Ward 2 Alderman Ed Kopff has been on the board two years, and says he’d like to finish what he started. He’s referring, of course, to the stalled Kenrick Plaza redevelopment project and the contingent efforts to salvage Shrewsbury’s troubled financial prospects should the project not come together. The Walmart-anchored redevelopment plan has been the most contentious local issue in Shrewsbury in recent years, but Kopff stands behind it as the best option to bring in sales tax revenue to sustain the city’s dwindling coffers. “If this development doesn’t come through, what can we do to gain …

John Bub says his neighbors in the Villas at Kenrick asked him to run for Shrewsbury Board of Alderman in Ward 2. “I wanted to have a little better representation for people in my subdivision,” Bub said in an interview. An accountant with the US Postal Service, Bub has lived in Shrewsbury for two years with his wife Linda, who teaches business management classes at the college level. His main hobby when he isn’t busy running for election is tennis. “If I retired now, my office would switch to the asphalt court,” Bub joked. In running for office Bub said he wants greater input in the execution…

Patch provided a list of questions for the five candidates seeking a position on the on the Grantwood Village Board of trustees. However, only the two incumbents, Pat Williams and Cathy Forand, returned the questionnaires. The other candidates are Bill Hypes, Walter Rust and Will Larson. Here are the responses from Williams and Forand. The election is Apr. 3. Name: Pat Schwan Williams Age: 58 Address: 7417 Raleigh Drive Occupation: Business Owner and Consultant Education:  MA Webster University in Media Communications, BA Fontbonne University in Deaf and Elementary Education Spouse: Jack …

Patch sought to provide a list of questions to the two candidates competing for the remainder of the term on the Affton School Board vacated last year by Mike Alexander: Patricia Zahn and Jason Harman. Unfortunately Harman did not return calls or emails, so we can only bring you questionnaire responses by Patricia Zahn. Here are Zahn’s answers. The election is Apr. 3. Name: Patricia Zahn Age: 44 Address: 7251 Marlton Lane Occupation: Educational /Nonprofit Administration Education: Masters in Public Policy, University of MO- St. Louis; Graduate Certificate - Nonprofit Management & Leadership…

Tuesday is election day, and voters will once again be going to the polls to make democracy happen. Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Find your polling place by entering your address here. Here's Patch's guide to the races with links to our coverage of the candidates. TWO TAX INCREASES ON THE BALLOT Prop A: The Affton Fire Protection District has a $0.26 tax increase on the ballot to pay for adding an ambulance to their fleet and hiring six new EMTs to staff it. The district says its current single ambulance has been increasingly overtaxed by the new senior centers moving …

Patch provided a list of questions for the four candidates seeking a position on the Lindbergh Board of Education. In ballot order, here are the responses from the first two candidates. The election is Apr. 3. Name: Karen Schuster Age: 42 Address: 31 Sappington Acres Dr.; St. Louis, MO 63126 Education:    Lindbergh High School 1987, Bachelor of Science in Accounting 1991, University of Missouri – Columbia Spouse: David Schuster Children: daughter/junior at Lindbergh High School; son/8th Grade at Truman Middle School; daughter/3rd Grade at Long School and son/2 years old. I've been a resident …

Citizens will cast their votes for the Mehlville Fire Protection District Board Chairman Tuesday, ending a campaign that saw a signs put up and a slew of mailers sent out over the last month.The race, pitting incumbent Aaron Hilmer against Mike Klund, involves campaign contributions that come from Mehlville, Maryland Heights and even as far as Washington D.C.The organization Mike for Mehlville Fire reported raising $26,305 from Feb. 1 to March 24 for Klund’s campaign. Donations came primarily from the International Association of Fire Fighters in Washington D.C., which gave $14,700 in three …

John Odenwald, sitting down for an interview with Patch in shorts, a polo and running shoes, said he thinks he’s the man for the job. “They have their mind set on doing this one thing, and only this one thing to fix the probem,” Odenwald said. “I’d say that 95 percent of my ideas might not work. But there is that 5 percent.” Odenwald is running for Shrewsbury alderman in Ward 2 against incumbent Greg Lauter. Also vying for the seat is Dee Wiecher. This election season, the race for Lauter’s seat has become a proxy for the debate over the planned redevelopment of the blighted Kenrick Plaza, …

