Charles Groeteke, the last original member of the Jefferson County Council, has announced this plans to run for a fourth term representing District 4.
Groeteke, 69, a Republican from Barnhart, said his long tenure on the council, which was established in 2011 after voters approved a charter form of government for the county, will serve county residents well.
“I believe as the longest serving member of the County Council, my exposure to such a wide variety of information, has given me insight that can benefit the citizens,” he said.
Groeteke, a retired maintenance machinist who worked for 36 years for Marquette Tool and Die Co. in St. Louis, won an initial two-year term on the original council, then was defeated when he ran for re-election in 2012. He returned for four-year terms in 2016 and 2020.
His fellow council members have elected him to serve as chairman for the past two years. He also chaired the council in 2019 and was the vice chair in his first year, 2011, as well as in 2017, 2018 and 2021.
“When I was first elected, I did not envision that I would be the last remaining original member,” he said. “That speaks to the difficulty of these positions. All of the council seats have turned over, including mine, and several of them many times.”
If re-elected, Groeteke said he would work for continued changes to the county’s codes, particularly those that deal with development.
“You don’t have to be around county government very long to determine that land use is the most important issue,” he said.
“I’d also like to bring the new master plan that we’ve been working on for more than a year to fruition, and there’s always the issue of a new courthouse and jail project. I think we’re going to have to wait until the economy improves to put a tax issue before voters (to fund those projects). And there are always other things that come up.”
Groeteke said he prides himself on being responsive to constituents.
“I remember I was in my first year on the council, and a man called me up with a problem. I asked him if he wanted to get together to talk about it, and he asked when, and I said, ‘How about now?’ He was astounded that someone from county government would meet with him to address his issue. I’ve learned over the years that people just want to be heard.
“I think if you see my attendance at meetings – I have missed maybe a couple over the years, and my attention to constituents – that amounts to my continued interest in this position.”
County Council members are paid $11,650 a year.
Filing for the August 2024 primary election runs from Feb. 27 through March 26.