Five candidates are running for mayor of Arnold in the April 8 election. The candidates include current Mayor Ron Counts and challengers Doris Borgelt, William “Bill” Moritz, Brett Keller and Tyler Baechle.
The position is for a four-year term. The Arnold mayor is paid $2,730.53 monthly, or $32,766.36 a year.
Borgelt, 69, is a Realtor at Gateway Real Estate. She attended college at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park and Jefferson College. Her significant other is Scott, and she has four children and four grandchildren.
Moritz, 67, retired from Boeing after more than 41 years with the company. He was a fighter aircraft flight mechanic, a union represented position, for four years; a production manager for 16 years and a manufacturing engineer for 21 years. He is a 1975 Fox High School graduate, and he earned a degree in aircraft maintenance engineering at St. Louis University, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and a master’s degree in aviation safety from the University of Central Missouri. He is married to Debbie and has two children and one grandson.
Counts, 78, is retired after owning and operating Counts Auto Body. He is a Fox High School graduate and earned an associate degree in business management. He is married to Gaye and has two children and five grandchildren.
Keller, 38, is a self-employed real estate investor. He is a Christian Brothers College High School graduate. He is married to Sarah and has three children.
Baechle, 37, is a middle school math and science teacher at Firm Foundations Christian Academy. He has an associate degree.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Borgelt: I served on the Arnold City Council from 2011-2013, as well as the Finance Committee, Economic Development Committee and Veteran’s Wall Committee. I have studied Arnold government for more than 20 years. I’ve seen it from the outside and the inside and understand how things have worked in the past and how they should change moving forward.
Moritz: I served as a Ward 2 Arnold city councilman from 2007-2013 and from 2023-2025 and two years on the Planning & Zoning Commission. When I ran for the City Council, I proposed at least four things I wanted to achieve, which I accomplished. I was a trustee for the Arnold Terrace Subdivision. I volunteer for Rebuilding Together and Arnold Stream Team cleanups. My wife and I chaperoned our kids’ Fox High School band trips.
Counts: I am the incumbent mayor of the city of Armold; I served three terms on the Fox C-6 School District Board of Education and two terms on the Rock Township Ambulance District Board of Directors. I have more than 20 years of membership with the Arnold Chamber of Commerce and Arnold Rotary Club.
Keller: My experience working with my family’s manufacturing business has equipped me with a deep understanding of operations, financial oversight and strategic decision-making. I successfully led inventory management, financials and vendor relations, while ensuring fiscal responsibility. After transitioning to real estate, I led acquisitions and property management, identifying growth opportunities and managing risks.
Baechle: I have been a volunteer mainly. I have done quite a few outreaches with my church and mission trips with my church. I have been a volunteer youth leader at my church and have helped at local schools with different projects and events.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Borgelt: People have lost trust in our elected leaders. I’ve always strived for transparency and would be open and accessible to the people and encourage the city staff to do the same. I would reinstating videos of meetings online with a searchable transcript and publish the general and payroll warrants to keep people informed of how their money is being spent. Taxes can and should be lowered. Litter and vegetation along our streets should be addressed, maybe with cooperation of city, businesses and volunteers. Improving city street conditions can be accomplished. Citizens deserve more services, not fewer. They pay enough.
Moritz: Complacency: Apart from the streetlights program proposed by State Rep. Phil Amato and me, I want to know what the rest of the council is passionate about for the future. I have more ideas. Transparency: During the abandoned Arnold Parkway project we were assured there would be an open house with public discussion. There wasn’t one. The city went straight for a loaded news article that infuriated many residents. Had an open house gone well or poorly, that would have been a strong indication of what would happen going forward.
Counts: I think that the use of “problems” is defeatist. The city has challenges, including continuing to provide a safe/secure community; maintaining and raising our property values; and continuing to expand city services (snow removal, yard waste pickup, the farmers market, parks programs etc.). These challenges are best met by continuing to employ the area’s best law enforcement and administrative staffs – staffs full of dedicated, hard-working professionals.
Keller: Transparency is one of the biggest problems at the moment. City Hall needs to be able to communicate to residents what it is doing and what it wants to accomplish. As mayor I will work on going to where the people are to communicate the ideas and goals City Hall is trying to achieve.
Baechle: City tax dollars are being spent on projects that citizens don’t want and have tried to shut down. I want to make sure there is transparency and honesty with all taxpayer money being spent. We need to fix necessary infrastructure, mainly roads, and we need to check on rules and regulations that may hinder citizens from having more of an open market freedom.
Should the city pursue any new road projects funded with sales tax revenue charged in the Arnold Retail Corridor Transportation Development District (ARC TDD)? Why or why not?
Borgelt: No. the city used TDD money to put in the roundabout at Astra Way which is over a mile away from Arnold Commons. The TDD has been paid off for over a year. Each month the TDD collects approximately $300,000 and it has been used to buy homes and tell those who do not wish to sell that the homes around them would be demolished, to force them out, and while that’s not using eminent domain, it’s not the right thing to do. We already have a shortage of affordable starter homes. Taking more out of the market will only make it worse.
