2013 Election Filing Now Open: Incumbents and Newcomers Expect To File For Council Seats

The first day of filing for Apri's municipal elections came and went Tuesday without much fanfare in Creve Coeur Tuesday.

Ward 4 Councilman Scott Saunders was first to file at 8 a.m. in his bid for re-election to a second two-year term. Dr. Saunders, who runs a pediatric research lab at Washington University, is a former Creve Coeur Planning and Zoning Commissioner who has also been active in city efforts to promote the arts.

Dr. Saunders made an unsuccessful attempt this past spring at being elected Council President in an effort to try and bridge factions of the council raw from a bruising 2012 Mayor's race and to promote a sense of fairness in the process.

"I really feel at the moment that the council's working very well together. We don't all agree on things and see things the same way but I think that's the way it should be but yet are I think dealing with eachother's opinions and views respectfully," Saunders said Tuesday after filing.

As for what lies ahead, Saunders said we're still in a time "that is economically very unclear," and that the city, which he described as "running lean", does not have much room to absorb further cuts in the event of another economic downturn. He also cited the need to maintain city services that residents have come to enjoy.

The Ward 4 seat is one of four up for election in April. CreveCoeurVoter.com editor David Caldwell filed for the Ward 1 seat Tuesday morning, as expected. Caldwell, who has been outspoken on a variety of issues, joked with city council observers at Monday night's meeting that he now has columns he can't publish.

Planning and Zoning Commissioner Cynthia Kramer has said she also plans to run for the seat, which will see a new face come April regardless of who wins because the incumbent, Beth Kistner, cannot run for re-election due to term limits.

Incumbents Tara Nealey (Ward 2) and Charlotte D'Alfonso (Ward 3) have indicated they plan to run again but were not ready to file Tuesday.

Filing for the April 2, 2013 election ends January 15.

If you expect to be a candidate for the 2013 elections impacting Creve Coeur, email Gregg.Palermo@patch.com