Ex-police union chief seeks County Council seat
Russ Craven, a retired Hazelwood police officer who used to lead the Missouri Union of Law Enforcement, this week became the first Democrat to file for a St. Charles County Council seat contested in this year’s elections.
Craven, 51, who now is a commercial property manager, hopes to win the 4th District seat held by Republican Paul Wynn of O’Fallon.
True to his police background, Craven said pushing for better salaries for county sheriff’s deputies would be one of his goals if elected. Wynn also has been supportive of higher pay for deputies than the council majority approved in this year’s county budget.
Craven, who lives in an unincorporated area near O’Fallon, is vice-chair of the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce.
He said he’d hold off any criticism of Wynn for the time being. Wynn since his election to the council last year has become known for his votes against government spending on social programs.
Wynn, who won a special election to fill an unexpired term, filed for a full four-year term last month. So did two GOP council colleagues, Joe Brazil of the Defiance area and Dan Foust of St. Charles.
Meanwhile, two additional Democrats signed up recently in Jefferson City for GOP-held St. Charles County seats in the Missouri House.
Bill Whitmore of O’Fallon wants the 19th District seat held by Rep. Cynthia Davis of O’Fallon, while David Hurst of Lake Saint Louis filed for Rep. Bob Onder’s 13th District slot. Davis is running for re-election while Onder, of Lake Saint Louis, is going instead for the 9th District Congressional seat.
Two Lake Saint Louis Republicans filed earlier for the Onder seat - Chuck Gatschenberger, who lost to Onder in the 2006 primary, and Kevin Kuhlmann, the Innsbrook city administrator.
A Democrat and a union man … that’ll play real well in St. Charles County.
Paul Wynn has not served the citizens his district in St. Charles County. Someone with any understanding of what county government is required to do could do a better job than him.
It’s great to see so many candidates coming out to file in St. Charles County.
In 2004, Matt Blunt was elected in St. Charles County by the margin of 56-43. Statewide, it was only 51-48. So I’d bet that Matt Blunt has a lot more support in St. Charles County than anybody bearing the pseudonym of “Tired of Matt Blunt.”
Four years have passed and the sad record of the Blunt administration will be a drag on the campaigns of every Republican running in St. Charles County. Jay Nixon recieved 56% of the votes in St. Charles County in 2004 and he will carry it again in November. This is a completely different year and a completley different set of issues.
Russ Craven is a perfect fit for the county council. He is a good man and has a fine resume for this position. He is a leader in the community and has the common sense government approach that his opponent dosen’t. He will gather some republican support also.
The republicans in St. Charles County are even threatened by the crazy belief system of Mr. Wynn. Mr. Craven understands the fact that the tax money generated from revenue is supposed to be used for roads, bridges, maintnance, salary for employees, and etc. From what I’ve seen Mr. Wynn dosen’t believe this at all and if it were up to him we would have horse and buggies on dirt roads maintained by the friendly people that live on such dirt roads. And god forbid helping someone less fortunate than you and I. If you asked him he would probably say we dont need a post office, trash trucks, police cars, paid elected officials or government facilities to conduct government buisness in.
The only thing you’ll find in the middle of the road is a yellow stripe. Craven is another tool for the development community. Paul Wynn is a family man and a solid fiscal conservative. He’ll wipe the floor with Craven. After that, it will be time to take out Hibbeler.
What does Hibbeler have to do with this race? She has served her district well and will retain that seat for as long as she wants it!
Maybe Wynn should move to Tenessee or Arkansas where he can fit in with the right wing soilid fiscal conservatives. If he dosen’t like those 2 options maybe he can go to Texas and talk to the beloved George Bush about Right Wing solid fiscal conservative issues. Well maybe that wouldn’t be a good idea I’ve seen liberal democrats more fiscally conservative than him.
We here in St. Charles County have seemed to evolved with the times and have found that not even that Right Wing Conservative nut bag thinking benefits anyone. Wake -Up Guest…….. Wynn has made his bed and his days are numbered. I think you could run a gay, black, female thats on welfare and wants the world to be at peace all year round while searching for ways to be on food stamps the rest of her life against wynn and beat him hands down! Good Luck and God Bless
Who’s Bill Whitmore and could it be possible that the real Cynthia Davis might come forward this time? If the voters in the 19th ever really listened to what she says they would never re-elect her. She just wants to stay in the House until she can make sure that the state wil pay for the rest of her home schooled brood to stay home.
Paul Wynn has been a pleasant surprise on the council. I appreciate his (generally) lone voice speaking out for personal responsibility. I appreciate that he is attempting to protect my freedom to spend my hard-earned money in ways that are important to me. People who want to help the “less fortunate” are certainly free to do so in any way that suits them. But as Wynn repeatedly asks, why should every taxpayer be forced to contribute? Maybe my money would do my neighbors more good if I spent it improving my own life and the lives of my loved ones.