Crestwood is considering amending the term length for mayoral and aldermanic offices. The city’s mayor and aldermen currently have staggered three-year terms; the proposed changes would give them staggered four-year terms. The current three-term limit would still apply to those already elected.

These changes to the city charter — Sections 3.4 and 4.3 — were pulled from the National League of Cities’ model charter, an advocacy organization for local government that recommends staggered four-year terms. Crestwood has proposed several of the NLC’s recommendations during the charter review process.

Discussions by the city’s Charter Review Commission have largely been in favor of lengthened terms for a variety of reasons, but at the forefront of the conversation was experience. Members of the commission reasoned that longer terms would allow for more “seasoned”aldermen and mayors, as well as allow the officials time to settle into their positions and “get going.” 

“It takes a while to get going,” one commissioner said at the Charter Review Commission’s April 14 meeting. “I like seasoned people doing whatever it is, whether it’s working on my car (or) making my laws.”

Another commissioner added, “If there’s much change-over in a legislative body, it causes consternation and a loss of efficiency. I think the staff and the public benefit from the continuity of membership.”

If longer terms are enacted, the election schedule would run as normal, except no officials would run or be elected in the fourth year. 

This election cycle could potentially save Crestwood $8,000 every fourth year, since the city would not have to pay for the election if it had no other propositions or measures on the ballot. Questions were raised over how often this would realistically be the case, and the commission eventually agreed that the cost should not be a deciding factor, for or against.

Concerns were raised at the meeting by former Ward 2 Alderman Justin Charboneau that longer terms may be a turn-off for potential candidates. If the candidate were to fulfill all three terms as an incumbent, they could be in the position for 12 years instead of nine: a significantly longer time commitment.

According to Deputy City Administrator Jeff Faust, no one from the public has yet commented on the proposed changes to Sections 3.4 and 4.3 at a commission meeting or via email.

The nearby municipalities of Sunset Hills and Green Park have two-year terms for mayors and aldermen, while St. Louis city has a four-year term. According to Faust, different term lengths just work in different cities. He mentioned that in cities with two-year terms, candidates can only run for one office at a time. A three- or four-year term gives more flexibility for Crestwood candidates.

The Charter Review Commission discussed the potential term changes further at its June 9 meeting.

“The commission is good with the language that was proposed for both sections. However, the commission is not planning on finalizing their decision into they get further along in the process,” Faust said following the June meeting.

This summer, the commission will finalize the language — likely in July, Faust estimates — and publish the proposed amendments to the people of Crestwood. Public open houses will follow to answer questions and provide clarification to interested locals.

In the fall, the commission will decide what amendments should be put up for election. If the lengthened term changes are agreed upon — which, if discussions from the commission’s spring meetings say much, it seems likely — the amendment will be put on the general municipal election ballot in April 2026. From there, the decision is in the hands of Crestwood voters.