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

Lindbergh incumbents retain seats; Prop G passes

Palamand, Stormer, Pretto prevail in Mehlville

Three Lindbergh Schools incumbents retained their Board of Education seats in today’s election, according to final unofficial election results.

In Mehlville, incumbent board Secretary Rich Franz lost his bid for a second term, while former board member Venki Palamand and newcomers Samantha Stormer and Jean Pretto were elected, according to final unofficial election results.

Lindbergh’s Proposition G, a $34 million bond issue designed to address the district’s aggressive enrollment growth, received 6,599 “yes” votes — 65.66 percent — and 3,482 “no” votes — 34.54 percent. A four-sevenths majority — 57.14 percent — was required for passage.

In Lindbergh, board Vice President Don Bee, board member Vicki Lorenz Englund and board President Kathleen Kienstra retained their three-year seats, defeating challengers Cori Akins and Al Faulstich.

In a three-way race for a two-seat seat on the board, Gary Ukja was victorious over Christopher Clegg and Daniel Sampson.

Final unofficial results show that Bee has 6,096 votes, Kienstra, 6,518; Englund, 6,472; Akins, 3,301; and Faulstich, 2,375.

Ujka has 4,064 votes, Clegg has 2,139 and Sampson has 1,926, according to final unofficial results.

In Mehlville, Palamand, Stormer, Pretto, Franz and Randy Howard were seeking three seats on the board.

Final unofficial election results show that Palamand has 4,701 votes; Stormer, 4,472; Pretto, 4,141; Franz, 2,564; and Howard, 2,141

In Lindbergh, Prop G — for Growth — will increase the district’s debt-service tax rate by 21 cents, to 68.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation from 47.3 cents.

Of the election results for Prop G, Superintendent Jim Simpson told the Call, “It’s a good night for Lindbergh.”

Proceeds from the bond issue will fund the construction of a 650-student elementary school on the nearly 10-acre Dressel School site at 10255 Musick Road.

District officials also propose to use $3 million of the bond proceeds to fund some critical needs at Lindbergh High School, including doubling the size of the cafeteria, creating two science classrooms from existing classrooms, converting a record-storage room into two new classrooms, modernizing the library and replacing the wood floor and bleachers in Gymnasium 3.

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