VOTE '06: Two Republicans vie for Mange's Council seat

By Kevin Lavery, KWMU

St. Louis, MO – Political watchers say the race to replace Skip Mange in the St. Louis County Council's third district could solidify Republican control of the council.

Mange is a Republican who often has been a swing voter on controversial issues.

Town and Country alderman Colleen Wasinger and Fenton mayor Dennis Hancock are vying for the Republican nomination to replace him. The winner will face Democrat Kathy Schweitzer, who is running unopposed in the primary.

Whoever does win the seat could face a vote on another proposed smoking ban. UM-St. Louis political scientist David Kimball says that issue reveals a geographic split between the two Republicans.

"Wasinger is from Town and Country, a much more upscale, suburban part of the district where there's support for a ban on smoking in public places," Kimball said Tuesday. "Hancock is from Fenton, a part of the county that's a little more working class, where probably more smokers per capita, I'm guessing."

Currently, four Republicans and three Democrats serve on the county council.