Two candidates are running in the Pevely Ward 1 Alderman race on April 8. Candidates are Michael Hite and Jeff Seger. The term is for two years and aldermen are paid $150 a month.
Hite, 56, works at St. Louis County Public Works. He graduated from the St. Louis Police Academy. He is married to Theresa and has two children.
Seger, 66, has built homes in Tiara at the Abbey for 23 years. He has owned Majestic Custom Home Builders LLC for more than 30 years. He retired from corporate management after 39 years at Emerson Electric. He has a variety of education in mechanical, electrical, reliability engineering and test development. He is married to Sharon and has one child and three grandchildren.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Hite: I graduated from the academy in 1991, started my career with De Soto, in law enforcement 11 years. Public Works for three years, Building Department/Planning & Zoning nine years. In 2014, I accepted a job with unincorporated St. Louis County Public Works: property maintenance for three years; occupancy inspections for three years; residential building assistant chief inspector three years; and now in a specialized unit called Problem Properties.
Seger: The experience and the responsibilities of my career were based on these principles, both in my corporate world and that of my construction business. Confidence: Processes in place, leading to increased trust and satisfaction. Effective complaint resolution: Guidelines and collaboration to resolving complaints efficiently, contributing to timely and satisfactory problem-solving. Process improvement: Identify and eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste, streamline operations, and promote informed decision-making, resulting in cost savings and better outcomes. Ongoing optimization: Regular audits and reviews that encourage and enable continual refinement that achieve long-term success.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Hite: The police department needs five more police officers. City Streets need more attention. Stormwater issues need to be addressed in several subdivisions.
Seger: The principles that I have mentioned above are either not in place, not followed or both.
Say what you are going to do, and do what you say with transparency, trust, collaboration and accountability.
What would you do to quell the infighting among the elected officials and to address staffing shortages and other problems in the Police Department?
Hite: There should be no conflict of interest. Create an environment with better communication and transparency where everyone has a voice at the table and there is mutual respect for all parties involved. I would also like to see elected officials and city departments set common goals that focus on the needs of citizens and employees.
Seger: Create a cross-functional environment that involves entities and organizations working together in collaboration toward achieving a shared goal or desired outcome. Effective complaint resolution to whatever that outcome needs to be. It requires commitment and involvement by everyone involved.
Why should voters elect you to this position?
Hite: I have a wide range of experience in all city departments. I had an office in City Hall, so I was immersed in the operations of all city services that worked in that building and gained a wealth of knowledge in the daily operations. Now as an employee in public works for St. Louis County, I am using my experience and skills on a much larger scale and a much larger population. My 33 years’ experience, knowledge, work ethic, and compassion for people and their needs are the reasons that citizens should vote for me.
Seger: Search my responses to these questions and in that, you will find the answer.
List your goals, if elected.
Hite: Improve tax revenue coming into the city; improve communication respect between elected officials and employees; and provide services that focus on the community to set common goals for improvement.
Seger: Identify and prioritize issues facing the City of Pevely and its residents. Determine process improvements that eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste, streamline operations and promote informed decision making that promote better outcomes.