Lately I have been trying to reach as many registered voters as possible to hand out my trifold and tell people about myself. While doing so I have been telling people how to get in contact with me and also asking people if they have any questions right then. These questions and providing an avenue to reach me has led to numerous questions. Below are some of the most common questions I have received and my answers.
What do you think about the outsourced 911 dispatch?
At first, I was not a fan of this happening. My kneejerk reaction was that this is a bad idea and service will decrease. After talking to the police, I was embarrassed for this viewpoint because I truly think I was wrong and did not look at the big picture. I have talked to multiple members of the police department and each and every one of them have supported this happening. Generally, calls should be answered faster and our officers will be safer. We are also saving a large amount of money as a city since our Saint Louis County taxes are already paying for a lot of the fees associated with using the county for dispatch.
I was shocked to find out that it was not uncommon for us to have a single 911 operator on call the majority of the time. If they had to go to the bathroom during their shift nobody would pick up the phone. The software we were using was very outdated as well, and now we have access to a state-of-the-art system.
Is this new system perfect? I doubt it is. However, it seems to be a step in the right direction. If our Chief of Police, Mark Mossotti, is for this than so am I. He is the expert in my eyes. If you have any questions for him, I implore you to reach out to him. He is incredibly nice. His phone number is 314.739.7557 or you can Email him at chief@bridgetonmo.com.
Who is your opponent and why should I not vote for them?
My opponent is Ron Dirks. I will gladly tell you why I want to run however I am not a fan of the whole bad mouthing your opposition thing that is so common in politics today. I think that while the two of us might have different priorities and different views on some topics I do not hold any animosity against him. Truthfully, if I win this election, I hope Ron continues to be involved with local politics and holds me accountable.
Ron and I both value attracting new families and businesses to Bridgeton. We both want to make sure our Police Department is fully staffed. We both think we should try and find uses for the Carrolton land that is not currently being used. We both also would like to see parking issues addressed around Ward 1.
Instead of saying something bad about Ron I will take this opportunity to say something positive. (Crazy, right?!) At our Ward 1 Meeting on March 29th Commander Wooten and Chief Mossotti gave really impassioned talks about 911 dispatch and why they support having Saint Louis County running it. Towards the end of the night Ron and I were able to quickly address the people in attendance. Ron said he understood why we made the change to Saint Louis County. I think it takes a mature person to change their views when presented with new information. I think it shows good character to admit to changing your views in front of a crowd of people.
What this all boils down to is just because I am running against Ron does not mean I think he is a bad guy. I hope he feels the same way about me.
I have heard you are going to be just like Bob Saettele / Scott Zimmer. I want change.
First of all, just because Bob and Scott are helping me run does not mean I will be a carbon copy of them. In fact, there have been numerous votes they have made I have not agreed with and I have told them so.
Secondly, I do not find this to be an insult. Both Bob and Scott are/were very successful business men and wonderful family men. I have known both for many years. Bob and my dad have known each other since kindergarten. I have known Scott since I was in High School through his daughter Angela. I can honestly say that they have never pushed their political opinions on me, other than their belief that it is important to attend City Council meetings prior to running and that it is best to be a committee before running. At first, I did not fully understand why that is true however after attending 6+ months of meetings and joining the planning and zoning commission I fully understand how much is involved that I had no idea about.
Finally, I am 25+ years younger than Bob and Scott. My life experiences are going to be drastically different than theirs. That is one of the coolest parts about the idea of having a year (or more) of a Ward 1 where Bob and I are Councilmen though, we will be able to try and represent all of our constituents regardless of age.
I would like to host a neighborhood get together. Would you be willing to meet with us?
Sure! Please let me know the when and where and I will let you know my availability.
Are you a Democrat or Republican?
I do not identify with either party because they have both let me down at different times in my life. I am very middle of the road. Many of my conservative friends call me a crazy liberal while my liberal friends call me a crazy conservative. Truthfully, if it were up to me, we would not have a two-party system and people would run on their own merit instead of on the coat tails of a political party. Luckily this position is nonpartisan and that is part of the reason I really enjoy local government.
Why do we not have more police officers?
We have been hiring officers left and right lately. The new compensation plan really seems to be attracting new officers to the area. It also sounds like moving to Saint Louis County Dispatch has made it so officers feel safer. It is my understanding that we currently have 2 patrol positions open, down from 6. One of those 2 positions is about ready to be filled. The Police Department is waiting for paperwork and background checks to come back. We also have 1 clerk position open.
Are you related to <Insert first name here> Wesche?
Likely, yes. As far as I know there is only one person in the Saint Louis area with the last name of Wesche that I am not related to. He used to live in the Saint Peters area. This is the same Wesche family that is associated with Overland Hardware and the old Wesche Pharmacy.
Where can I find more information about the election?
The League of Women Voters has a great website to help inform you about the election and what you will be voting on. I highly recommend checking it out by going to www.vote411.org and entering your address. If you do not feel comfortable giving them your address enter your neighbors, assuming your neighbor is in the same ward as you. Not only did both Ron Dirks and I answer their questions, but you can also find additional information out about other topics.
—
I hope some of these common questions might help you as you decide who to vote for. Please feel free to Call, Email, or Text me with additional questions.