Manchester April 3 Election Preview - Meet The Candidates

Four seats are up for election in the city of Manchester, including the mayor the three aldermen. All four incumbents are running for re-election, and the only challenger is resident Barbara Stevens, who is competing with incumbent Hal Roth for the Ward 1 alderman seat.

As the April 3 Municipal Elections are get closer, Patch brings you a profile of the candidates and their answers to Patch's questions.

Mayor David Willson (incumbent - uncontested race)

• Previous Government Experience

Willson has served as mayor of the City of Manchester since 2008. Willson said he first became interested in local politics when his wife, Mary, served as mayor of Manchester from 2000 to 2004. Willson said he has lived in the same house in since 1974, however, his subdivision was not annexed to Manchester until 1999.

• Other Experience

Willson said he worked for 35 years as an account manager for 3M, a health care technology company.

• QUESTION: Biggest challenge facing Manchester?

“Upcoming challenges the Board of Aldermen will face include infrastructure improvements and repairs and storm water concerns. A plan for federal grant funding for some infrastructure repairs is in progress. Storm water issues will involve studies, funding, and attainment of necessary easements for the projects. City officials must always continue to pursue prospects to fill unoccupied business locations.  Although economic issues have affected the area and sales tax revenues are lower than anticipated, the city of Manchester is financially strong, and we continue to maintain a balanced budget.”

• QUESTION: What makes you qualified for mayor?

“Having a sales background, an outgoing personality and a genuine interest in and knowledge of the city of Manchester are very beneficial when performing the duties of Mayor. Being retired allows me to be very active and involved as mayor. I regularly stop in and visit with our local business owners. I represent the city of Manchester at the St. Louis County Municipal League meetings where I am a member of the executive board, as well as the Missouri Municipal League, where I am a member of the resolutions committee. I am also a member of the Lafayette Mayors’ Organization, and the Metro Mayors’ Organization. I attend meetings with state legislators locally and in Jefferson City, as well as with St. Louis County officials. In addition, I have been involved with the West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce. I also enjoy attending and participating in the city’s subdivision trustee meetings as an invited guest. I have also been a guest speaker for a number of schools where I have spoken about local government.  In addition, as a member of the Boy Scouts of America Steering Committee, I attend Boy Scout Troop meetings and discuss local government to assist the scouts in merit badge preparation.”  

 Harold Roth (incumbent, Ward 1)

• Previous Government Experience

Roth was elected in 2010 to Ward 1 alderman and is now seeking re-election. Before being elected alderman, Roth served on the board of adjustment. He has been a resident of Manchester for 39 years.

• Other Experience

Roth said he is “semi retired” from the insurance industry.

• QUESTION: Biggest challenge facing Manchester?

“We need to develop sound financial leadership and a healthy, long-term approach that includes a pay-as-you-go philosophy and not one of budget-for-and-spend before the funds are available. We have spent our reserves, as noted by an outside source during the recent process of re-issuance of city bonds, and we must concentrate on rebuilding those reserves and contemplate an ever greater amount than the traditional 20 percent. While there are several areas that need to addressed, the most important is balancing the budget. In 2010, I suggested that the budget was unbalanced and that it was not a good idea (three years in a row). While treated as a heretic for a while, there was a change in attitude on the board, and the 2012 budget was trimmed by close to $1 million. And now the dust has settled and the financial situation has yet to gel due incomplete year end calculations, I will be waiting to see if any further adjustments need to be made.”

• QUESTION: What makes you qualified for alderman?

“Having spent years attending board of alderman meetings and my past two years as alderman, I have developed a sense of history and an institutional memory that allows me to judge events and issues with a perspective beneficial to the city of Manchester.”

Barbara Stevens (Ward 1)

• Previous Government Experience

From 1976-2007, Stevens worked for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Stevens said she also worked for 31 years for the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled. Upon retirement, Stevens became assistant superintendent for the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled. Stevens said she has lived in the city of Manchester since she was in sixth grade and left once she started college. Stevens returned to live in Manchester in 2009.  

• Other Experience

Stevens currently serves on the Board of Directors for St. Louis Assistance League, a local, philanthropic non-profit that serves children and abused women.

• QUESTION: Biggest challenge facing Manchester?

