Three candidates are seeking a Herculaneum Ward 1 Board of Aldermen seat on April 8. The candidates are Krystle Milton, Kerry Vinson and Jenny Sturm.
The term is for two years. Aldermen are paid $200 a month.
Vinson did not return a Leader survey.
Milton, 40, works part time for Door Dash. She attended Hickey College for a year and has a license to work with hair and nails through the National Academy of Beauty Arts.
She is married to Chad, and together they have nine children.
Sturm, 39, owns JJCustomFloralDesign. She is married to James.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Milton: I’ve been involved in city committees for a few years. I also volunteer with the Herculaneum Cemetery Association to maintain the cemeteries we have around our town. We help keep the fields cleaned up and ready for your loved ones’ final resting places. I’ve been in management positions, and I am also heavily involved in my church’s nursery department, where I also am a baseball coach for the younger children.
Sturm: As a corporate accounting manager for the multimillion-dollar company Ride Now Powersports, I negotiated service and supplier contracts for the corporate office and 27 dealerships. I cut hundreds of thousands of dollars from the budget without negatively impacting service. This experience taught me how to assess risks, stay under budget and negotiate complex deals, all of which are important factors in running a government smoothly.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Milton: The biggest is the port. I’d like to see Herculaneum get their fair share of the port’s revenue and make sure the infrastructure is maintained and meets the city’s needs, such as the water and sewer system and the road conditions. Keeping parks active is a big one for me. We love Kade’s playground but would like a pavilion again so we can have a place to eat lunch while at the park or even to host parties.
Sturm: The county has control of our port, and there must be an agreement to share any profits with the city. Ward 1 of Herculaneum has all of Doe Run’s old property that is going to be leased or sold to companies that will bring revenue to the city. However, I am concerned this growth will cause increased traffic within our neighborhoods, affect safety of all residents and school children and possibly have a negative impact on home property values. Thoughtfulness must be taken when picking a company, and it’s only fair these companies share financial responsibility maintaining our roads.
Why should voters elect you to this position?
Milton: I was born and raised in this cute, little town I’m proud to call home. I’ve seen a lot of Herculaneum’s changes over the years. I’m a proud third-generation alumni and our children are and will be fourth generation. I’m a hard-working mother who will continue to work just as hard as alderwoman.
Sturm: My extensive negotiating skills will help with accomplishing city contract goals and think of future consequences of city decisions. I listen to other’s perspectives and have the ability to have respectful robust debates without just agreeing to concede. As a citizen, I have been actively involved in attempting to improve our city and have developed an excellent professional relationship with Mayor Wright. I will also bring a fresh perspective to all decisions.
List your goals, if elected.
Milton: I’d love to see our little city thrive and want to work toward getting a new City Hall building. I want to see the city add some parks and activities for our youth and other generations so they can get out and play more, such as pickleball courts, a basketball court and bike trails. I’d love to see some brick-and-mortar buildings, like the old town of Herculaneum used to have, and bring back some nostalgia, as well as new developments.
Sturm: My goals are to create contracts with the county regarding the port to share revenue and negotiate a deal with new companies to share fiscal responsibility with our roads. I want to see us create city rules for new companies to abide by that will keep our area safe and clean. I want to work to upgrade first responder equipment as needed, save the city money wherever possible without sacrificing excellent service and listen to residents who may have issues or suggestions to help our city.
