By Gloria Lloyd
Staff Reporter
news3@callnewspapers.com

One of the County Council members who represents part of south county is not running for re-election this year, opening up a potential battle for a seat that is rarely open.
The legislator who represents Sunset Hills on the council, 3rd District Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger, R-Huntleigh, said last week that she is not running for re-election.
The announcement was made the day after Wasinger bid a very public farewell at the Jan. 3 council meeting to her legislative assistant, Anne Harkwell, who returned to a job in the private sector Jan. 5.
Wasinger is one of the only long-serving members on the council, second only to 1st District Councilwoman Hazel Erby, D-University City, who is also up for re-election. But her decision not to run again came as a surprise to at least one fellow council member, 6th District Councilman Ernie Trakas, R-Oakville, who said he learned about Wasinger’s decision from a newspaper.
“I’m sorry to see her go and I think obviously we’ll miss that experience,” Trakas said. “I always think that when you have that kind of experience, it’s a loss. It’s no secret Colleen and I did not agree on everything, but I always valued her opinion, and a good part of that is born with 12 years on the council.”
Wasinger was unavailable for comment before the Call’s press time.
Former county police Chief Tim Fitch immediately announced his intention to run for the open seat. He turned to politics after he resigned as chief and currently serves as the Republican committeeman in Meramec Township.
Fitch is the first person to publicly say he is running in Wasinger’s district, which primarily covers west county and extends into Fenton and south county, but he may not be the last.
Filing for the November election does not open until late February.
Wasinger’s husband, David Wasinger, is running in the November election for state auditor as a Republican against incumbent Democrat Nicole Galloway. Both the Wasingers are attorneys.
Four seats on the County Council are up for election this year.
The other council members up for re-election are 5th District Councilman Pat Dolan, D-Richmond Heights, and 7th District Councilman Mark Harder, R-Ballwin.