderman for six years, I feel I still have
much I can offer. I am committed to making
our city a wonderful place in which to live.
My top priorities include overseeing the
completion of Town Square, fulfilling a
leadership role in the updating of our city’s
comprehensive plan, the expansion of the
trail system, and sustaining the economic
development of our existing commercial
centers as a growing source of sales tax
revenue for the city.
Ward 3 • Matt Reuter
Town & Country should continue to be
a desirable place to live and raise a family
for years to come. I am running for alderman
to serve my community and shape
the future of our city. My top priority is to
improve communication and engagement
of Ward 3 residents. Completing Town
Square in a timely and responsible manner
is needed so we can shift to other priorities
such as the Woods Mill/Route 141 corridor
between Clayton Road and I-64. The Clayton
Village development is encouraging,
but nearby residents need help with the
implications of increased traffic especially
with challenging intersections.
Ward 4 • Sue Allen
See ELECTION PREVIEW, page 54