Cynthia Kramer, Ward 1 Creve Coeur City Council Candidate

Name, Age, Address: Cynthia Kramer, 48, 806 Renee Lane

Family:  Sons - Mitchell 21, a college student at the Inter-Disciplinary Center, Herzliya Israel studying Diplomacy and Samuel 16, Sophomore at Ladue Hortkin Watkins High School.

Education:  Northeastern University with a major in Political Science. Associate of Arts Merchandising and Marketing Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

Occupation:  Founder and Executive Director of a not-for-profit, SCOPE-Science and Citizens Organized forPurpose and Exploration. SCOPE provides outreach, interactive experiences and NO COST resources to adults,parents and students for Science and Technology opportunities, from Education to Workforce.

Years as a Creve Coeur Resident: 17

Brief Background:

A native Californian, I started in fashion (created the first backless tennis shoe) and worked globally. A St. Louis move (1991) allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom and volunteer. 2002, I was diagnosed with a rare lymphoma. When a clinical trial saved my life, I connected with innovation's contributions to health and economic growth. To serve and give back, I ran for state representative (2006). The campaign was noted for its strong bi-partisan support. Today, I work closely with Community, Business, Government and Education, to bring families experiences, resources and opportunities in Science and Technology, from Education to Careers.

Reasons For Running:

I want to serve my city and community, where I could walk my sons to Spoede Elementary. Along with State Representatives Jill Schupp and John Diehl, I initiated Community Science and Tech Day to showcase assets (Fire-Police Departments’ use of hi-tech) because we’re leaders. Our citizens deserve to know what we have, benefit from and enjoy it. I am honored to have the support of outgoing Ward 1 Council Member Beth Kistner, Councilman David Kreuter, former Mayor Dielmann, Dr. Sam Page, and Council Member Tara Nealey. Your vote for me, April 2nd, will help ensured continued excellence for our community

Why are you qualified to be on Creve Coeur City Council:

I serve on Creve Coeur Planning and Zoning(since 2010, under both Mayor Dielmann and Mayor Glantz). This has given me a great window into the workings of our City Administration, Residents and Businesses. It further allows me to find ways to thoughtfully hear various sides of issues, analyze the information, foster compromise, build consensus and workalongside my fellow commissioners. As a longtime resident, I recently moved and CHOSE to remain in thecity I LOVE. I appreciate our stellar services, such as waste pick-up and recycling (particularly leaf pick-up!). Additionally, with my not-for-profit Science and Technology public outreach, I work with the Danforth PlantScience Center, BRDG Park, St Louis Community College and Monsanto to connect people with, as well as highlight, opportunities available from these internationally renowned institutions in Creve Coeur. We have much to offer and I seek to do the same for our city and citizens.

Should Creve Coeur residents pay for rear yard service as part of the city’s next trash contract?

The contract is up June 2014. Once on the council, I would be able to pursue questions and answers of costs, use, and need and hear community feedback. It's important for public servants to remember to serve and not impose. Best outcomes are derived by working with colleagues and stakeholders. This is something to strive for as a council member.

What should the city of Creve Coeur do with cash reserves? What should it expressly NOT do? 

There are several worthy uses. We need to look at utilizing resources where the city can earn the best return and/or reduce the highest inflationary expenses. Several areas to look at would include pension contribution and repayment of city debt, like Millennium Park. While it is fortunate to be in a position to have reserves, they aren't bottomless. There are some potentially big challenges facing the city down the road, such as funding pension liabilities, debt service, capital projects that routinely get put off for lack of funds. Gathering and analyzing information, moving thoughtfully with evaluation amongst the council will go a long way to successful decision-making.

Some small business owners have claimed that the city of Creve Coeur isn’t friendly to them. What would you do in your official capacity as a city council member to address that perception?

Listening to the concerns of members of our business community is vital. As a Planning & Zoning Commissioner, I've heard some issues and have worked to find ways to address and/or resolve them. Meeting our businesses owners, inviting them to get together, attending Creve Coeur Chamber meetings and Mayor Glantz's coffees builds trusting relationships, provides important information and often leads to problem solving.

Under what circumstances would you support increasing taxes or otherwise raising revenues in Creve Coeur?

No reason to speculate - fortunately we don't need it now and it’s not foreseeable in the near future. If and when this issue arose, I would approach it very cautiously, listen to all professional advice, along with our citizen and businesses points of view.

Describe the most significant decision made by the Creve Coeur City Council over the past 2 years that you disagree with and explain why?

Unlike my opponent, I don't have a lengthy laundry list of all the things that city has done wrong and I would do differently. It's negative to micromanage staff operational decisions or play Monday morning quarterback. Overall, our city has been managed very well by our city administrator, his staff, Mayor, and elected council.The proof is in our strong financial position and extremely high citizen satisfaction survey results. Residents have seen in the past the destructiveness of council members using the dais to criticize and micromanage, and that's one mistake I don't intend to make!

What is the most important issue facing your Ward and what would you do about it?  

Things, thankfully, in Ward 1 are mostly positive. Challenges we're likely to face in the future can definitely be met, IF elected officials listen and learn from constituents and businesses. Redevelopment pressures along east Olive corridor are likely to continue, and upcoming review of comprehensive plan will provide the opportunity for staff, P&Z, citizens and elected representatives to give thoughtful review and consider what changes, if any, are needed. One example - idea of a "greenline park" was a nice idea in theory but didn't have a definition and left too much open to interpretation. Our citizens must be wary of any one person who says they have all the answers before the public gets to participate.

How will you commit to communicating with and informing residents and business owners outside their attendance at city meetings?

I look forward to doing what I've been doing all along, meeting people at their doors (we shouldn’t stop reaching out personally because we won the election), calling constituents and making myself available at Mayor Glantz's coffees. I would further welcome the opportunity to join Councilman David Kreuter, whom I have the pleasure of working very well with, at Ward 1 Town Halls, along with attending First Fridays with the Creve Coeur Chamber. My strength in outreach through social media, Facebook, Website, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest would translate to community outreach. I'd even be happy to arrange classes so ALL of our CreveCoeur citizenry could take advantage of these new ways to stay in touch, if they want. Of course, keeping intouch and communicating with Patch is also key!