Latest news with #PropositionB
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why Local Elections Matter: Your Voice, Your Community
Waco, TX (FOX 44) — Early voting is underway across Texas, and local officials urge residents to seize this opportunity to shape their communities. Local elections have influence over our daily lives, whether we realize it or not. 'At the local level, it's your voice versus just maybe a few hundred, maybe a few thousand, versus, like, at the federal level where it's your voice versus millions,' McLennan County Elections Administrator Jared Goldsmith said. 'You really get a say as to how things are run at the local level.' Goldsmith says it's a privilege to vote – because in many countries people don't get to vote for local leaders. 'At the local level, they're the ones who decide what to do with your tax dollars,' Goldsmith said. 'Go out and make sure that your voice is heard. Get educated, find out more about these candidates.' In Killeen, Proposition B is on the ballot. If passed, property taxes will increase and new city facilities will be authorized for construction, using your money to fund the projects. 'It's going to be something that's going to benefit you, whether you have a child in school or not,' Killeen Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Janell Ford said. 'It's going to benefit you in the long run through all of the services that are provided by each of those entities, because they're not just providing education at KISD. So in the end it impacts everyone.' In several ways, voting is a civic duty and a way to exercise your influence as a member of your community. 'You're coming to City Council meetings when you can, you're joining boards, commissions, committees because we need people to join,' Ford said. 'We have more than two dozen of those, whether it's in the Animal Services or the Planning and Zoning. We need people to join those and help influence decisions that are made that go to our City Council representative.' Voting is the best way to get involved in your local community and voice your opinions on change. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
St. Louis County voters reject Proposition B
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – St. Louis County voters rejected a key measure in Tuesday's municipal election. Proposition B, a proposal that would have expanded the St. Louis County Council's authority, has failed. Had it passed, Proposition B would have granted the St. Louis County Council the authority to remove department heads with a 'super majority' vote, or approval from five of the county council's seven members. Instead, the vote failed. A majority of voters (61.8%) voted 'no' on Proposition B, while only 38.2% voted 'yes.' More than 94,000 people cast votes on the measure, per the county's preliminary election results. The proposition faced a great amount of scrutiny from St. Louis County department heads, even to the point of it reaching the Missouri Supreme Court. A lawsuit against the county council claimed that the ballot language was misleading to voters and failed to explain how the proposition would 'radically amend' St. Louis County law. Cara Spencer elected mayor; defeats Tishaura Jones in political rematch The Missouri Supreme Court ultimately sided with the county council to allow Proposition B to stay on the ballot. Leading up to the election, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page had also been accused of improperly using public funds for fliers in opposition to Prop B. Page shared the following statement via social media on voters rejecting Proposition B: 'Prop B was a bad idea. Voters saw through the deceptive language and saw it for what it was: an attempt to disrupt county government and make it harder to get business done. It is time to move on and focus on issues important to the daily lives of St. Louis County residents.' Greater St. Louis, Inc. Interim CEO Dustin Allison issued the following statement on Proposition B: 'As the voice of the St. Louis region's business community, Greater St. Louis, Inc. expressed our strong opposition to Proposition B and encouraged St. Louis County voters to cast a 'no' vote. We are proud to stand with the voters of St. Louis County who voted down Proposition B. 'We look forward to working with the leaders of St. Louis County to drive growth and create more opportunity for the future.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposition B to appear on St. Louis County ballots
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – After a lengthy legal battle, voters in St. Louis County will have the chance to cast their vote on Proposition B Tuesday. Citizens heading to the polls for the April General Municipal Election will see Proposition B, which reads: 'Shall Section 2.190.3 be added to and Sections 4.020 and 5.020 of the Charter of County be amended to restore checks and balances, oversight, and accountabilityof the executive branch by authorizing removal of the St. Louis County Counselor or anyDepartment Director by five of the seven Councilmembers as set forth in Exhibit A ofOrdinance No. 29,241, on file with the St. Louis County Administrative Director and theSt. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners? The cost of legal counsel authorized ifthis amendment passes has no fiscal impact on taxes.' Essentially, the measure would grant the county council the authority to remove department heads with five of seven council members' votes, or a 'supermajority.