Pirrello, Compton Say Ellisville Commercial Base is Priority

In the race to fill one of the 's available seats for Ward 1, resident Robert Compton faces current Mayor Matt Pirrello in the municipal elections Tuesday. The council member seats are held for three years, and Pirrello's completion of his second term as mayor ending this spring means he cannot run for re-election due to .

With a family that moved to Ellisville while he was 1 year-old, former city employee Robert Compton would be a newcomer to the council. Compton, 42, formerly worked as the city's GIS Coordinator and as the Code Enforcement Officer for Ellisville from 2007 until 2010, when he took a job doing technical support for Swank Motion Pictures, a St. Louis-based movie licensing company.

Though he's never held an elected position in the city before, Compton does have the distinction of being the son of current city council member Clark Compton, who will retire from the council this month.

"I enjoyed my childhood and want my sons to have the same kind of opportunities I did," Compton said of his motivations for running.

In terms of setting an agenda, Compton said he hopes the next council focuses on attracting a bigger daytime population. Regardless of what happens with controversial , he said, the city must have a strong consumer base to keep the area functional.

"Because its not something that can happen in a short timeframe; it's not a quick fix," Compton said. "It's a long-term strategy to develop a working audience that will go to stores and restaurants and allow them to grow, and that I think is our biggest challenge."

In order to accomplish that, Compton said, he hopes the city council also makes efforts to attract the strongest support staff possible.

"We need to work hard on our staff training," which have been reduced due to budget cuts, Compton said. "We need to be able to keep and train the best employees possible."

Compton said his experience as a member of the city's Planning & Zoning Committee along with his time mapping city territories and enforcing city codes give him a unique insight into how Ellisville operates.

"I've seen some of the sadder parts of the city and I want to use that experience," Compton said. "It's a place that I'm proud of and have taken a lot from throughout the years and it's time to give some of that back."

Matt Pirrello, who was elected mayor in 2006, is the owner of Wolffe Enterprises, a residential construction business.

Pirrello, 51, also said developing the city's business sector should be a top priority.

"We need to accomplish our economic development strategy and begin implementing the ," Pirrello said. "Continuing to attract quality businesses to the area and finding unique businesses that are not located anywhere in the region are primary. That's always been the primary goal."

In addition to his years on the city council, Pirrello said he embodies several traits that will help serve Ellisville's residents and the council.

"I display leadership and passion for the community, and working knowledge of my surroundings," Pirrello said. His work in the real estate and construction fields also have refined his understanding of local government finance, he said.

"I would say I have a strong business acumen and understand the economy and the effects of a development on the economy," Pirrello said. "I'm able to see past the end of the day, the end of the week and the end of the year."