Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 3-20-24

10 I
Contested candidates in the following
municipal races were asked the following
questions:
Q1. What qualifies you for this office
(past experience, major accomplishments)?
Q2. What are your top three priorities
if elected?
Q3. What else would you like our
readers to know about you before heading
to the polls?
Below are the replies of candidates
who responded by the deadline. Candidates
are listed in ballot order. Incumbents
are denoted with an asterisk. Term
lengths are two years, except as otherwise
noted. Only candidates in contested
races were asked to participate.
Answers do not reflect the opinions
of this paper and have not been factchecked.
COTTLEVILLE
March 20, 2024
MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE
Board of Aldermen
• Michael R. Guccione*, Ward 1
• Terry Hogan, Ward 2
Q1. I am presently on the Planning &
Zoning Board and Old Town Historic
Board for Cottleville. I was previously
an alderman for Cottleville (1995-1997).
With being a part of this community for
over 30 years, I bring a unique perspective
and a proven track record of leadership,
collaboration and problem solving
that I feel makes me a perfect fit for the
city of Cottleville.
Q2. To provide a common sense voice
for all businesses and residents in the
community. To keep Cottleville growing
in a positive direction for current and
future residents. To attract more family
oriented small businesses to Cottleville.
Q3. My family has been apart of
Cottleville for over 50 years. I want to
ensure that Cottleville remains the safest
and most prosperous city in St. Charles
County for future generations of my
family and other families to come.
• Mike Krekeler*, Ward 2
Q1. I have been a resident of Cottleville
for 31 years now and have seen
the changes. Some of these changes
have been great, while others have not.
I have been an alderman since 2022 and
am trying to change the status quo, like
work sessions, tax dollar spending, the
way buildings are able to be constructed
in Old Town Historic District and general
construction practices.
Q2. Making sure tax dollars being
spent are being used the best way possible
for our residents, not for everyone
else. Making sure the city gets paid back
for the tax money spent for improvements
in Old Town. The Old Town Historic
District CID is a separate entity, not
a city entity. We are owed hundreds of
thousands, we should have a principal
payment schedule. Making our parks
more useful, presently trying to get the
Dardenne Blueway entry into Legacy
Park.
Q3. I would like to serve our residents
for another two years. I will not
stop trying to make things better in our
town. If you have any questions for me
you want answered you can send me an
email at my city website. Housing, traffic,
tax spending, CIDs, Old Town issues,
whatever it may be. I will also be coming
around soon. Thank you and please vote.
DARDENNE PRAIRIE
Board of Aldermen
• Ryan Wilson, Ward 1
Q1. With extensive experience in
community engagement and professional
development, I have consistently
collaborated with partners to achieve
high-level goals. As a member of Vision
Leadership of St. Charles County, I’ve
supported individuals throughout our
community and fostered collaboration.
My commitment to achieving tangible
results aligns perfectly with my desire to
continue serving Dardenne Prairie and
ensuring its prosperity. I am dedicated to
building strong partnerships with others
and leveraging our collective talents to
make a real difference. I believe in our
community’s potential and am eager to
work with others to achieve our shared
goals.
Q2. My top priorities will be to maintain
the family-friendly character of
Dardenne Prairie by discouraging the
use of subdivision streets for commercial
traffic. My focus will be on promoting
sustainable development by encouraging
builders to contribute to the city’s
growth, rather than relying solely on
economic incentives. Additionally, I will
ensure that we practice inclusive leadership
by engaging in respectful dialogue
with all residents and giving due consideration
to their opinions and suggestions.
By prioritizing these principles, I aim to
preserve the unique identity of Dardenne
Prairie and create an inclusive community
where everyone can thrive.
Q3. An experienced professional with
over 20 years in higher education and
K-12 settings, I’m a director of student
services in the School of Education at
Saint Louis University, focusing on preparing
youth for college and productive
citizenship. I am passionate about community
service, I am involved in the PTA
ELECTION PREVIEW
at Crossroads Elementary and a board
member of the United Nations Association
of Saint Louis and StL College Kids.
