McDowell Calls for Ballwin Board Diplomacy

Press McDowell of Ballwin implored his former colleagues on the this week to adopt a more diplomatic approach when dealing with city politics.

McDowell, who works in Ballwin under Nationwide Insurance, served as alderman from 2001 to 2005, and again in 2009 to fill the unexpired term of Alderman Tim Pogue when he was elected to the mayor’s office.

“Being an alderman in Ballwin was a privilege, an honor serving the people, to do what’s right for the City of Ballwin,” McDowell said at Monday's . “It has never ever been an occasion to use it as a political advantage, to lash out at each other, or to present an image of the City of Ballwin that’s other than (something) to be respected. I find that deplorable.”

McDowell said he felt obligated to address the recent tone of the Ballwin board after reading .

“And the rhetoric that I see coming out of those meetings at the City of Ballwin that I was a part of for so many years, it saddens me greatly,” he said.

McDowell specifically cited Alderman Ron Markland, who in recent months, repeatedly levied regarding election eligibility, among other issues.

“When we had a disagreement, we were always able to settle our disagreements in the backroom. When we came out, we came out as a unified force addressing the citizens as one, and we respected each other is what we did.”

Following a presentation summarizing the City of Ballwin's most recent audit, McDowell said the city’s immediate financial state isn’t the culprit responsible for the tension.

“This city’s in good financial stability, so something must be going wrong up here,” McDowell said, pointing to his heart. “That is not representative of the City of Ballwin.”