Voters in two of Festus’ four wards will have choices to make in the April 4 election for seats on the Board of Aldermen.
Paul Schaffer is running unopposed for a fourth two-year term in Ward 1 and Michael Cook also faces no opposition in his bid for a second term in Ward 4.
In Ward 2, incumbent Tim Montgomery is seeking a fourth term but faces a challenge from Kyle Wilkey.
Longtime Ward 3 Councilman Robert “Bobby” Venz must defeat Michael Povich to win a seventh term.
Bill Gray holds the other Ward 3 seat and is running unopposed after he was appointed in August to replace Kevin Dennis, who resigned during his seventh term for family reasons.
Povich did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire.
Council members are paid $300 per month.
WARD 2
WILKEY, 27, lives at 22 Flora Drive. He teaches at Danby-Rush Tower Middle School in the Jefferson R-7 School District. He has an associate degree from Jefferson College and a bachelor’s degree in middle school science education from Central Methodist University. He also is pursuing a master’s degree in teacher leadership from Southeast Missouri State University.
He has been involved in student government at Festus High School, supports Camp Hope in Farmington and is a member of the Tanglefoot Association member. He was also involved with Give Kids a Smile in St. Louis, was a volunteer coach at the Jefferson County Family YMCA and volunteered for the YMCA’s dinner auction and home tour.
MONTGOMERY, 60, lives at 406 Benton Drive. He is an industrial electrician and instrumentation and process control technician, primarily in municipal water and wastewater treatment plants.
He is president of the Jefferson County Water Authority and presiding commissioner of the Festus-Crystal City Sewage Commission.
A high school graduate, Montgomery has training in instrumentation and process control. He is involved with NextStep For Life, the Special Olympics and as a swim coach.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Wilkey: Although I do not feel there are any big problems facing the city, the town has a lot of untapped potential. The city could look more into having a clear vision. For example, it hired a firm to come up with a comprehensive plan, but there has not yet been much done with it. If the city has a clear vision for where it wants to go, it will be much easier to make fiscally sound decisions.
Montgomery: My main concerns are infrastructure, especially water and wastewater.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Wilkey: I am fully vested in the town of Festus. I have lived here all my life and work here. From my experience with working at the YMCA and years of being in the educational setting at Festus R-6 and Jefferson R-7, I have built relationships with many families in the community. These insights will enable me to make fiscally sound and socially responsible decisions.
Montgomery: Work with Sewage Commission to fix the sewer plant, like the board did with the Jefferson County Water Authority.
WARD 3
VENZ, 52, lives at 816 Horine Road. He and his wife, Freeda, have three children. He is a salesman and driver for Bauman Oil Distributing Inc. A high school graduate, Venz is a member of the Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He was a combat engineer in the U.S. Army. His son, Jake Venz, works for the Festus Fire Department.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Venz: The biggest problem is the lagoon in West City Park. Discussions are underway to replace the lagoon with a lift station, which would pump to the Festus-Crystal City sewer plant.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Venz: I have listened to the concerns of the residents of Ward 3 by improving and maintaining our city streets, sidewalks and infrastructure. I will continue to listen when issues are brought to my attention. I will do my best to address them.