To the editor:

Proposition B on the April 8 ballot, despite assertions by the county executive, will not result in chaos. It will not result in the disruption of county services, nor will it diminish the authority of the county executive. It will not change anything about the police chief, who is an employee of the Board of Police Commissioners. What it will do is give the County Council the ability to hold the county’s department heads accountable for their actions.

Why is Proposition B needed? Recently a director violated the county charter and contracted with outside attorneys without council approval. In another example, a director violated the Sunshine Law and then lied about it. The council is currently helpless to take any corrective action because the county executive refuses to. If Prop B is approved, the council can take action, but only if five of seven council members agree.

And that’s all Proposition B would do. It takes no power away from the county executive. It simply allows a super-majority of the council to take action when the county executive refuses to.

Proposition B will bring transparency and accountability to St. Louis County government. It will give the County Council the same authority that the legislative branch of almost every municipality in the St. Louis region currently have.

Please vote yes on Proposition B.

Dennis Hancock 

Fenton

Editor’s note: Dennis Hancock is a member of the St. Louis County Council. He represents District 3, encompassing Fenton, Sunset Hills and West County.