Sine Die at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Today, New Session Starts Tomorrow
Today is “Sine Die” at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. Â This Latin term is used, in this case, to mean the last day of session. Today is the last day in office for two aldermen not reelected: 32-year member Republican Fred Heitert (12th ward) and Democrat Bill Waterhouse (24th ward).
Not enough change for my taste. Â Hopefully in 2013 we can replace 3-4 long time incumbents, Phyllis Young and Fred Wessels come to mind. At the end of their current terms they will have served 28 years. They were both sworn into office in April 1985, the year I graduated high school. Give it up guys, let someone else have a chance to lead!
Tomorrow 15 aldermen elected, and reelected, this Spring will be sworn into office. Â This includes all 14 even numbered wards and one odd numbered ward. Carol Howard, elected to the 14th ward seat last fall after Stephen Gregali resigned, was elected to a full four-year term. Â Freshmen aldermen are Larry Arnowitz (D-12), Scott Ogilvie (I-24) and Thomas Villa (D-11). Villa replaces Matt Villa who resigned earlier in the year to spend more time in the family business, Villa Lighting.
The following is the swearing in of odd numbered aldermen two years ago:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Pm1Lqx0NQ
Lewis Reed, President of the Board of Aldermen, will be sworn into his second term tomorrow. Â Thank you to Matt Villa, Bill Waterhouse and Fred Heitert for your service to the city.
– Steve Patterson
I generally agree with the notion representatives serving 28 years probably need a change. But the other side is what do Wessels and Young stand for in improving the city? Generally alderman don’t seem to come forward with positions. It seems to be governance by osmosis rather than strategic development of any plan or ideas for the future of St. Louis.
The length of time in office is not as important as supplying leadership on how to remake St. Louis in the coming century.
City government unable meet the McKee plan (or his lack of a plan) head on and seize the opportunity to shape city life in the coming decades is a failure that dooms the leadership of representatives Young and Wessels more than any concerns for length of service.
I generally agree with the notion representatives serving 28 years probably need a change. But the other side is what do Wessels and Young stand for in improving the city? Generally alderman don’t seem to come forward with positions. It seems to be governance by osmosis rather than strategic development of any plan or ideas for the future of St. Louis.
The length of time in office is not as important as supplying leadership on how to remake St. Louis in the coming century.
City government unable meet the McKee plan (or his lack of a plan) head on and seize the opportunity to shape city life in the coming decades is a failure that dooms the leadership of representatives Young and Wessels more than any concerns for length of service.
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