Friday, April 19, 2013
The former State Senator officially took office this week on the board of the west St. Louis County area fire district.
The Monarch Fire Protection District Board was reconstituted this week following this month's election that saw Jane Cunningham handily defeat Cole McNary in a race pitting former state lawmakers for a director's seat for the Chesterfield-based district. Monarch serves parts of several municipalities in St. Louis County, including Creve Coeur, Wildwood, Ballwin and Maryland Heights. Cunningham succeeds Kim Evans, who opted against running for re-election. The just completed-campaign boiled down to what Cunningham called "a war" between citizens and the firefighter's union for control of the district, but it was clear Wednesday that in some respects, the rhetorical battle was just beginning. "It's a celebration of government of the people, …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The former State Senator defeated former State Rep. Cole McNary in a race for the West St. Louis County area fire district board.
A matchup of two high profile political names who have spent the past few months duking it out for a seat on the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors came to a conclusion Tuesday as voters elected chose Jane Cunningham over Cole McNary for a seat on the three-person panel. In unofficial final results: Cunningham 5,679 60.02 percent McNary 3,742 39.55 percent Write-In 4 1 .43 percent "This is one of the sweetest wins I've ever had because it was a win of something so direct for the people. This was a fundamental war if you will," for control of the Monarch Fire Protection District board, Cunningham said as a victory party at Mike Duffy's in Town and Country wrapped up late Tuesday. Cunnigham, who …
Saturday, March 30, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Monarch Fire Protection District director Steve Swyers speaks about new direction on the board, a new forward-thinking fire chief and new policies that have been implemented for the district.
Dear Neighbor: As a Monarch Fire Protection District director, I have conducted my duties and responsibilities in an ethical, reasonable and responsible manner. Every decision of the majority of the board since I was elected two years ago has been made with the best interests of how they will affect the taxpayers, residents, business owners, and the men and women who serve this fire district. I would like to set the record straight regarding some of the things you may have read or heard. First, Jane Cunningham falsely claims that she “led the effort that convinced the board to rescind the recent record setting $1 million tax increase on homeowners.” It is unfortunate she is trying to make headlines and take credit for the board’s work. …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The two high-profile Republican candidates are seeking a relatively obscure position on the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
Documents show that more than $50,000 was spent in the race to fill a vacant seat on the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors. The race for a relatively unknown office drew two Republican heavyweights in former State Sen. Jane Cunningham and former State Rep. Cole McNary, both of whom are from Chesterfield. They seek to fill a six-year term on a three-person board in the April 2 election. Cunningham's campaign committee spent $23,600 primarily in advertising, printing and yard signs, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission on March 25. The most notable expense was nearly $9,000 paid to Turec Advertising Associates, an advertising agency in Olivette. McNary's committee spent $28,175 …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Prepare yourself for the April 2 election by reading Patch's Q&A with each candidate.
With the April 2 election day drawing near, Patch wants to make sure voters are able to make informed choices about the two candidates vying for the open seat on the Monarch Fire Protection District’s board of directors by providing their answers to a questionnaire sent out earlier this month. Former State Senator Jane Cunningham and State Representative Cole McNary are vying for the spot on the three-member board left vacant by Kim Evans decision not to seek a second term. Several other declared candidates removed their names from consideration. Cunningham was redistricted out of the state legislature and she opted against running in a new district, while McNary ran unsuccessfully for State Treasurer. Click the links below to see their …
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Two candidates are running for a vacant spot on the three-member board.
I am running because of the need in the district for someone who is a tested and proven candidate who has demonstrated they will address the two biggest, interrelated issues, union control of the Board and property taxes that are higher than need be for top quality service. I am the only candidate who has proven I am serious about tax relief. I led the successful effort to convince the Fire Board to reverse an unnecessary $1 Million property tax hike in 2011. As a Board Director, I will not be controlled by the union because I am the only candidate who has promised voters I will not accept union campaign money, volunteers at the polls or their negative fliers paid for by Citizens for Good Government. Since Board members set employee …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Former State Senator Jane Cunningham shared her reasonings against a public education officer position at the Monarch Fire Protection District board meeting Thursday.
Former State Senator and Monarch Fire Board Candidate Jane Cunningham spoke out against the hiring of a public education officer at Monarch's Fire Board meeting Feb. 7. Cunningham, running against former State Representative Cole McNary for current Fire Board President Kim Evans's seat in the election this April, shared her thoughts during public comments. With Monarch on the search for a public education officer, Cunningham said she did not see the advantage of the extra cost for the position when "school populations are not increasing and there is not any huge demand." Cunningham suggested the position did not require a career as a firefighter or paramedic, but added that a retired firefighter "might love to come back in" and take the …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The Post-Dispatch interviewed both the remaining candidates, who once held high-profile offices in Jefferson City and now are running for the relatively obscure three-person fire board.
One was once a candidate for statewide office, the other a high-profile member of the Missouri state senate. Now, Cole McNary and Jane Cunningham are the sole candidates for the relatively obscure and low-paying job on the board of the Monarch Fire Protection District. The election is April 2 and both candidates are already getting a little nasty in their campaign for the open seat on the board, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Both are from Chesterfield and they're the only candidates left in the race for a six-year term. The newspaper quotes Cunningham referring to McNary as "the union candidate" and warning: "You don’t want the union bosses picking who their boss will be." In turn, McNary, who was the GOP …
Monday, January 28, 2013
Former State Senator Jane Cunningham and State Representative Cole McNary are running for the lone seat open in April's election for the fire protection district.
A race for the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors that was four candidates deep after a pair of surprising late entries prior to the January 15 deadline, is now down to two after a pair of candidates, including the lone incumbent, dropped out. The district confirmed late last week that Kim Evans, the board's current chairman, and Russell Lake, have removed their names from consideration for the April 2 election to the three person panel. That leaves former State Senator Jane Cunningham and former State Representative Cole McNary to compete for Evans' seat. Cunningham was redistricted out of the state legislature after she opted not to run in a relocated district, while McNary ran unsuccessfully for State Treasurer. In a …
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Creve Coeur voters will elect a new city council, school boards members and a fire district board member in April.
The following candidates have filed to stand for election on April 2, 2013. Creve Coeur City Council Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4 Parkway School Board (2 seats) (Annette Read, who had filed previously, withdrew her candidacy) Ladue School Board (2 seats) Pattonville School Board (2 seats) Monarch Fire Protection District (1 seat) (former Board President Rick Gans withdrew his name from consideration) Special School District of St. Louis County Candidates are chosen by the SSD's Governing Council, which will interview the candidates and hold the election March 12. St. Louis County Community College Board of Trustees Subdistrict 3
Rob & Kathy Bonnell
11:32 am on Friday, April 26, 2013
Now that everyone has stated their point , I think it's time for the new board to move on and protect the tax payers. See I'm just an ordinary citizen who just happens to be a tax payer in Chesterfield. I have been alarmed with the massive growth in state,Federal and local Governments across this beautiful country. I now believe we have the folks in power to be credible watch dogs over us the tax… more ›