My Open Letter to Ward 1 Residents Before Tuesday's Election

Many Ward 1 residents have received a letter “Paid for by Kramer for Creve Coeur” endorsing my opponent. The letter states, “One candidate brings the right combination of service and experience.”

I sincerely believe I am the candidate who offers that “right combination”.

Ward 1 residents have been well represented by Beth Kistner and David Kreuter since 2005.

But our taxes have gone up and the continuation of our full service trash collection continues to be questioned by Council members.

Also, Ward 1 has not kept up with the western part of the city in infrastructure improvements. A large project for decorative lighting on Olive west of I-270 recently began construction, but there are no plans to improve the lighting along Olive in Ward 1.

Thousands of dollars are spent every year on the I-270 overpass grounds, but there are no plans for landscaping or streetscape improvements along Olive in Ward 1.

One resident wrote me that her Ward 1 neighborhood is “the forgotten corner of Creve Coeur.”

Ward 1 has a strong, unified, well organized political establishment that has a tradition of endorsing candidates. I have been endorsed by City Council members, business leaders, and residents from every part of Creve Coeur because they’ve seen my capabilities, work, and action first hand.

But elections should be decided by qualifications, not endorsements. Ward 1 has a choice  — a clear choice —  for new leadership on April 2.

I’ve unofficially represented Ward 1 and all Creve Coeur residents at City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission meetings since 2007 as editor of www.CreveCoeurVoter.com. I have respectfully provided constructive input to the City Council and insight based on my education and 45 years of experience at Monsanto and as an entrepreneur/businessman.

I was appointed to the Employee Pension Fund Board of Trustees because of my knowledge and experience in finance.

I earned the UNANIMOUS vote of the City Council as a 2011 Citizen of the Year for my citizen journalism and my contributions to the work of the Council.

As I said at the League of Women Voters forum, I ask not what my city can do for me but what I can do for my city. I am uniquely qualified to analyze complex issues and make sound decisions. I know how to lead AND how to contribute to a team. I have the education, the experience, and the right temperament to represent Ward 1. I sincerely ask for your vote.