Moritz: I think it would be shortsighted to say no outright. Old Lemay Ferry must be improved from Church Road to Vogel Road. Currently the city limit is near Miller Road. The intersection at Richardson Road is the poorest in Arnold, an angled intersection with no guardrails at the creek, asphalt crumbling into the creek, numerous crossing utilities and poor stormwater control. An idea from the 1980s was to extend Hwy. 141 to Telegraph Road. It was never acted upon. Now there are too many developments and homes in the way to make it worth considering. We missed that opportunity.
Counts: By law, TDD revenues can only be spent on public transportation and transportation-related improvements. Any other expenditure would be illegal. While no “new” transportation projects are scheduled, the city will continue to reevaluate its transportation and safety needs.
Keller: This is really a tough question. By saying “no” you could potentially hamper growth and opportunities for local businesses. By saying “yes” you run the risk of creating another Arnold Parkway project that lacks vision. The city of Arnold needs to be able to use all tools it has available to improve the lives of its residents. That being said, as mayor this tool would be at the bottom of a list of creative ways to help Arnold grow and become more prosperous.
Baechle: I believe that should be an open forum discussed with the citizens and then a vote on such a project. That is their tax money going to a big project like that. They should be informed and have a say about it.
Why should voters elect you to this position?
Borgelt: I am accessible, answer calls, listen to problems and make an effort to solve them by enlisting the help of those with the resources capable of doing so. I will not try to take people’s homes and businesses only to turn the land over to another development that we, the people, will have to pay for as we are doing now. There are vacancies that can be filled. I will represent the people and will try to make sure people are treated fairly.
Moritz: My track record with Ward 2 residents who ask for help in Arnold is strong. I will continue that as mayor. My education, management and local government experience are assets to succeeding. Honesty, transparency and accountability are what we need in local government leadership. I would not keep the city or the council in the dark on projects. Blindsides are over. I will be a mayor who listens to what people want to do. See my website, billmoritzformayor.com, for my bio and some goals I will work to achieve in my term.
Counts: I have been a strong leader for 16 years. Under my leadership, the city is in the strongest financial position in its 50-plus-year history, even after I spearheaded a 50 percent reduction in municipal real estate tax. The city is attractive to both residents and commercial operations. Because we have retained talented people during my term, we have added to our public activities and outreach, including the creation of the Arnold Farmers Market (which has grown into a regional destination), Christmas in the Park, Veterans Parade/Memorial and new playground equipment. Perhaps, most importantly, Arnold remains a safe community.
Keller: Given the opportunity, I will work dedicatedly alongside Arnold’s employees and elected officials. My hands-on experience in business and financial management combined with my strong leadership skills prepares me to lead Arnold toward a prosperous future.
Baechle: I want to be a representative for the citizens so they know someone is inside their city government being open and honest with them, making projects, situations and City Hall meetings known throughout the city to have a transparent and honest discussion about what is going on in their city. Overall, I want to be their honest representative.
List your goals, if elected.
Borgelt: Eliminate our debt. Reduce taxes. Increase citizen services with the cooperation of businesses and volunteer groups. Promote our local businesses. Beautify our stretch of highway. Bring back our Christmas Parade. Have more events in our parks and utilize our river access. Renovate the bathrooms in Arnold Park. Clear vegetation and litter from our streets and sidewalks. Work on crime prevention. Encourage citizen input and act to alleviate their concerns by setting up direct communication with email to alert them to public notices of meetings regarding changes in our city before it happens.
Moritz: Street lights: Complete the first subdivision under the pilot program that has stagnated under the current administration. The funding is ours to use. Youth sports: Make better use of the tourism tax dollars to help out youth programs, such as the wrestling and ball clubs, etc. Attract tournaments and leagues. Ferd B. Lang Park: The pool was going to fail and it was removed. We assured the residents that the pool would be replaced with a water feature like a splash pad. We will provide it for kids to play while parents mingle at the many pavilions.
Counts: Continue what I’ve started: keeping our city a safe place to live, work and play; providing for a well-funded police department with the tools and equipment necessary to keep themselves and the public safe; protecting our children by continuing the robust SRO program implemented during my term; and providing the safe and secure community that encourages the commerce that funds our city services – farmers market, street/sidewalk repairs, snow removal, parks and pools.
Keller: My priorities will be enhancing transparency and communication; reforming Arnold’s secretive and counterproductive approach to taxing districts; improving city services; strengthening law enforcement; upgrading infrastructure and ensuring better services for families; boosting economic development; and attracting new businesses while supporting existing ones to create jobs and opportunity.
Baechle: Fix any necessary road and safety concerns. Bring businesses in that will help grow and prosper the city. Make sure the city is kept safe through all means.
