ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo — Neil Freidman lives in Chesterfield. His question:
"There is a perception among people in St. Louis County that there’s corruption in St. Louis County government. As St. Louis County Executive, how would you solve the problem of corruption?"
Steve Stenger asserts that corruption is not an issue in St. Louis County.
"With respect to the issue he’s discussing there. That’s not something I’ve seen in St. Louis County government. You know, I don’t know if it frankly needs to be addressed because I don’t think that is an issue," says Stenger.
Businessman Mark Mantovani pointed to allegations that Mr. Stenger accepted campaign donations from donors that may have profited from county projects.
Mantovani says he won't allow any conflicts of interest.
"I’m not going to collect campaign contributions until the year of the election. As a practical matter I have no interest in collecting campaign donations after I take office. I just want to do the job," says Mantovani.
Alex Delhougne and her family lives in Webster Groves.
"How will you best spend our money that benefits all and is done so wisely and responsibly?" she asks.
"35 percent of African American kids in St. Louis County live in poverty. That’s where we should be investing, in my opinion. Not in a hockey rink or another office building, but in the people because in the long run, those investments come back to create more resources for the community anyway," says Mantovani.
County Executive Steve Stenger says, he would continue to invest in the Children's Services Fund, that benefits school districts across the county and would like to see an increase in funding for St. Louis County parks.
"One thing our County Council actually did last term is cut funding to our parks so what we’ve been doing is making more than less. I would like us to make more with more if we could. And that does not involve any sort of tax increase," says Stenger.
#MeetUsAtThePodium is a six-part installment that will air on 5 On Your Side at 10, the two weeks leading up to the August 7 Missouri State Primary.
