Eureka residents will get to choose who will serve as the city’s mayor for the first time in eight years in the April 2 election.
Kevin Coffey, who has held the seat for four consecutive four-year terms, ran unopposed in 2015. He announced that he would not run for another term in the April 2 election.
Three people are seeking to replace him: Sean Flower, who chaired the city’s successful Proposition E Task Force last spring; Ken Patterson, who ran for the same seat in 2003; and current Ward 3 Alderman Steve Grzyb.
The mayor is paid $1,125 per month plus a monthly allowance of $425 for expenses.
The choice for mayor will be the only one that Eureka voters will make on April 2 concerning their city’s government. Incumbents Wes Sir in Ward 1 and Carleen Murray in Ward 2 are running unopposed, Sir for a sixth two-year term and Murray for her third, as is Maria Ascrizzi, who filed to succeed Grzyb in Ward 3.
Board members serve two-year terms.
Aldermen are paid $200 per regular meeting (two are held each month) plus $50 for any special meeting attended. They also are paid an expense allowance of $200 per month.
FLOWER, 46, lives at 415 Cerromar Drive. He and his wife, Stacey, have two children. He is president and co-owner of Flower and Fendler Homes, a home builder. He formerly ran a private law practice and is a licensed attorney. A 1990 graduate of Parkway West High School, he earned a law degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1998 and a bachelor’s degree in history from the same school four years earlier.
In addition to chairing the Proposition E Task Force, he also chaired the city’s Public Safety Task Force, was president in 2010 of the St. Louis Homebuilders Association and volunteers at his church, The Crossing.
PATTERSON, 81, lives at 94 Elk Run Drive. He and his wife, Lutherna “Lu,” have three children and several grandchildren. He is a retired engineering associate and real estate agent. He is a 1955 graduate of Jasper (Ind.) High School in Indiana, a U.S. Army veteran, attended St. Louis Community College and has a real estate license. He served a term on the city’s Board of Adjustment.
GRZYB, 69, lives at 133 S. Central Ave., Unit B. He has two children. He is self-employed as a marketing consultant and artist. He has a bachelor’s degree from Marshall University in West Virginia. He is concluding his first term as Ward 3 alderman and has lived in the city for 17 years. He served as an Army communications specialist during the Vietnam War. He is a past board member and former president of the Greater St. Louis Art Association.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Flower: Our city is blessed to have great schools, many parks and amenities and incredible people and businesses. The biggest challenges are to keep up with the growth and improve our roads, bridges, address flood issues and continue to attract retail, and services for our residents. We need to focus our city government attention on these issues, continue to create an attractive business atmosphere and complete our large Prop E projects. I can lead these efforts effectively as I have done as volunteer chairman of the Prop E and Public Safety task forces.
Patterson: ■ We must have a new railroad bridge off I-44 and Old Route 66 in Allenton.
■ Flood control along the Meramec River.
■ Eureka must work with Jefferson, Franklin and St. Louis counties to build an interstate highway from I-55 to I-64 in Chesterfield. Hwy. 30 and Hwy. 109 have flooding problems.
Grzyb: The biggest threat is the proposed city-county merger, which strongly needs to be addressed through a cooperative effort. With skilled coordination, we will be successful in defeating the effort. While the proposal identifies issues that need to be addressed, a merger is not the solution. Specific to Eureka are the imminent changes we are facing that also need strategic planning for success. It is time to stop the reactionary, closed-door style of leadership that has existed for decades and develop a long-term plan, establish transparency and accountability in our government.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Flower: I have the background and skills Eureka needs at this important time of growth and change. My legal background and my experience negotiating with governmental agencies at all levels put me in the position to best lead Eureka’s opposition to the Better Together proposal. I am very opposed to Better Together, and if we don’t stop that, we won’t really have a city. My experience with construction projects will help me update or reorganize our city government so it can effectively manage the Prop E projects (flood, Allenton bridge, police building) and upgrading our water system.
Patterson: I have lived in Eureka since July 1978. Voters need a person who knows the details of the city. My goals are to get a new bridge at Allenton, which would open up a large area in Eureka for building. We need to correct our river problems and we need to work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Grzyb: The residents deserve and are ready for new leadership, bringing change that is long overdue. I will commit to develop a new city government based on transparency and accountability, one that listens and has a vision. I will focus on those issues I have been fighting for as alderman: Better water quality, traffic control, flood management, economic development, long-term planning and preserving Eureka’s right to self-government. With the right leadership and resources, we have the opportunity to shape Eureka into an even better place to live and raise our families.
What should the city do to prepare for the expected population growth in the city over the next five to 10 years?
Flower: Eureka needs focus on attracting shopping, dining and retail options to keep up with this growth. The mayor should work to attract these businesses to the area and encourage current business to grow. We need to complete the Prop E projects, and we need to continue to create improvements such as sidewalk improvements on Fifth Street and road and traffic improvements to make sure we are ready for our new residents. We need to be planning for growth, while at the same time taking advantage of the opportunities that are in front of us today.
Patterson: Build new homes, possibly near I-44 and Hwy. 109.
Grzyb: Plan for and not react to growth. Eureka has not had a comprehensive city plan for 13 years. I proposed the following plan as the first step needed to shape the city:
■ We need a long-term comprehensive strategic city plan.
■ An effective economic development program is necessary.
■ City planning and zoning expertise and direction.
■ Have an official city public service commission.
■ Develop purchasing and spending codes.
■ Draw up strong stormwater and flood plain management programs.
■ Develop a revitalization plan for Old Town Eureka.
■ Plan for future infrastructure improvements.