Ward 8 St. Charles City Council Candidate Rose Kasper

Patch reached out to all local candidates for office to do an election profile before the April election. All candidates who spoke with Patch will be featured on the site. 

Rose Kasper, 63

Occupation:  Retired AT&T. Information Systems
Education:  BS Business Lindenwood
Family: Husband Tom, daughter Tracie Callaway, son Tom Jr. and daughter Tari Heflin.
Years in St. Charles: Born in St. Charles 
Previous terms in office: First elected to St. Charles City Council in 1990. 

Background: 

I think my business degree and management experience helps me understand that all the various pieces of government have to serve the people while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Why are you running for election?

There are several issues that I believe are being handled ineffectively.  

1). City council is a part time job that has a big element of community service. Council members receive paid health care.  At the same time health care is citing retires and full time employees more and benefits being reduced.  I think this is wrong.  

2). The city logo was changed a couple years ago at a $100,000 cost. Letterheads, business cards, etched we're changed. Where is the cost versus benefit of this expenditure?  

3). Why are department heads being paid to leave? How much has been paid out in the last three years for this pay to go?  

4). Department heads set the tone for behavior of employees? Have they been trained on topics like sexual harassment?

What is the biggest issue facing St. Charles?

I think we need fiscal responsibility, new contract language, an emphasis on training, and old ordinances brought up to date. Government is big service centric business and needs to obey the rules.

In what areas does St. Charles need to improve?

See above.  This is the outside looking in but I am sure there are other problems that we the citizens don't get to see.

What will you do to help attract small business and retail to St. Charles? 

Small business needs a city hall that is easy to navigate. Retail will come if folks buy locally. Instead of changing logos maybe we could do a buy local campaign.

What will you to do to maintain quality of life for St. Charles residents?

Quality of life comes from pride within a community. We have a lot of pride but there is more we could do such as community days or projects where neighbors meet neighbors.

What's one thing you'd like to accomplish this year? 

I would like my issues discussed openly with public input on the outcomes. I would like more restrictions on non-essential spending but more emphasis on training. All ordinances need to be reviewed and updated.