South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Burns resigns from Economic Council post

A convicted felon who recently was hired by the St. Louis County Economic Council as the vice president of real estate and development resigned Friday.

Dean Burns, who was convicted in 1999 of transferring nearly $30,000 of Housing and Urban Development funds to his own company in 1994, first held the position in 1996.

“… I accepted the position believing I could make a contribution to the economic growth and community health of St. Louis County,” Burns said in a written statement. “Unfortunately, my mistakes in judgment nearly 20 years ago have now become political fodder, and I fear will distract from the good work of the Economic Council …”

Katy Jamboretz, vice president of marketing and communications for the Economic Council, said in a written statement Burns’ resignation is a loss for the council “because of the caliber of Dean Burns’ work.”

“In the few weeks he was here he was able to bring some visionary concepts for areas of the county in need of redevelopment,” Jamboretz said.

Sixth District Councilman Steve Stenger, who called for Burns’ termination, said he is pleased with Burns’ resignation.

“I wish him the best in the private sector,” he said. “I just don’t think that his hiring was appropriate in the public sector, and particularly where he was going to be functioning in a position that was very similar to the crime to which he had pled guilty.”

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