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The proposition faced a great amount of scrutiny by St. Louis County department heads—to the point of it reaching the Missouri Supreme Court. A lawsuit against the county council claimed that the ballot language was misleading to voters and failed to explain how the proposition would 'radically amend' St. Louis County law. In February, the Missouri Supreme Court sided with the county council, allowing Proposition B to stay on the ballot. A 'yes' vote on Proposition B would approve the St. Louis County Council's ability to remove department heads with a 'supermajority' vote, or with five out of seven members' votes. A 'no' vote on Proposition B would reject the St. Louis County Council from being able to remove department heads with a 'supermajority' vote, or with five out of seven members' votes. Most recently, County Executive Sam Page has been accused of improperly using public funds for fliers opposing Prop B. To see St. Louis County's sample ballots, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Complaint claims county exec used public funds on Prop B mailers
CLAYTON, Mo. – In a newly filed complaint with the Missouri Secretary of State's Office, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page is accused of improperly using public funds. Tom Sullivan submitted the complaint after postcards started arriving in voters' mail that contained information about Proposition B, the ballot measure that would give the county council the ability to remove department heads. Sullivan says he sent two separate complaints: one to the Secretary of State claiming Page spent public funding on the postcards, the other to the Missouri Ethics Commission claiming Page violated campaign finance disclosure laws. That complaint has to do with fliers that were distributed that contained similar information and wording to the postcards. Sullivan showed FOX 2 News an invoice which shows a company billing the county executive's office about $5,000 for close to 55,000 Prop B postcards. 'Anytime you have tax dollars being spent, I think it's a concern,' Sullivan said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now When asked for an interview, the county executive's office sent FOX 2 a statement saying, 'We were happy to see Mr. Sullivan publicly come out against Prop B with letters to the editor. 'He understands how flawed the proposal is. He also understands that it is proper, legal, and necessary to educate voters on ballot language that the circuit court called 'misleading, insufficient, inaccurate, argumentative, prejudicial, and unfair.' Why Mr. Sullivan would want to keep voters in the dark goes against his long-time declaration as a government watchdog.' Sullivan says his complaint is about the finances, not Proposition B. He says the postcards went beyond educating voters. '100% is telling you how terrible things are going to be if Proposition B is passed. There's no objectivity. They're not informational. They're all opposed to Proposition B,' Sullivan said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What's on the ballot for the St. Louis area April 8 election?
ST. LOUIS — The general municipal election on April 8 is fast approaching, and there are some major decisions on the ballot for voters across the St. Louis region. From St. Louis City to St. Charles County, voters will be deciding on new mayors and major propositions for the area. Here's a guide on the key races to be in the know about. In order to vote in Missouri, you need a valid photo ID such as a Missouri driver's license or state ID, a U.S. passport, or a military photo ID. Middle school student hospitalized after attack at Rockwood South For the city of St. Louis, voters will decide to either re-elect Tishaura Jones for mayor or choose challenger Cara Spencer. St. Louis city residents will also vote for the next comptroller, who is responsible for overseeing the city's budget, federal grants, and city spending. Darlene Green is up for re-election against Donna Baringer for the position. Voters will also select representatives for the Board of Aldermen in St. Louis city in seven wards across the area. Additionally, voters will select three members for the St. Louis Board of Education with 12 candidates running. View a sample ballot for St. Louis City here. One of the key measures in St. Louis County is Proposition B, which would allow the county council to fire department heads, including the county counselor, with five out of seven votes. The proposition is currently facing a lawsuit. Across St. Louis County, voters in Chesterfield, Frontenac, and Charlack will be voting for new mayors. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now In Chesterfield, Dan Hurt and Derek Grier are up for the mayoral position to replace Mayor Bob Nation. For Frontenac, Kate Hatefield is seeking reelection as Pat Kilker challenges Hatefield for the position. In Charlack, Mayor Mark Chamberlain is seeking reelection as Dorris J. Finnegan challenges Chamberlain. View a sample ballot for St. Louis County here. Voters across St. Charles County will also be voting for their next mayor, including Cottleville, Weldon Spring, Lake St. Louis, and Dardenne Prairie. For Cottleville, Robert Ronkoski is seeking reelection since being mayor of the area back in 2021. Stephen Thompson will be challenging Ronkonski for the position. In Weldon Spring, Donald Licklider is also running for reelection as the next mayor while Laura Carpenter opposes as challenger. Brian McKinney and Tom Mispagel are both running for mayor of Lake St. Louis to replace Mayor Jason Law. Three candidates are up for the mayoral position in Dardenne Prairie to replace John Gotway, the current mayor. Mark Johnson, Keith Widaman and Justin Ungerboeck are all running for the position. View a sample ballot for St. Charles County here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
