Mayors From Across the Region Support Mantovani for County Exec.

More than a dozen mayors from across the region jointly endorsed Democrat candidate Mark Mantovani for St. Louis County Executive, calling for “new leadership, more collaboration, and a different vision from the County Executive.”

Speaking on behalf of leaders that span all corners of St. Louis County, Sean Flower, Mayor of Eureka, and Tommie Pierson, Sr, Mayor of Bellefontaine Neighbors, jointly expressed their frustration, and that of their peers, regarding the interim County Executive’s lack of engagement with the municipalities, especially as the region deals with a health crisis and civil unrest.

“We’re facing significant challenges, and for those of us who represent underserved communities, COVID has hit especially hard, amplifying our economic and social disparities and leaving us reeling,” said Pierson. “We need a leader that is willing to bring us together to address these problems, and not ignore us. We believe Mark Mantovani is that leader.”

“Mark has been actively engaged meeting with city officials to learn about their needs and seek their knowledge and input for how best to assist the municipalities,” said Flower. “This type of collaboration and common sense has been absent under our current leadership and before. We are confident that Mark will work well with all of us, and will also be available to our residents and businesses. Further he has the professional skills and the vision to turn things around.”

Mantovani has said he would create a Municipal Liaison within the County Executive’s Office to keep in contact with mayors and other municipal officials to improve communication, assist in economic development, grants, neighborhood support and civic affairs.

“St. Louis County gets much of its strength from its strong and stable neighborhoods and cities,” Mantovani said. “A majority of the heavy lifting in delivering government services in this community is done by cities, and to be disengaged with them is ill-advised. As County Executive, I’ll collaborate with our municipal leaders, our neighborhoods and citizens to move us forward. Failing to build partnerships to take advantage of the wealth of talent and leadership at the municipal level handicaps county leadership. This is only the beginning in the development of a fresh, new perspective to the County Executive position.”

Mayors endorsing Mantovani are:

Tommie Pierson, Sr. Bellefontaine Neighbors

David Dimmitt, Brentwood

Bob Nation, Chesterfield

Scott Douglass, Clarkson Valley

Reggie Jones, Dellwood

Mark Becker, Des Peres

Mike Roemerman, Ellisville

Sean Flower, Eureka

Kate Hatfield, Frontenac

Mike Wilcox, Glendale

Mike Clement, Manchester

E.G. Shields, Sr, Pagedale

Jim Thomson, Richmond Heights

James McGee, Vinita Park

The American Federation of Teachers, the St. Louis County Police Association, the Carpenter’s Union, the Home Builder’s Association, Call Newspapers and numerous business and community leaders throughout the region have also endorsed Mantovani.

The Democratic Primary for St. Louis County Executive is August 4. For more information about Mark Mantovani and his campaign visit markforstlouis.com or @MarkforSTL on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.