This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 29, 2012 - While speculation about St. Louis County Councilman Steve Stenger's political future is rife, his more immediate concern is November 6.
Stenger, a Democrat who upended a Republican incumbent four years ago, is thought to be eyeing a run for St. Louis County executive in two years.
But first Stenger must get past Republican Tony Pousosa, a Green Park alderman who is positioning himself as a responsive voice for the south St. Louis County district. And while Stenger possesses a decided financial advantage over his GOP challenger, the 6th District's relatively even partisan balance doesn't assure him of re-election.
For Republicans to have any shot whatsoever to take over control of the council in 2014, Pousosa must prevail.
I would provide a more balanced approach to county government meaning helping get closer to restoring the check and balances, Pousosa said.
For his part, Stenger is showcasing his opposition to County Executive Charlie Dooley, also a Democrat, as a way of standing up for his district: He opposed closing down county parks, raising property taxes and cutting county employees. Stenger says such stands endear him to a district known for its independent streak.
I think it's a good fit, Stenger said. The district's residents "have a collective personality that's similar to mine. And they'll definitely stand up for what they believe in and definitely voice their concerns on issues that they don't agree with.
Besides the 6th District, council members in the 2nd and 4th districts are also up for reelection. Both districts are heavily Democratic so that Councilwoman Kathleen Kelly Burkett of Overland, D-2nd District, and Councilman Michael O'Mara of Florissant, D-4th District, are expected to prevail. Burkett is facing off against Republican Oren Walton of Maryland Heights, while O'Mara is running against Libertarian Jeff Coleman of Florissant.
Crashing the party
An attorney and certified public accountant from Affton, Stenger burst onto the political scene in 2008 when he defeated incumbent Republican Councilman John Campisi. Before he won elective office, Stenger served as Cottleville's prosecuting attorney.
Unlike most other council districts, the 6th District consists almost exclusively of unincorporated St. Louis County, meaning its residents are more dependent on county services than other districts. But it's also one of several districts divided relatively evenly between the two major parties.
It goes back to the fact that I represent both Democrats and Republicans in my district, Stenger said. And particularly in south St. Louis County, we are predominantly unincorporated. So it's very important to the people of my district that they have a voice on the council, that they have solid representation that's consistent and that represents them regardless of party.
While Stenger's 2008 victory solidified Democratic control of the council, there were early signs that he would deviate from Dooley. Stenger campaigned against a plan to create trash districts in unincorporated St. Louis County.He also showcased a feisty streak when he got into a well-publicized dispute with a casino executive.
But fissures between Stenger and Dooley ruptured further last year when Stenger became council chairman. He was a vocal opponent of Dooley's hiring decisions, especially ones to keep political appointees. He also questioned a proposed property tax increase, which Dooley eventually abandoned.
Stenger and Dooley faced their most tenacious fight last year when Dooley proposed a budget that included deep cuts to the county's parks. Stenger was one of the fiercest critics of the proposal, which he dubbed perhaps the most ill-conceived proposal I have ever heard of, read about or even thought about. Dooley ultimately stood down and altered his budget, although his administration did lay off staff and curtail services.
On his campaign website and in his campaign literature, Stenger highlighted his opposition to Dooley. He said it shows he's standing up for his district.
When we're confronting issues that seem to suggest that these plans that are being laid before us either don't have justification or justification in truth, party doesn't play a role in that at all, Stenger said. That's simply has to be a situation where the most important thing is the taxpayers and the taxpayers are receiving the government that they pay for it.
In other words, you can't close half of our parks and expect everyone is going to toe some party line. That's just not going to happen, he added. Same thing for the taxation issue that we had, same thing with firing the employees when they didn't need to be fired.
Up for the challenge
Pousosa, an operating room nurse at Barnes Jewish Hospital Center for Advanced Medicine, faces the challenge of opposing someone with similar philosophical positions.
But as he goes door to door, Pousosa said his main platform is to communicate more with the residents of the district. That could include, he said, holding more town halls.
In the nursing profession, you have to communicate because if you don't your patient dies, said Pousosa, who said Stenger's office needs to respond better to constituents. Some of the issues are simple and you can refer them to other departments. But if it's something related to the 6th District, I think there needs to be more involvement. And it is a challenge, but I believe it can be done if you're willing to put the effort into it. I believe that I'm willing to put the effort into it.
Three of the county council districts the 1st, 2nd and 4th are heavily Democratic, while the 3rd and 7th Districts are heavily Republican. The only way for the GOP to have any chance to take over control of the council is for them to win the 5th and 6th Districts.
Even if Democrats remain in control, Pousosa said, a more even partisan balance has some benefits.
Right now, it's five Democrats and two Republicans, Pousosa said. So you have one side pushing through whatever they want and the other side really has no say. The closer we are to an even match, it opens up the door to better discussion. If that occurs, the people win.
Both Stenger and Pousosa have similar views on issues. For instance, both candidates say they are against tax increases. They also are critical of Dooley's hiring practices and his budgetary proposal to curtail the county's parks.
But Pousosa said he disagreed with Stenger's vote to set up a foreclosure mediation program, a measure currently being litigated. Stenger who noted that the proposal wouldn't have made it to the floor if Republicans held a majority said the program shows the council wants to strike a balance between business interests and residents, but that balance needs to be struck toward residents.
I don't think St. Louis County government has any business in people's personal affairs, Pousosa said. If people are going through hardships either because they lost their job or maybe they've gotten sick and fallen behind, it is not the county government's job to step in and be the mediator between myself and the bank that I had my loan through. I just don't agree with that.
That's just a level of government interference and overregulation that really has angered to people that I've spoken to, he added.
The big question
Even though he's repeatedly said he's focused on winning re-election, Stenger's scraps with Dooley bolstered speculation that he'll challenge the incumbent in two years. He's told various media outlets that he's considering challenging Dooley.
He told the Beacon "I really like what I do for the people for the people of my district and I would really miss it if I didn't do it. I want to provide the people of my district with the very best representation that they can get. And I want to them to have that. So whether that was as a councilman for the 6th District or the county executive that all needs to be determined.
But first I need to complete this race. I have to get back in my seat in January, he added. And then we'll go from there.
Stenger's hasy $201,000 of cash on hand -- far more than Pousosa's $3,589. But Pousosa said he's been knocking on thousands of doors.
I'm going to be open with the people, Pousosa said. I don't have anything to hide. I don't have any tricks up my sleeve. I've served the people of Green Park that way. I've tried to help them as much as I can within the limits of my aldermanic role here in Green Park. And I plan on doing the same thing if I'm elected for the 6th District.
For his part, Stenger said the biggest difference between himself and his opponent is his record of results.
But ultimately, said Stenger, it's out of his hand. "So, I guess for the voters, they have to decide.
