The first quarter of 2017 provided many suitable candidates for Most Misguided Quotes.

Consider these first-quarter candidates for our annual tradition in which we chronicle the most misguided, misinformed and misleading statements of the year.

In response to a Crestwood alderman’s request for an update about UrbanStreet Group’s redevelopment project at the former Crestwood Plaza site, City Administrator Kris Simpson said in February,

Wow! Bob Burk of UrbanStreet said in December 2015 that he couldn’t secure any commitments from potential tenants until economic assistance was granted for the project. Yet, he’s had $25 million in tax incentives in place for more than a year and still has no tenants. That’s simply unbelievable, as Burk also said that he’s not in the “fantasy business.”

But given the lack of any announced tenants, perhaps that is the case.

The Mehlville Board of Education approved new school boundaries in March with a 5-2 vote.

One of the “no” votes was cast by board member Jamey Murphy, who said,

Board Vice President Jean Pretto was quick to note, “They had a voice.”

Murphy said,

Really? Given the fact that 93 percent of students will stay at their current school, we believe people’s concerns were addressed in probably the smoothest and least-invasive redistricting process we’ve ever seen.

And then there’s Matt Alonzo, a Parkway teacher elected to the Lindbergh school board in April.

In a candidate questionnaire, Alonzo said,

We’d be hard pressed to recall any of the so-called “multiple occasions” where the superintendent belittled and undermined students and staff, let alone any reference he made to “war.”

But, hey, never let the facts get in the way of a good story, especially during a political campaign.