With the April 5 election fast approaching, the Call makes endorsements for the Crestwood Board of Aldermen and the Sunset Hills mayoral post and Board of Aldermen.
In Ward 3, former Alderman Jerry Miguel and newcomer Spencer Talbott are looking to unseat incumbent Bill Boston, who was elected in 2013.
Boston declined to answer a Call questionnaire. Of the two responsive candidates, Miguel’s nine years of outstanding service as an alderman make him the best and most-qualified person. The Call endorses Miguel.
In Ward 4, four candidates — Ismaine Ayouaz, Tony Kennedy, former Alderman Steve Nieder and Ryan Pascoe — are vying for the seat currently held by Cindy Minor, who did not file for re-election.
Nieder’s dedication to serving the city and his past aldermanic experience make him the obvious choice for voters. We would urge voters not to waste their vote on Ayouaz, as mathematically he does not qualify to be on the ballot and likely would be unable to serve if elected.
It’s disappointing that Nieder’s opponents declined to answer some of the Call’s questions, as the post they seek involves making difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions. As such, Nieder is the clear-cut choice for alderman. The Call endorses Nieder.
Four candidates — Larry Chorosevic, Ward 4 Alderman Pat Fribis, Nathan Lipe and Gregory Nelson — are vying to succeed Mayor Mark Furrer, who did not file for re-election.
Fribis towers above her opponents.
Her service as an alderman since 2008 and her knowledge of the workings of city government make her the best and right person for the job. The Call endorses Fribis.
In Ward 1, incumbent Rich Gau is being challenged by former Alderman Frank Hardy. Hardy, who served three terms before being defeated by Gau in 2012, should be applauded for his dedication to the city, as he rarely misses a board or committee meeting.
However, Gau’s financial acumen, business knowledge and common sense, combined with his track record as an alderman, make him the superior candidate. The Call endorses Gau.
In Ward 4, Thompson Price and Stephen Shady are vying for the seat being vacated by Donna Ernst, who did not file for re-election.
While we believe either candidate would serve the city well, we believe Price has a slightly better grasp of the issues. The Call endorses Price.