Even the most oblivious observer could discern politics at play last week when a majority of Crestwood aldermen rejected Mayor Jeff Schlink’s appointment to fill his vacant Ward 2 seat.

Aldermen voted 4-3 May 24 to deny Schlink’s appointment of former Crestwood police Lt. Doug Mosby to the board seat Schlink vacated when he was elected mayor in April.

Opposed to Mosby’s appointment were Ward 1 Alderman Mimi Duncan, Ward 2 Alderman Chris Pickel and Ward 4 Aldermen Deborah Beezley and John Foote. In rejecting Mosby’s appointment, their behavior was shameful and a prime example of the political antics that crippled the city under former Mayor Roy Robinson’s heavy-handed reign.

Certainly it’s no secret that the four aldermen who voted against Mosby’s appointment are the same aldermen who were so blindly allegiant to Robinson when he served as mayor.

Quite frankly, it wouldn’t have mattered who Schlink appointed as we believe Duncan, Pickel, Beezley and Foote were ready to vote against anyone recommended by the mayor.

What a disgrace as the four aldermen essentially manufactured reasons why Mosby would not be a good choice because he is a former city employee.

They conveniently overlooked his distinguished service to the city and the city’s Charter, which states aldermen “shall deal with city officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the city administrator solely through the city administrator, and neither the Board of Aldermen nor its members shall give orders to any such officer or employee, either publicly or privately.”

As Schlink told the Call’s Evan Young, Mosby was the least controversial candidate with the most experience of the four people who expressed an interest in serving. It’s almost as if Schlink extended an olive branch and Duncan, Pickel, Beezley and Foote promptly seized it and hit him over the head with it.

The so-called reasons given by Pickel, Beezley and Foote for voting against Mosby’s appointment are as transparent as their insincerity. Duncan declined to comment, apparently above explaining her “no” vote to the public and press.

In electing Schlink mayor by a landslide in April, Crestwood citizens mandated a change in the direction their city is headed. Unfortunately, Duncan, Pickel, Beezley and Foote appear unwilling to accept that mandate.