Best Pitch to Voters Comes from Unopposed Contender: “Know Your Candidates”

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By Pauline Masson – When candidates from four contested races spoke at the Pacific Chamber of Commerce “Meet and Greet,” luncheon March 24, the most meaningful pitch came from a candidate who is unopposed in the race.

Rick Presley will be the only name on the April 5 municipal election ballot for ward one so he is assured to be seated following voting. But what he says about serving as an alderman matches my understanding of how the election process works.

Presley was one of 13 candidates who addressed a packed house of Chamber members, citizens and senior center regulars at the noon day meeting at the Tri-County Senior Center.

Presley said he was excited at the prospect of serving in city government but his main reason for speaking was that he wanted to encourage every citizen to get out and vote. It was his comment about how to choose who to vote for that captured my attention. It’s not all that complicated.

“Get to know the candidates and look for the person whose wishes match yours so you can vote for the individual you want to see in charge,” Presley said.

This is the basis of our political structure. If you fall in the category of voters, who believe that elected officials should take a poll of their constituents and vote with the majority, that sounds good and some candidates even say that is what they promise to do. Once in a blue moon it works that way. But for the most part, officials vote for the issues they favor.

It’s up to the voters to learn what each candidate favors before casting a vote. 

Maybe some candidates over promise and only say what voters want to hear, but it has been my experience that candidates do reveal their preference. 

Rick Presley got it right. The best chance voters have to influence city government under the next administration is to study what the candidates are saying – read the literature, meet the candidates, ask tough questions and look for the ideas that match their own.

I was especially interested in what candidates said March 24 in the four contested races: Mayor; Marshal-Police Chief; Ward Two and the MVR-III School Board.

Each candidate was given three minutes to make his or her pitch. For the most part they were pretty careful, saying nice things about out town, their friends, families and themselves. Only three candidates got down in the trenches.

Ward two candidates, James Cleeve and Stephen Flannery III were very open on their stance on a big issue in their ward: the controversial subdivision, Manors at Brush Creek, that was recently approved and is under construction on Lamar Parkway. Thomas Kent, MRV-III school board candidate was tough on the current school board. The rest seemed to address issues dear to voters.

Herb Adams is a lifelong resident of Pacific and 34 year veteran in city government: 16 years as municipal judge; 14 years a mayor; four years as ward two alderman; one year as alderman/acting mayor, who is credited with major infrastructure improvements. He believes that his love of his native city and his experience in governing is the city’s best shot in moving forward.

Heather Filley is a 30 year year resident of Pacific: current president of the park board; former alderman; civic activist and charity fund raiser. She believes the city missed an opportunity in dealing fairly and openly with residents in the approval process of the Manors at Brush Creek subdivision on Lamar Parkway and if elected she says she can help avoid similar missteps in the future.

James Cleeve is a three-year resident of Pacific, who moved to Pacific to escape the sardine can housing practice and traffic congestion in St. Louis County only to find his adopted city moving in the same direction. The disconnect with voters in approving the controversial Manors at Brush Creek subdivision prompted him to run. He believes if elected he can persuade his fellow aldermen to manage growth in a way that does not destroy the small town ambience of the city.

Stephen Flannery III is a lifelong resident of Pacific who holds a degree in recreation: a former park board president and father of the city’s master parks plan; a former Marine; Realtor with a capital “R;” former president of the Franklin County Board of Realtors and outspoken proponent of growth. He was in favor of the Manors at Brush Creek subdivision and if elected would be a proponent of growth. He said the city has to grow in order to generate the taxes to pay for the amenities citizens want.

Scott Lesh grew up in Pacific, graduated from Pacific High School: Associate’s Degree in engineering; Engineering material inspector for MO Highway Department; Scuba Diving instructor for St. Louis Community College; Computer field for past 15 years. Opposed Manors at Brush Creek subdivision in city meetings. He says the city needs ti revue its zoning practices prior to public discussion and the process with developers, says. “Aldermen should be there for the people, not for the developers.”

Andrew “Drew” Whitman is a ___ resident of Pacific and  former Pacific police officer of 24 years: member of traffic ____; 9 nears with the a canine partner; served in the SERT team, a tactical multi-jurisdictional team with the cities of Eureka and Ellisville. He believes the city needs a new police chief, one who out there in the community, who has an open door policy with the officers and the citizens. “We need a chief who is for the community,” he said.

Greg Hurst grew up in Pacific his father was a minister at the old Church of Christ: Reserve officer in Pacific Police Department for ten years; Police patrolman for the City of Chesterfield for 20 years; Manager of security for Parkway School District; Currently employed as a security manager with G4S Security Solutions, Creve Coeur. He says the police chief should be inclusive and open with citizens. If elected he would return the department to a hometown police force that values its relationship with the community.

Scott Melies is a five-year resident of Pacific, A 37-year veteran with the St. Louis County Police Department, attained rank of captain; Elected Pacific police chief in April 2021: He believes that changes he has brought the the Pacific police department – hiring key people and improving communications – have made the department more modern and more effective. He said Pacific is making great progress and he has had no complaints about officers in the Pacific Police Department.

Thomas Kent is a resident of Catawissa, Owner of two self-developed restaurants – The Tilted Skillet and 514 Chop House – in Washington, Missouri. Has been dismayed with the school board’s communication with the public. He sent several request to the school board and has not had a single response, which “speaks volumes,” he said. Kent said he got into the race to help make the district better for his children,  a 5-year-old and a 10-year-old, and all children in the district.

Tim Richardson served eight terms, 24 years, on the MVR-III school district board, Richardson and is still very interested in staying involved even though his kids have graduated; Owner/operator of Richardson Carpentry, he said his woodworking experience has been helpful to draw on as building projects are currently in different stages of construction around the district, including the $9.2 million classroom and gym addition at Zitzman Elementary;

Louis Vondera is a lifelong resident of the MVR-III school district completed one term on the school board: 1998 Pacific High School graduate; Currently project manager for Rich Gullet & Sons in Pacific; helped implement Jobs After Graduation (JAG) a program is designed to reach out to students in Pacific Intermediate, Riverbend Middle and Pacific High to get them thinking about what they want to do after high school. He wants to continue working on the school board because he believes parents should be involved their children’s education.