Dee Wiecher, sitting with her white cat, Sheba, in her living room, said she has been knocking on a lot of doors. “I have been on all the streets of Ward 2, up and down each street,” she said. “I’m doing a lot of listening. That’s what put me into the race. I didn’t feel our current aldermen were listening.” Wiecher is running for Shrewsbury alderman in Ward 2 against incumbent Greg Lauter. Also vying for the seat is John Odenwald. This election season, the race for Lauter’s seat has become a proxy for the debate over the planned redevelopment of the blighted Kenrick Plaza, which includes the…

Greg Lauter, wearing his spring break shorts as he sat in the café, said he wants to talk about the Walmart issue. “People say, ‘No one wants that down there.’ I have to disagree. Drive down the streets and see my yard signs,” Lauter said. Lauter is the incumbent alderman for Shrewsbury’s Ward 2, and this election season the race for his seat has become a proxy for the debate over the planned redevelopment of the blighted Kenrick Plaza, which includes the construction of a new Walmart. Appointed to the Shrewsbury Board of Aldermen last spring to fill the spot left open when Felicity Buckley …

Editor's note: A questionnaire was sent to each of the six candidates for the Lindbergh School District Board of Education. Here are the responses from Donald Bee and George Rezabek. Candidates are running for three open spots on the school board. Terms last three years. The election is April 5. DONALD BEE Age: 67 Address: 1321 Park Meadow Drive, Fenton Occupation: Retired Lindbergh Educator/Coach Education: Lindbergh graduate, bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State University, masters degree from Central Missouri State University Family: Wife, Beth; 4 adult children: Christopher, …

Editor's note: A questionnaire was sent to each of the four candidates for the Affton School District Board of Education. Here are the responses, edited for clarity and spelling, from Susan Casaleggi and Keith Stiefvater. Candidates are running for three open spots on the school board. Terms last three years. The election is April 5. SUSAN CASALEGGI Age: 52 Address: 8336 Vasel Dr. Occupation: Small Business Owner Education: Bachelors in mechanical engineering and a Masters in engineering management, both from University of Missouri—Rolla (Missouri S & T). Family: Husband, Mark. Two daughters …

Editor's note: A questionnaire was sent to each of the six candidates for the Lindbergh School District Board of Education. Here are the responses from Joseph Sartorius and Leslie J. Weiss. Candidates are running for three open spots on the school board. Terms last three years. The election is April 5. JOSEPH SARTORIUS Age: 51 Address: 10315 Grants Forest Lane, St. Louis Occupation: Assistant Professor of Education Graduate Studies Education: Ph.D. St. Louis University Family: Wife, Ellen, and children, Andrew (in law school at UMKC), Emily (teacher in Wentzville), Madeline (senior at LHS), …

Aaron Hilmer said he simply wants to continue what he started six years ago when first elected to the Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors. “I’m not here to tell you what I’m going to fix when I’m elected,” he said. “I’ve already fixed it. I’m not going to tell you what I’m going to do. People in South County know what I’ve already done. That’s what’s up for re-election, my record.” Hilmer has lived his 36 years in the Mehlville Fire Protection District. He was born in Mehlville and currently resides in Oakville. The son of a plumber and stay-at-home mom, Hilmer has a twin …

Editor's note: A questionnaire was sent to each of the six candidates for the Lindbergh School District Board of Education. Here are the responses from Kathleen O. Kienstra and Vicki Lorenz Englund. Candidates are running for three open spots on the school board. Terms last three years. The election is April 5. KATHLEEN O. KIENSTRA Age: 53 Address: 7365 Navarre Circle,  Grantwood Village, MO, 63123 Occupation: Assistant professor and director of the radiation therapy program at Saint Louis University, Doisy College of Health Sciences. Education: Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster …

Editor's note: A questionnaire was sent to each of the four candidates for the Affton School District Board of Education. Here are the responses, edited for clarity, from Thomas Bellavia and Michael T. Alexander. Candidates are running for three open spots on the school board. Terms last three years. The election is April 5. THOMAS BELLAVIA Age: 53 Address: 6949 Lake Park Circle, Affton, MO 63123 Occupation: Vice President, Treasury Services, M&I Bank Education: B.S. in Finance Family: Spouse, Kathy (Teacher Assistant at Mesnier Elementary), and children, Chris (Graduate Program, MS&T), Dan (…