“Addressing the storm water issues is of most importance. Homes and property are impacted so we need to resolve the issues without delay. To do this, it will take team work between the aldermen, residents, and the local officials. Work must be done to continue to make the city appealing to families and businesses. We also need to bring in businesses to those vacant locations and continue to support our historic pride. We need board members who can work together so we may respond to the issues important to the residents. A diversity of views is a healthy element for a board and it can bring about new ideas and solutions. Being fiscally conservative when making budgetary decisions regarding street repair, sidewalks, park and recreation needs can be done without deficit spending.”

• QUESTION: What makes you qualified for alderman?

"My 31 years as a public servant in state government taught me how to listen to issues, ask questions from all sides, and then to take a position. I often had to identify problems, mediate issues, and worked with a variety of people to bring about creative solutions. I believe these are the skills that people want in their alderman."

Marilyn Ottenad (incumbent, Ward 2 - uncontested)

• Previous Government Experience:

Ottenad has served on the board as Ward 2 alderman since 1998. She has lived in Manchester for 25 years.

• Other Experience

Ottenad is a children’s monitor at in Manchester. Ottenad said she has previous education and experience in office management and bookkeeping.

• QUESTION: Biggest challenge facing Manchester?

“I believe our greatest challenge for the next year, and even for the foreseeable future, is to continue to find ways to maintain or increase our revenue, without tax increases, so that we can continue the work on many important projects that make Manchester such a great place to live. One such example is our storm water and erosion control projects. Even with the significant storm water and erosion projects we have already been able to complete, such as Seven Oaks and Channel A, we still have more work to do in Chadwick and Channel B that will cost substantial amounts of money to complete. Secondly, we have a newly formed Manchester Arts Council. We need to be prepared to provide some necessary funding for the arts in Manchester and support this worthy project. And, of course, we have to continue to provide the same high level of city services, such as our parks, trash collection, street maintenance and snow removal, which our residents have come to expect. I believe that in order to meet this challenge, we have to work on attracting businesses to Manchester and we have to revitalize our downtown area and fill the vacant buildings.”

• QUESTION: What makes you qualified for alderman?

“I have 14 years of experience on the board and more than 20 years of experience in office management and bookkeeping.  I am extremely familiar with the budgeting process and I know, from working with the residents over that time, what the needs are in Ward 2 and how to hopefully address those needs.  I know from personal experience how to get things done in this city and can make sure the interests of the residents of Ward 2 are protected.  I have also routinely worked with residents on storm water and erosion issues in their neighborhoods to make sure they have input on any project that will impact their property.”

John Diehl (incumbent, Ward 3 - uncontested)

• Previous Government Experience

Diehl has served three consecutive terms as alderman of Ward 3 in the city of Manchester.

• Other Experience

Diehl worked for 30 years with in corporate purchasing and merchandising. He took an early retirement from Schnucks. Diehl later took a position as vice-president and director of marketing with the Miller Group where he remained for 13 years. He has since retired.

• QUESTION: Biggest challenge facing Manchester?

"The biggest challenges for the city are to attract new businesses and developing our downtown historic area. We need to shape, guide and protect the city of Manchester for present and future generations. Manchester must be kept safe, secure and affordable and our property values maintained.
I understand that property values are best served by providing balanced, quality municipal services which benefit all homeowners. Our community’s foundation should be a conservative fiscal base that protects us from excessive taxation and big government. We are a self-reliant, independent city that should respect the property rights of all and the voice of each individual. I will work to make Manchester a place where our homeowners are protected from excessive taxation while we remain safe and secure in our homes.
I don’t believe in increased spending or higher taxes. It’s that simple. Additional taxes from recent new commercial development should continue to be earmarked for infrastructure improvements like street and sidewalk repair and storm water improvement." 

• QUESTION: What makes you qualified for alderman?

"I want to continue to serve as alderman to maintain professionalism, respect, honesty and civility in our community.  Common sense and common courtesy should be our policy to our residents, businesses and among our elected leaders. I am not a part of a faction or a group with an agenda. I am independent and proud of it. I have never accepted campaign contributions from anyone. I will listen, be fair, and have no other agenda than to represent the people of my ward and the city."

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