District 5 on the Jefferson County Council has been the most fluid since the first County Council was seated in 2010.
Terri Kreitler, a Republican who was elected to the first council in 2010, stepped down after a single four-year term. She was replaced by Democrat Jim Kasten, who resigned after three years, saying he wasn’t effective in the face of clashes between the council and County Executive Ken Waller.
The council then appointed Dan Darian of the De Soto area to replace him.
In the Nov. 6 election, voters of the district can choose to keep Darian or seat their fourth council representative – Republican Tracey Perry, a member of the Jefferson R-7 Board of Education.
District 5 covers Festus, Crystal City, Herculaneum, Pevely and the Jefferson R-7 area.
Council members are paid $10,978 per year.
PERRY, 50, lives at 412 Huntington Trails Drive, Festus. She and her husband, Kevin, have two children. She is the director of social services for Festus Manor Nursing Home. She has also been a case manager for Jefferson Memorial Hospital (now Mercy Hospital Jefferson) and a substitute teacher for the Festus R-6 School District. She has more than 20 years of experience in the social work field. She retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years in 2007. She has an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree in social work, and a master’s degree in human resource management as well as having completed several courses in the military. She was elected in 2017 to the Jefferson R-7 Board of Education. She has been an educational site supervisor for area colleges since 2017, a Mastodon Science and Arts Fair volunteer since 2012, a Jefferson R-7 Boosters member since 2016, an NRA member since 2008, and a Missouri Officers Association of America member since 2005. She also was a founding board member of Project COPE, was a Cub Scout den leader, a YMCA volunteer, a TCYF football mom and a PTO member.
Social media: Facebook: Perry4district5 YouTube: Tracey Perry for County Council, Jefferson County Missouri 2018.
DARIAN, 47, lives at 2450 Wegmann Road, De Soto. He and his wife, Tracy, have three children. He is the director of residential treatment services at Great Circle. He received an associate degree from Jefferson College in 1993 and a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Louis University in 1995. He is on the board of education at Our Lady Catholic School in Festus, and was a parish council member at Our Lady Catholic Church from 2016-2017.
What specific needs exist in your County Council district, and how would you address them?
Perry: Growth! District 5 is very diverse with a large rural area to go with its municipalities. Much industry has left and our county needs to find ways to attract new businesses. We need to cut the tape for new businesses, make smart, common-sense building codes and establish taxation and regulatory environments that make Jefferson County a magnet for new business. Jefferson’s building codes need to be welcoming to new construction and we need to make it easy to establish a business. We need a county government that is business- and resident-friendly.
Darian: District 5 needs good-paying jobs and economic development, improved infrastructure and a functional county government. I will continue working to address these needs by supporting and funding the things that encourage industry to move to our area, like the port development. I will work with the Public Works Department on further improving infrastructure throughout the district. I will also continue to be a good steward of the people’s tax money by making reasonable and sound decisions, creating an environment of stability and focusing on the people I am there to represent.
What grade would you give the current County Council and why? What improvements would you make?
Perry: I would not be running for the council if I thought they were “C” or better! The council is gridlocked and has forgotten the public they serve. Not on an individual level. Quite the contrary, there are some solid, dedicated servants on the council, but as a whole their animus towards the county executive has overshadowed everything. I am all about relationships, compromise and looking forward, not backward. The county needs somebody like me to help restore the trust between the executive and the council.
Darian: With all of the issues that were taking place prior to, and when I was first appointed to the council this year – infighting, lawsuits, alleged Sunshine Law violations and a near-government shutdown, I would have to give the current council a “D.” This is the reason that I volunteered to be appointed to the council – a desire to work to improve county government to what it should be for the people who live here. I would continue to build consensus with other council members, focusing on the needs of the people and demonstrating reasonable and sound-decision making.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Perry: I am a consensus builder and will bring collegiality back to the council. We need to grow our county and be proactive in combating the drug epidemic and other social problems that affect our families and our businesses. I want to rebuild a council that focuses on real problems and to help build a Jefferson County where families and businesses thrive. I want to build excellent communication with business owners and help cut through the red tape that is preventing growth. I want to help keep our county safe from all threats – environmental, financial and social.
Darian: While on the council, I have taken a reasonable and thoughtful approach to making decisions, not putting the county at risk for lawsuits, government shutdowns and scandal. I have demonstrated the type of council person that I am, and will continue to be. I would like to continue working to improve District 5 by focusing on economic growth, good-paying jobs and improving infrastructure.