Arnold voters will go to the polls on April 7 to decide who will occupy half of the seats on the City Council.
There are contested races for only two of the positions, and in both cases, an incumbent is being challenged by a former council member.
In Ward 1, Jason Fulbright is running for a second two-year term. He is opposed by Doris Borgelt, 59, who served two years on the council from 2011-13, but opted not to run for re-election in 2013. Instead, she ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor. Then, she ran unsuccessfully in 2014 for a Ward 1 seat, losing to Nancy Crisler.
Borgelt did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire.
In Ward 3, Phil Amato is seeking his seventh, nonconsecutive term. He faces a challenge from Bob Lindsley, who served five consecutive terms on the council from 1983-93 and then again from 2011-13. Amato defeated Lindsley and two other candidates in 2013.
In Ward 2, Mary Coleman opted not to run for a second term; she will be replaced by newcomer David Owens, who faces no opposition.
In Ward 4, Butch Cooley drew no opposition in his bid for a sixth non-consecutive term. He represented the ward from 2001-09 and returned to the council in 2013.
Councilmen are paid $6,755 per year.
WARD 1
FULBRIGHT, 41, lives at 3443 Tenbrook Road, with his wife, Tammy. He owns JASTAM Building, which does residential real estate development; investment and rental property management.
A 1992 graduate of Fox High School and a 1993 graduate of Jefferson College, Fulbright received a master’s degree in business administration from Missouri Baptist University in 2008.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Fulbright: Problems create opportunities. Ours are infrastructure improvements, economic development and public safety. Making sure our police have the training and equipment they need cannot be lost to the whims of politics. We have done a great job of bringing new businesses to Arnold, but this takes continuous efforts if our city is to continue to prosper. Arnold has been growing for 40 years. This means that some of parts of our infrastructure, like roads and stormwater management, need updates. Our street resurfacing projects will continue. Some parts of our city were built when stormwater was dealt with by street curbs. We need to look at fixing this, especially in some of the Ward 1 subdivisions.
How would you assess the performance of the city council over the past year?
Fulbright: I am pleased with the work our council has done over the past year. We are focused on the business of the city. We don’t always agree with each other, but if a vote does not go your way, it does not create a personal vendetta. We all acknowledge that we are only one of eight. This means that we know the best idea is worthless unless we agree as a council to put it into action. Working together is important to us and we are earnest in that when we do differ on a subject, we will say to each other that we can’t agree on this one, but we will work together on something else.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Fulbright: I promised to work within the council to bring back a level of respect and professionalism the people deserve. I have done this. The only negative headlines you have seen during my term dealt with the problems from previous council’s actions. My headlines include things like bringing in new businesses such as a $150 million investment in our community by A-B InBev, which creates good jobs and highlighting the best parts of our city with successful events like parades and Fourth of July celebrations. My goal is to continue to expand our business and commercial tax base so that burden is not passed on to our citizens. As always, I will work for a brighter future in Arnold.
WARD 3
AMATO, 61, lives at 2505 Hickory Square Parkway with his wife, Deb.
He retired from his position as a sales-manufacturer representative for P. Lorillard and also previously owned three small businesses. He graduated from St. Louis Community College at Meramec.
He is a past president of the Jefferson County Library Board and Arnold Jaycees and the current vice president of the library board and Arnold Food Pantry.
Amato was a member of the Jefferson County Charter Commission, which drafted the charter approved by voters in November 2008. He also headed steering committees to establish the city’s tornado siren warning system, the Jefferson County Library District and the Arnold Recreation Center. He was appointed by the lieutenant governor to a statewide task force to review state laws that affect cities.
He is a former member of the Jefferson College Foundation Board of Directors, the Meramec-Arnold Elks, Arnold Rotary and Arnold Jaycees.
LINDSLEY, 66, lives at 1182 Jere Lane. He is engaged to Mary Braun and has one grown daughter.
He is retired from the grocery industry. He worked at National and Schnucks, then was union representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 for seven years.
He graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Lindsley was elected to a term on the Jefferson County Health Department’s Board of Directors from 1987-91.
He has served on the city’s Board of Adjustment, Planning and Zoning Commission and Park Board and has been a member of the Arnold Chamber of Commerce and the Arnold Eagles.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Amato: Making sure residents feel safe in their homes and while shopping by making sure our police department is well trained and equipped.
To make sure residents can get to work in the winter, the city purchased a complete new modern cost-effective snow-removal fleet with computerized salt discharge.
Aging infrastructure of roads is always a challenge and our recent success in applying for state and federal grants are helping to speed-up completion dates.
The quality-of-life issues, such as a golf course and other recreational needs, are a delicate balancing act to offer such amenities in a cost-effective way. Restructuring and refinancing debt will help bring overhead under control but more cost containment is needed.
Lindsley: The city has important decisions to make in the next couple of years. The council has to decide how to wisely use the $7 million net profit the city will get from the sale of sewers. We need street repair, park improvements, new sidewalks and guardrails, renewed stormwater projects and continued efficiency of our police department. Our golf course and recreation center, both assets, are still not breaking even in maintenance and have several more years before they are paid off. The city must get out of the real estate business, which has been costly and unprofitable.
How would you assess the performance of the City Council over the past year?
Amato: The combative personalities that were almost tearing the community apart are now all gone. The council is not always in sync on every issue, but when disagreements occur, the discussion is absolutely done with utter respect and decorum. Being allowed to govern has resulted in Arnold soon becoming the home of the largest can manufacturing plant in the world. A second successful senior citizen housing complex was completed and soon a second plant in the industrial park will announce an expansion. The Veterans Commission will shortly be responsible for American flags lining our business district on patriotic holidays. The Mayor and City Council has unanimously passed a resolution endorsing the efforts to bring a veterans home into our city.
Lindsley: The City Council over the last few years has created a poor public image with in-house conflict, with council persons suing each other or staff members and vice versa. There is an atmosphere of intolerance if there is a different opinion on any issue, policy or new law. One must always agree 100 percent with the majority or one is considered the enemy, politically. Respect between council members and staff must be maintained, although there may be differences of opinion. Until recently, the council has supported policies and projects that caused a $1.5 million budget shortfall for the city this fiscal year. Common sense, not politics, must prevail.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Amato: I have a conservative proven track record for solving complex problems. My strength has always been the ability of bringing together talented people in our community to break down challenging issues into simpler tasks. I have chaired committees and led the effort to bring in tornado sirens, the recreation center and libraries to northern JeffersonCounty. I have been in a leadership role that was responsible for bringing over half a billion dollars in construction jobs along with many permanent employment opportunities. I will continue to donate my yearly salary to the Arnold Food Pantry, pay my own way to seminars, fix our roads, support free trash pickup and make Arnold a safe place.
Lindsley: Ward 3 residents have a distinct choice between two candidates who have different views of representation. My opponent, Phil Amato, has supported some good things for Arnold, but so have I. He has supported six different times a policy that has cost our residents a higher sales tax (9.35 percent) and has supported unwise spending on unprofitable real estate transactions. He is a politician, while I consider myself a public servant who puts the problems of his constituents first. A public servant does not seek power, prestige or personal financial gain. A public servant doesn’t create a political I.O.U. with those he helps but does appreciate an occasional “thank you.” I believe in honest public service.