Friday, April 19, 2013
The former State Senator officially took office this week on the board of the west St. Louis County area fire district.
The Monarch Fire Protection District Board was reconstituted this week following this month's election that saw Jane Cunningham handily defeat Cole McNary in a race pitting former state lawmakers for a director's seat for the Chesterfield-based district. Monarch serves parts of several municipalities in St. Louis County, including Creve Coeur, Wildwood, Ballwin and Maryland Heights. Cunningham succeeds Kim Evans, who opted against running for re-election. The just completed-campaign boiled down to what Cunningham called "a war" between citizens and the firefighter's union for control of the district, but it was clear Wednesday that in some respects, the rhetorical battle was just beginning. "It's a celebration of government of the people, …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The former State Senator defeated former State Rep. Cole McNary in a race for the West St. Louis County area fire district board.
A matchup of two high profile political names who have spent the past few months duking it out for a seat on the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors came to a conclusion Tuesday as voters elected chose Jane Cunningham over Cole McNary for a seat on the three-person panel. In unofficial final results: Cunningham 5,679 60.02 percent McNary 3,742 39.55 percent Write-In 4 1 .43 percent "This is one of the sweetest wins I've ever had because it was a win of something so direct for the people. This was a fundamental war if you will," for control of the Monarch Fire Protection District board, Cunningham said as a victory party at Mike Duffy's in Town and Country wrapped up late Tuesday. Cunnigham, who …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
The two high-profile Republican candidates are seeking a relatively obscure position on the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors.
Documents show that more than $50,000 was spent in the race to fill a vacant seat on the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors. The race for a relatively unknown office drew two Republican heavyweights in former State Sen. Jane Cunningham and former State Rep. Cole McNary, both of whom are from Chesterfield. They seek to fill a six-year term on a three-person board in the April 2 election. Cunningham's campaign committee spent $23,600 primarily in advertising, printing and yard signs, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission on March 25. The most notable expense was nearly $9,000 paid to Turec Advertising Associates, an advertising agency in Olivette. McNary's committee spent $28,175 …
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Two candidates are running for a vacant spot on the three-member board.
I am running because of the need in the district for someone who is a tested and proven candidate who has demonstrated they will address the two biggest, interrelated issues, union control of the Board and property taxes that are higher than need be for top quality service. I am the only candidate who has proven I am serious about tax relief. I led the successful effort to convince the Fire Board to reverse an unnecessary $1 Million property tax hike in 2011. As a Board Director, I will not be controlled by the union because I am the only candidate who has promised voters I will not accept union campaign money, volunteers at the polls or their negative fliers paid for by Citizens for Good Government. Since Board members set employee …
Two candidates are running for a vacant spot on the three-member board.
My primary focus as a State Representative was making government smaller and more efficient. I passed common sense, good government reforms that received tremendous bipartisan support. I was successful because I pushed for sensible legislation that was more about making a difference than making headlines. This kind of leadership is what I will bring to the Monarch district. Current board member Steve Swyers, who has turned the district around, felt I could help Monarch continue to make progress. It would be my honor to serve the residents of Monarch. We must keep the politics out of the boardroom and focus instead on running the district efficiently so we can keep the residents of Monarch safe. What do you think are the biggest issues …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The district was given $1,500 from the Missouri American Water Company toward the purchase of a fire eductor. The tool allows for the pumping of water from sources, such as streams or swimming pools, and will aid in the fighting of fires in rural areas.
Monarch Fire Protection District teams added another tool to their firefighting arsenal, thanks to a grant from the Missouri American Water Company. A check for $1,500 toward the purchase of a fire eductor was presented to Monarch Assistant Chief John Borgmann Feb. 11. The donation was part of a grant program run by the company that benefits fire districts in areas covered by Missouri American Water. According to a press release from the district, the Turbodraft fire eductor is used to access “static water sources,” such as lakes or ponds that are not easily reached by using typical drafting, or suction, techniques. Essentially, the device allows the district to pump water through hoses from such sources, which is important for fighting …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Former State Senator Jane Cunningham shared her reasonings against a public education officer position at the Monarch Fire Protection District board meeting Thursday.
Former State Senator and Monarch Fire Board Candidate Jane Cunningham spoke out against the hiring of a public education officer at Monarch's Fire Board meeting Feb. 7. Cunningham, running against former State Representative Cole McNary for current Fire Board President Kim Evans's seat in the election this April, shared her thoughts during public comments. With Monarch on the search for a public education officer, Cunningham said she did not see the advantage of the extra cost for the position when "school populations are not increasing and there is not any huge demand." Cunningham suggested the position did not require a career as a firefighter or paramedic, but added that a retired firefighter "might love to come back in" and take the …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
With the initial number of reduced price smoke alarms almost claimed, Monarch Fire Protection District has ordered another 600 to be made available for residents.
Monarch Fire Protection District's partnership with the Home Depot to make smoke alarms available for district residents at a reduced price is continuing, Fire Marshal Roger Herin told fire board members at Thursday's meeting. Monarch initially had 600 hard-wired smoke detectors provided by Home Depot for residents to purchase at $10.90 each, in comparison to the typical $16 retail price, Herin said. "It's been a great program so far," Herin said Thursday. "We plan to continue this program as long as Home Depot can hold at that price." Residents can also arrange for Monarch to install the smoke detectors free of charge. Herin said some homes need one smoke detector, others need 10, with an average of three to four needed per home. Monarch …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The Post-Dispatch interviewed both the remaining candidates, who once held high-profile offices in Jefferson City and now are running for the relatively obscure three-person fire board.
One was once a candidate for statewide office, the other a high-profile member of the Missouri state senate. Now, Cole McNary and Jane Cunningham are the sole candidates for the relatively obscure and low-paying job on the board of the Monarch Fire Protection District. The election is April 2 and both candidates are already getting a little nasty in their campaign for the open seat on the board, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Both are from Chesterfield and they're the only candidates left in the race for a six-year term. The newspaper quotes Cunningham referring to McNary as "the union candidate" and warning: "You don’t want the union bosses picking who their boss will be." In turn, McNary, who was the GOP …
Monday, January 28, 2013
Former State Senator Jane Cunningham and State Representative Cole McNary are running for the lone seat open in April's election for the fire protection district.
A race for the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors that was four candidates deep after a pair of surprising late entries prior to the January 15 deadline, is now down to two after a pair of candidates, including the lone incumbent, dropped out. The district confirmed late last week that Kim Evans, the board's current chairman, and Russell Lake, have removed their names from consideration for the April 2 election to the three person panel. That leaves former State Senator Jane Cunningham and former State Representative Cole McNary to compete for Evans' seat. Cunningham was redistricted out of the state legislature after she opted not to run in a relocated district, while McNary ran unsuccessfully for State Treasurer. In a …
Rob & Kathy Bonnell
11:32 am on Friday, April 26, 2013
Now that everyone has stated their point , I think it's time for the new board to move on and protect the tax payers. See I'm just an ordinary citizen who just happens to be a tax payer in Chesterfield. I have been alarmed with the massive growth in state,Federal and local Governments across this beautiful country. I now believe we have the folks in power to be credible watch dogs over us the tax… more ›