In what may be the most intriguing race on the April 2 municipal election ballot, Dennis K. Bradley is running to return as Hillsboro mayor.
Bradley was elected to a two-year term as mayor in April 2017, but resigned in February 2018 at the start of what was to be his impeachment hearing. The hearing was called after Bradley was arrested for allegedly harassing and assaulting a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
He has denied the accusations. His case is pending in Jefferson County Municipal Court.
The same night that Bradley resigned, the Hillsboro Board of Alderpersons appointed Ward 1 Alderman Joe Phillips to fill in. However, Phillips resigned from that post on Jan. 18 and then withdrew from the mayor’s race.
Phillips resigned four days after the city’s police chief stepped down on the heels of allegations about poor leadership and theft in the department.
The board had considered disbanding the police department and contracting with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, but in late January hired Steve Meinberg to run the department and help the city hire a new chief.
Bradley said he resigned to avoid the time and expense of fighting the impeachment charge, “thinking it best for the city,” he said.
“I was elected mayor and served 10 months before being falsely accused and threatened with impeachment for, what I believe, uncovering the corruption plaguing Hillsboro that led to the former mayor pro tem quitting, the chief of police resigning and a veteran officer discharged,” Bradley said.
If Bradley is to return to the mayor’s office, he will have to defeat Marcy D. Wokurka and registered write-in Buddy Russell in the April 2 election.
The mayor is paid $150 per month.
BRADLEY, 66, lives at 318 Pearl Drive. He and his wife, Margaret, have three sons and four grandsons. He works part-time for the Rockwood School District after retiring after 32 years as an editor, writer and printer for the Chrysler Corp. As part of his employment, he took information technology classes at St. Louis Community College and Jefferson College.
WOKURKA, 41, lives at 26 Ridgewood Drive. She and her husband, Michael, have eight children and two grandchildren. She owns child care centers in Hillsboro and De Soto. She has an education degree from Missouri Baptist University and also attended Jefferson College.
She said her experience as a business owner, managing more than 35 employees, and 25 years of volunteer activities at her church have given her the experience to be mayor.
RUSSELL, 67, lives at 10400 Business 21. He has two sons. He is retired from the Missouri Pacific Railroad in De Soto. A 1970 graduate of Hillsboro High School, he attended Jefferson College and Arkansas Tech College in Russellville, Ark. He is on the governing board and is a longtime volunteer with the Hillsboro Community Civic Club. He is a member of the Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce and was on a committee to revise the city’s codes. A six-year veteran of the Missouri National Guard, he has coached youth baseball and ice hockey.
What are the biggest problems facing the city and how would you address them?
Bradley: The biggest problems are corruption, hiring practices, spending on projects before completing others and cronyism (leading our city officials to protect their friends instead of the city that they pledged to protect and serve). We should finish projects before beginning another project, particularly when large sums of money must be borrowed or we institute tax rate hikes, like the $3.5 million that’s required to install a new well for future development. The Board is discussing raising property taxes to pay for it. We need to finish the projects at hand first instead of shoving the cost on to residents.
Wokurka: We moved to Hillsboro in 1992 and have loved it from that moment we became residents. Hillsboro is a small town with a big heart. I have met some amazing people through this process and would feel blessed if able to work alongside them. I would build on the strengths of this city and am excited to learn from this experience.
Russell: Communication can be a problem. Our city will progress when the people are well-informed. Whether through public meetings, social media, face-to-face interaction, or an improved web site, we can serve the people better. I hope to foster more of a community to increase involvement. I would like for us to be more open in the social media and our website. Aldermanic meetings and upcoming events need publicity. We also need to study the parking meter situation downtown.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Bradley: When I first ran for mayor, I was upset with the lack of leadership, what was being done and what was not being done. I ran hoping to make positive change. If you look around our community, you will see expansion in Arnold, Pevely, Herculaneum, Festus and De Soto. Hillsboro has as much, or more, to offer, but currently suffers from an abundance of corruption, which I reported during city meetings on the record not long after elected, only to make the alderpersons resent me. My goal is to positively change the way our alderpersons do business.
Wokurka: I am a new, fresh body and mind eager to learn and work together with the people of this city. I have a servant’s heart and am ready for an inspiring next season of my life. My goal would be to study the position and be ready for any task.
Russell: I know our community. My contacts from my involvement and volunteerism have given me insight and support. I know what needs to be done. I want to help move this city forward. There have been many improvements over the last five years or so and I want to continue that. Finishing the third and fourth stages of our federal grant must finish with quality. Modernizing our streets and sidewalks will help businesses and citizens. Keeping the police department professional and retaining our experienced officers are achievable goals.
In light of recent turmoil in your police department, what plan do you have to address it?
Bradley: Previously as mayor, I started investigating at the urging of two alderpersons. I was astonished at the turmoil and worked to resolve the issues, but was shut out by the board. I initiated meetings with each officer to try to resolve problems. I further arranged a meeting between the officers and alderpersons. However, after retrieving the officers, the doors were locked and the officers were refused a meeting before the board. I was the only one acting for the city and the officers’ interests. We’re now paying the price because our board didn’t listen and resolve the issue then.
Wokurka: I know that there are already some great things in place to ensure that we are doing things the proper way. Everyone can learn from this situation and grow to be even a stronger team for our city.
Russell: A great step in the right direction was the hiring of Steve Meinberg. He is very experienced and is working to rectify our problems. We will demand professionalism and better management so that our department will be one of the best in the county. The sales tax for increased police salaries should keep our experienced professionals from leaving for other towns. The recent controversy brought the community together. I look forward to working with the city administrator and the board to ensure that our department will be professional and responsive.