Despite no election, the Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen looks different than it did a month ago. 

In October, Lindsay Hof announced her departure from her seat as Ward 4 Alderman due to moving out of the area. To commemorate her time on the board, Hof was presented with a plaque recognizing her efforts to better the city of Sunset Hills. Her fellow Ward 4 Alderman, Fred Daues, also said a few words.

“She’s been a tremendous asset to the city of Sunset Hills. What she has brought to this board has been independent thinking, fiscal responsibility, collaboration, a high moral compass and most importantly, a dedication to our city,” Daues said. “I will miss you, and God bless you. Keep in touch.” 

Though this announcement took place mid-meeting, Hof continued participation as a board member for the last time for the remainder of the evening.  

Undeterred by the seemingly abrupt exit, Hof’s seat did not stay vacant for long. At the board’s Nov. 11 meeting, Mark Colombo was appointed to serve as Ward 4 Alderman for the remainder of Hof’s term, which is set to expire in April 2026. 

While appointing a new board member to fill a vacancy is not necessarily common, this is not the first time that Colombo has been selected in such a situation. After Sunset Hills mayor Pat Fribis was elected to her current position in April 2016, thus stepping down from her former role as Ward 4 Alderman, Colombo was chosen as her replacement. 

During his previous time serving on the board, Colombo was elected as board president — a position that has since been eliminated — and served on the finance committee. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen until 2020, when he decided not to run for reelection.

Colombo’s involvement with the city, however, extends much beyond his time on the board. From 1996 to 2000, he served as an officer and corporal with the Sunset Hills Police Department; before that, he was a detective with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department from 1991 to 1996.

Colombo’s appointment was met with unanimous support from the rest of the board. The only issue? Despite no familial relation, he shares a last name with Ward 3 Alderman Greg Colombo, causing a panic about what to do when either alderman is called upon by the mayor, as board members are typically referred to as “Alderman (last name).” A permanent solution has not been agreed upon, though the board has months to decide how to proceed with the matter.