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

Stegman clear-cut choice for MFPD board on April 7

Mike Anthony
Mike Anthony

Voters could not have a more clear-cut choice when they go to the polls Tuesday, April 7, for the Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors election.

P.J. Polizzi, who is endorsed by Local 1889 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, is challenging board Treasurer Bonnie Stegman, who was elected four years ago with board Chairman Aaron Hilmer. Mrs. Stegman and Mr. Hilmer ran as a reform slate in 2005, vowing to eliminate fiscal waste while improving services.

It couldn’t be more simple: If you support the reforms enacted over the past four years, then you should vote for Mrs. Stegman on April 7. Because she has kept and even exceeded the campaign promises she made four years ago, we enthusiastically and unequivocally endorse Mrs. Stegman.

Quite frankly, we don’t believe Mr. Polizzi has a good understanding of the issues facing the fire district. His knowledge of the issues seems limited to what he’s been told by Local 1889 leaders. A prime example is his non-stance on Proposition 1 and Proposition 2, both of which appear on the April 7 ballot and have been endorsed by this newspaper.

Prop 1 asks whether the fire district’s general-fund tax-rate ceiling should be permanently reduced by 36 cents per $100 of assessed valuation while Prop 2 asks whether the district’s pension-fund tax-rate ceiling would be permanently reduced by 4 cents per $100.

Voter approval of both measures would save taxpayers nearly $10.5 million per year, according to Mr. Hilmer.

While Mr. Polizzi says he does not “disagree with the concept,” he believes more public discussion was needed before the board voted to place the measures on the ballot.

Board members first began discussing placing a tax-decrease measure on the ballot in late 2006.

But we guess Mr. Polizzi wouldn’t know that since he’s never attended a single meeting of the Board of Directors. His lame excuse that the board doesn’t meet on a regular schedule is a load of bunk when you consider the candidate endorsed two years ago by Local 1889, Dennis Skelton, seldom misses a board meeting.

Mr. Polizzi is right about one thing: Experience counts. That’s what he states repeatedly in his campaign literature. Bonnie Stegman has that experience and a proven track record of four years of outstanding service to district taxpayers.

That’s why the Call believes Mrs. Stegman has earned your vote for re-election on April 7.

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