Democrat Oscar James (Jim) Kasten and Republican Jim Muellersman are vying for an open seat for District 5 on the Jefferson County Council.
Terri Kreitler had held the seat for one four-year term, but she decided not to run for re-election.
District 5 covers Festus, Crystal City, Herculaneum, Pevely and the Jefferson R-7 area.
Each of the County Council districts has about 30,000 residents. A County Council term is four years and the salary in 2015 will be $10,710.
Kasten, 66, lives at 824 Lake Drive, Herculaneum. He and his wife, Tina Kasten, have three children and six grandchildren. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University and is employed as the Herculaneum city administrator. He worked for seven years as a teacher in the Herculaneum and Windsor school districts and has been a member of the Dunklin R-5 Board of Education since 2007. He is also a member of the Jefferson County Port Authority, Jefferson County Water Authority, Sons of Amvets and the Elks. He has coached Little League youth soccer and football and has served as a Scout leader.
Muellersman, 45, lives at 1005 North Mill in Festus. He and his wife, Sandra Muellersman, have six children. He owns and operates a rental company in Festus and Crystal City and has more than 25 years experience in the service industry. He attended
Sacred Heart School, Festus High School and Jefferson College. A Navy veteran, he served in the first Gulf War from 1991-1993 and then in the Naval Reserve until 1999.
He has served with the Jefferson County Park Board and the Historic Tanglefoot Association (president), and is a current member of the Festus Tourism Commission. He served on the Festus City Council from 2002-2008 and also on the Festus Planning and Zoning board.
What does a Jefferson County Council member do (in your own words)? What experiences have equipped you for the job?
Kasten: A council member approves the county executive’s budget; approves zoning changes; approves purchases and contracts from department heads; and introduces and approves ordinances. I have experience performing all of those tasks while working in a city government. We worked within our means to help provide needed services to our community. Other experiences include: working as a school board member to balance a budget; 29 years in the private sector helping our family business become the No. 1 market share A-B distributor in the country; and as a coach working with an ever-changing group of athletes, parents, coaches and administrators to provide a successful program, winning a total of 13 state championships at two different schools.
Muellersman: Under the charter form of government, the county is now set up similar to that of a city council. We have a county executive (mayor) and seven council members, each representing one of the seven districts. The role of a council member is to represent the people in their district. They should pass good bills, ordinances and resolutions that are not intrusive and make life better for the citizens of Jefferson County; serve on committees that help when needed in the different departments throughout the county government; help prepare budgets. I have been in the service industry for more than 25 years. I have studied the United States Constitution and have taken the oath to protect it. I have studied the county charter. As a former city councilman, I have the experience to do the job.
Should County Council seats and the county executive job be nonpartisan positions? Why or why not?
Kasten: The County Council should be nonpartisan for several reasons. I believe national political issues many times overshadow the local issues when it comes to voting at the local level. People should learn more about their candidate’s credentials, experience, and leadership ability. I have worked in a nonpartisan setting at the school board level and appreciate how closely we work together for a common goal, which works well for sound decision making. At the same time, I think the county executive should be a partisan election. A nonpartisan council would be able to work better with the county executive if the partisan politics are not getting in the way. No matter what the situation, we should all be able to work for the common good of all our constituents while leaving our egos and agendas at the door.
Muellersman: I believe the best person for the job should be selected. It should not matter what political party you choose.
In specific, what needs exist in your County Council district, and how would you address them?
Kasten: First and foremost, we need jobs. We also need to work with our local businesses, community leaders, school districts, and municipalities to ensure everything will be done to achieve sustainable growth. Part of my district is rural, and the folks moved there for that reason. We should be conscious of their wishes and help them preserve their lifestyle while carefully working to provide sustainable job opportunities and housing developments for their children and grandchildren. We need to continue to improve our infrastructure through leveraging our road tax dollars to obtain grants that enhance our roads. We need safe roads for our children and grandchildren to drive on.
Muellersman: We need to create permanent, good-paying jobs to replace the some of the thousands of jobs that have been lost over the last 25 years. I believe what is needed is a full-blown transportation hub. A small barge port is not going to address the issue. We need to utilize all the forms of transportation District 5 has to offer – river, rail and interstate highway – and we need to respect citizens’ property rights during the process. We need to fix the county building codes. The UDO is too restrictive. It is preventing job growth. We have to be safe but fair. We need to keep an intrusive government out of people’s lives. We need a county government that is more service-oriented and customer-friendly. The county government is here to serve the citizens of Jefferson County.
How do you rate the performance of the current County Council and what would you do to improve it in the future?
Kasten: I believe when anything new comes about, there is a struggle. The council worked through much of that during the first few years and slowly began to put working processes in place. I believe, like in all walks of life, the council is a work in progress. I believe we should work with the other members, the county executive, the duly elected county officeholders and the staff to ensure we are providing services. We should all listen, collect information, discuss that information, come to a decision and move on. We should use our leadership and communication skills to best serve our county. I think my district’s councilwoman, Terri Kreitler, did a very good job in representing our district, and I would like to thank her for her four years of service helping to pave the way for the next four years as we move forward.
Muellersman: It’s hard to pass judgment on people who have never served in this capacity, with a new form of government to boot. I believe the council, with on-the-job experience, as a whole has done a good job. The charter form of government is a success. Just look at the budget surplus of over $6 million. The council has managed to put this money back during a recession. I will improve the County Council by bringing my 25 years’ experience in the service industry, 20 years’ experience as a small business owner and 14 years as a public servant.
Why should voters choose you?
Kasten: My family, community and school define me. I have had the privilege and honor to serve in my community through many avenues. My time in teaching and coaching has provided me with many tools that allow me to work with many types of folks and to come up with a solution to move confidently forward to successful outcomes. I believe that by building relationships with the other decision makers, my constituents, and the county’s employees, we can provide sustainable and efficient services to the county. I will listen, collect data, discuss and assess the data, then make decisions. My reputation has been built on hard work, communication and leadership skills. I will bring all of those to the job and would appreciate any support I receive.
Muellersman: I am running because I love this county. Jefferson County has been my family’s home place for more than 100 years. My campaign slogan is, “Life, Liberty, Property – Your God-Given Rights.” As your councilman, I will follow the Constitution and fight for your rights. You the people are what this is all about. The homeless veteran, the homeowner who works two jobs to make ends meet, the small business owner who employs Jefferson County’s work force. District 5 is a diverse district. I understand what fits in one part of the district does not fit in another part of it. The citizens of Jefferson County deserve a county government that is service-oriented and less intrusive.