Only about a fourth of Arnold residents will have a contested race to decide in the April 6 election.
Mark Hood is trying for a third two-year term representing Ward 3 on the City Council; he faces challenges by Tom W. Kohler and Peggy Allen.
The other incumbents whose terms are up this year all are running unopposed. Ward 1’s Jason Fulbright will be sworn in to his fifth term after the election. In Ward 2, Tim Seidenstrecker faces no opposition for his second term and Claude “Butch” Cooley will begin his ninth, non-consecutive term in Ward 4.
In addition, Mayor Ron Counts will assume his fourth four-year term as he also did not draw an opponent.
Council members elected in April will be paid $669.24 a month. As mayor, Counts will be paid $2,690.11 per month.
WARD 3
KOHLER, 69, is retired after 43 years of working as an automotive technician, for independent shops such as Arnold Auto Repair, Brouk-Ziegler and DiSalvo before receiving an automotive service excellence certification and becoming a master technician for Daimler-Chrysler in 1995. He and his wife, Mary Ann, have three children and six grandchildren. A 1970 graduate of St. Pius X High School, he received a certification in automotive mechanics from Bailey Technical School in 1971.
HOOD, 59, is the owner, operator and agent for a Shelter Insurance office in Arnold. He has been partnered with Vicki Waltman for over 10 years, and he has four stepdaughters and seven step-grandchildren. He is a 1979 graduate of Vianney High School and received an associate degree in business administration from St. Louis Community College at Meramec in 1981.
ALLEN, 68, is a retired administrative assistant for the Arnold Parks and Recreation Department and retired after 36 years with Unigroup Cos., where she worked in customer service, as a safety supervisor, claims supervisor, insurance agent, producer and underwriter. She and her husband, Mike, have one child and two grandchildren. She is a graduate of Fox High School and she earned an associate degree in business from Jefferson College.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Kohler: In 1970 I was a volunteer fireman but stepped away to start a family. I have been a member of St. David Parish for more than 40 years and have been involved in their community organizations. I coached CYC sports for 17 years. I helped my son during his years as a Boy Scout and have participated in service for the city.
Hood: In addition to my two terms as Ward 3 councilman, I am a former chairperson of the Arnold Tourism Committee and a former president and secretary of the Arnold Rotary Club.
Allen: I have served on these boards: Arnold Parks and Recreation, Arnold Community Betterment, Arnold Police Personnel, St. David Parish Council, Jefferson College Foundation. I believe giving back to our community is important.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Kohler: The city needs to think about its spending habits. For years I have seen what I believe to be frivolous spending of taxpayer money. I would work with the other council members to ensure that the checks and balances of the system are in place.
Hood: As problems are presented to me by constituents, I will continue to do what I can for them or point them in the right direction to get answers. I have worked hard for our aging population. Thanks to the Arnold Aging and Disability Committee, for which I am the council liaison, we have become the first city in Jefferson County to become a member of AARP’s Group of Age- Friendly Communities. We are in the middle of a five-year plan to help our seniors’ quality of life.
Allen: Safety for residents is one of my major concerns. We must continue to fund and support our Police Department. We have one of the most advanced departments in the area, and that keeps our city safe for families and visitors. We also must stay aggressive in maintaining our roads and parks. We must continue to move forward and make sure we continue to grow our city for the betterment of our residents.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Kohler: My family is Arnold and has been a part of the community dating back to its establishment. I am passionate about this community, and I want to see it be better. However, I think the people in positions of power have forgotten their tasks. And although I have lived in Arnold for 69 years, I feel like an outsider when it comes to the decisions being made that affect my community. I want to see fair and balanced decision making.
Hood: I love Arnold. When I moved here from south St. Louis County more than 20 years ago, I did not understand what “community” meant but I met some friends who helped me become a part of this great community. It has made me want to serve. I will continue to communicate and help people, will work to keep our Police Department strong and equipped with the tools to stay a step ahead of the bad guys. I will always work to keep our infrastructure strong, our city clean and, when fiscally responsible, look to modernize.
Allen: I would continue to push to make sure the city moves forward. We need to review and amend ordinances to make sure they are up to date and fair for everyone. This would make Arnold more attractive for families and business. We need to attract more businesses to keep our tax dollars local, which would help maintain our city.