The Open Campaign Season

With Mayor Robert Lowery's that he is no longer seeking a third term as mayor, the campaign for the April 2011 election has changed its course.

With no incumbent in the race, the announced candidates look to change focus of their campaign.

"It's a totally different dynamic," said Ward 3 City Councilman who announced his candidacy Dec. 14. "Candidates now have to focus on their own qualifications and how they'll advance this city and this county in the next decade. Without an incumbent, you have an open race."

Councilman Schneider, Ward 6 City Councilman Andrew Podleski and Hazelwood School Board member Mark Behlmann all have announced their intentions to file and run for mayor in next year's municipal election. All have agreed that next year's campaign for Florissant's highest office has shifted without an incumbent.

Podleski said that there's a "fear factor in this city" from the current administration and with no one from that administration running, there's a chance for change.

"I think being an outsider, I'll be able to look at all aspects of the city," he said. "We need to do a lot better in transparency (of the administration)."

Behlmann, who has served on the Hazelwood School District school board for the past 14 years, said he has spent the past four years preparing for a 2011 campaign run — with or without an incumbent.

"Our family was raised on giving back to the community," Behlmann said. "When 2011 came around, I wanted to be in a position to run for mayor."

Behlmann decided to close his business, M.J. Behlmann Construction Inc., to focus on politics and has received a number of calls for support from residents to work or donate money.

The announcement has also brought new candidates into the mix.

Twenty-four year Florissant resident Donald "Don" Houston, 26, announced his intentions to run for the mayoral seat in a press release sent to Florissant Patch on Dec. 18.

"I feel that we are dealing with some candidates who have served the city long enough and because of their services, I believe that some of them may owe favors to other people," Houston said in his release. "I feel that the only favor a candidate should owe is to the voters of the position they are running for. I vow to run as an individual not indebted to anyone besides the residents of Florissant."

Behlmann said that additional candidates do not bother him in the slightest.

"I'm not afraid of competition; competition gives people more options," he said. "Like anything, the more, the merrier."

While he's decided against running for another term, Mayor Lowery said he wouldn't be out of this election cycle completely.

"I will be watching these candidates closely," Lowery said. "I'm going to be around, and they'll be hearing from me."

 The filing period for the municipal election opens on Jan. 4. Mayoral candidates must pick up packets from the city clerk's office and turn in the required 500 community signatures within a two-week timeframe.