Things I Am Watching for Tonight as Elections Come In

State and Local Government |
By David Stokes | Read Time 2 minutes

My list is mainly focused on St. Louis County, but you are encouraged to add other important races around the state to the comments section. I am definitely watching the Town and Country mayor’s race, to see whether that community wants to stay with the tried and true or go with the “maverick.” My bet is on tried and true.

Also of interest are the charter votes in the area. Franklin County, as we have discussed in depth, is deciding on a new county charter, while O’Fallon voters are choosing whether to amend theirs.

There are little-known but very important votes going down in the Mehlville and Monarch (Chesterfield) Fire Protection District. The decision that residents in those places have to make is how much influence the union should have over the fire board. On top of that, they have a first-of-its-kind vote in Mehlville to lower the tax rate ceiling, an issue we blogged about previously. If this succeeds, I predict other similar measures in taxing districts around the county.

And, finally, I understand there is some type of a mayor’s race in the city of St. Louis, and I know everyone will be on pins and needles as that one goes down to the wire. I think we will all have to stay up well past 7:10 p.m. before we know whether the incumbent has been reelected. Hey, when you do a good job, voters usually reward it.

About the Author

David Stokes is a St. Louis native and a graduate of Saint Louis University High School and Fairfield (Conn.) University. He spent six years as a political aide at the St. Louis County Council before joining the Show-Me Institute in 2007. Stokes was a policy analyst at the Show-Me Institute from 2007 to 2016. From 2016 through 2020 he was Executive Director of Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, where he led efforts to oppose harmful floodplain developments done with abusive tax subsidies. Stokes rejoined the Institute in early 2021 as the Director of Municipal Policy. He is a past president of the University City Library Board. He served on the St. Louis County 2010 Council Redistricting Commission and was the 2012 representative to the Electoral College from Missouri’s First Congressional District. He lives in University City with his wife and their three children.

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