My top priority is to serve as a positive
leader on behalf of all Dardenne Prairie
residents. My family and I are excited to
call Dardenne Prairie “home.”
• Carl Maus, Ward 1
Q1. My qualifications include effectively
served 12-plus years on HOA
boards as president working with business,
state, county, MoDOT, contractors,
utilities and public officials, improving
communities. Negotiated with land
developers and Great Rivers Greenway
to secure a vital link tying the Katy
Trail to St. Charles County, expanding
trail use. Co-spearheaded Proposition S
amending the county charter to help prevent
the rapid expansion of urbanization
in the county through illegal annexations.
I developed an understanding of city
workings and the importance of responsiveness
to citizens as executive assistant
to the O’Fallon mayor. I am chairman of
Dardenne Prairie’s Town Square Vision
Steering Committee.
Q2. Keeping our city safe by expanding
our police protection and promoting
neighborhood watch programs. Also,
investing in safe streets by maintaining
our infrastructure and roadways so traffic
can move efficiently throughout the community
as well as creating a trail system
connecting the residential and business
areas to each other, allowing safe
enjoyable walking and golf cart travels.
Keeping our city vibrant for our young,
growing families and our senior citizens
by offering parks, ballfields, recreational
programming and cultural events for the
community. Attracting new businesses to
the city through balanced growth to help
pay for expanded city services.
Q3. My wife, Linda, and I chose to
make the St. Charles community our
home and raise our family 40 years ago.
We built our new home in Dardenne
Prairie five years ago. I’ve been recognized
in an article in the St. Charles
County Post as one of 10 people “who
made a difference locally.” I’m passionate
about making things better than the
way I found them and won’t quit until
the job is done. Please review my website
carl-for-alderman.com for the rest of
the story. Thank you in advance for your
support.
• Joel Ogle, Ward 2
Q1. I am a current Dardenne Prairie
Planning and Zoning Commissioner. I
have been working with municipal and
city government for over 20 years. I have
been assisting cities and municipalities
with technical infrastructure solutions for
@MIDRIVERSNEWS
MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
On The Ballot: Candidates in the April 2 Municipal Election
over 10 years. I am a current executive
board member of the Missouri section of
the American Water Works Association.
I am the collection systems outreach
coordinator for the Missouri Chapter of
the Water Environmental Federation.
Q2. My priorities are: Communications
- Setting up a clean path to getting
information regarding city activities and
happenings with our community. Ideally
through platforms that all of our community
members can use with ease. Sustainability
- Ensuring we have growth within
our city’s boundaries that support our
current and future infrastructure. Smart
governance - Informed decision practices.
Q3. I am a husband, father and veteran
whose values are driven by a higher
power with a heart for service to my
family, my country and my community.
• Carla Detweiler, Ward 2
Q1. I have regularly attended the
Board of Alderman meetings since 2017.
I became a commissioner on the Planning
and Zoning Commission in 2021
and recording secretary in 2023. I am
currently a trustee of the Lewis and Clark
subdivision homeowners association.
Q2. My priorities first and foremost
are to preserve the character of Dardenne
Prairie by stopping the commercial
zoning changes that have divided the city
and given tax abatements to the developers.
We are not an urban city and should
not develop our community as if we are
one. We need to develop infrastructure
that will support the city’s growth and
traffic; and add additional police to support
the growth, residents safety and traffic
calming.
Q3. As a trustee in the Lewis and Clark
subdivision, I always made myself available
to the residents, answered their concerns.
I intend to work just as hard for
the residents of Dardenne Prairie. I want
to stop the division in the city and return
the city to being the prospering community
it should be.
• Mark Johnson*, Ward 3
LAKE SAINT LOUIS
Board of Aldermen
• Sandra Grassmuck*, Ward 1
• Mike Mathison*, Ward 2
• Justin Hensley*, Ward 3
O’FALLON
There is no election in O’Fallon in
April.
See ELECTION PREVIEW, page 33