Politics & Government

Mehlville Patch April Election Voters' Guide

School and fire board races, the county assessor and a budget consolidation measure are all on the ballot April 5.

On April 5, voters will chose three new members for the Mehlville school board and the next board chairman for the Mehlville Fire Protection District. They'll also vote on a budget consolidation measure and choose a county assessor for the first time.

No matter who you vote for, these people will make decisions that impact tax rates, education, paramedic services and the assessed value of homes. To help each voter make an informed decision, Mehlville Patch has compiled its extensive election coverage into this guide. 

Each candidates' name is linked to their original profile. View their responses to Patch's questionnaire either question by question or candidate by candidate. Find your polling place and read previous election coverage.  

Find out what's happening in Mehlville-Oakvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Where can I vote?

On Tuesday, April 5, polling places will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Find your polling place by inputting your address or click here for a .  

Find out what's happening in Mehlville-Oakvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ballot Measures 

: The only measure on the ballot is brought forth by the Mehlville Fire Protection District. Prop S asks voters to approve combining the district's ambulance and general fund, with the intent to streamline the district's accounting procedures. 

This measure will not raise or lower residents' tax rates. The ambulance tax rate would shift and be added to the general fund. 

County Assessor

In 2010, voters approved a St. Louis County Charter amendment establishing the , serving a four-year term.

The assessor heads the St. Louis County Assessment Division, which discovers, identifies, classifies and assesses all real and personal property in St. Louis County.

Every two years, the Assessment Division is required by the state to reassess values on about 389,000 parcels of real estate in St. Louis County to market value. 

The choice pits a third-term state representative, , against a real estate executive with 37 years experience, . Both candidates said they believe that by making it an elected position, voters sent a message that they want the assessor to be accountable to them. Both have . 

Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors

The board chairman for Mehlville Fire oversees the board of directors and operations within the district. This race pits incumbent Aaron Hilmer against Mike Klund. The winner will serve a six-year term. 

Patch asked the following questions to the candidates:  

: Klund has lived in Mehlville his entire life and said he is running because he feels the spending of the current board is out of control. Klund is endorsed by the Local 1889 Firefighters Union and said he will work to restore professionalism to the fire district. . 

: Praprotnik filed to run for the board, but has since stopped campaigning in favor of supporting Aaron Hilmer. His name will still be on the ballot.

: Hilmer, a lifelong resident of the Mehlville Fire Protection District, was elected in 2005. He said he ran then because he was concerned about unnecessary tax increases and wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars. In his six years on the board, he has built 3 new firehouses and increased ambulance staff and equipment. . 

Mehlville School District Board of Education

With nine candidates vying for three open positions, and no incumbents seeking re-election, this race could change the dynamic of the current board. Fiscal responsibility and repairing the image of the school board are the top issues in this race. The candidates have participated in as well as been . 

Patch asked the following questions to the candidates:  

: Kluth-Hoppe previously served on the board from 2005-2008 and has a daughter who graduated from Mehlville High School. She said she believes in balance and would work to restore it to the board. Kluth-Hoppe runs a small antique business and volunteers her time with the Girl Scouts and Mehlville/Oakville Foundation. .

: An Oakville resident for the last 22 years, Roland has two children in the district and is a financial adviser at Edward Jones. He is active in the Mehlville Optimists and organizes several youth programs, including Student of the Month. . 

: Langland, a real estate agent, said she wants to change the perception of the Mehlville School District. She has two children who have graduated from Oakville High School, and would work to make technology more of a priority in the district. Langland said she would want the board to try new solutions if elected. .

: A mother of three children in Mehlville schools, Powers said she will work to get more business and community support for the district. Powers is the executive director at Lemay Child and Family Center, a non-profit organization that provides early education and support for families. She believes her experience working for a non-profit will be useful on the board in solving the district's financial struggles. .

: Running with plans of financial reform, Franz believes the taxpayers own the school district and should operate within the means that the taxpayers dictate. A father of three who did not attend Mehlville schools, he said he will not support raising the taxes of district residents. Franz is a former police officer and currently works as a corporate security adviser for the Monsanto Corporation. . 

: Doyel believes that the school board needs to have open and honest communications at all times. If elected, he wants to make Mehlville a "destination district." Doyel is an attorney in Oakville and has three children that are attending or graduated from district schools. . 

: Stoner said he is running to bring the school board's focus back to the students and get parents more active in their children's education. He believes the board should be taxpayer-driven while teaching students how to think critically. Stoner has three children who have attended both private and Mehlville schools. .

: A former teacher, Gindler said she wants to add a mother's perspective to the board. The mother of two girls, Gindler has volunteered in the classroom and was the Prop C chair for her school. She also runs a small daycare out of her home. .

: New to the school district, Wessel has one child at the John Cary Early Childhood Center. The failure of Proposition C sparked his interest in the district and he said he is running to better prepare today's youth for the workforce. Wessel is a hiring manager in the information technology field. . 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Mehlville-Oakville