O'Fallon Candidate Forum: Ward 2 Candidates Discuss Smoking in Parks, Gun Control

Ward 2 Candidates answered questions about improving the economy, smoking in O’Fallon parks and gun control at the annual candidate forum hosted by the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) on on Tuesday, March 19.

The MYAC is composed of juniors and seniors from local public and private high schools, chosen by their school officials to learn more about local government.

The term of Jim Pepper ends in April, leaving one seat open in Ward 2. Pepper is running for re-election, facing opponent Mary Sue Laulo.

At the forum, each O’Fallon candidate gave a three-minute opening statement and closing statement. After that MYAC members questioned candidates, allowing a three-minute response time.

(Read more about Ward 2 Candidates)

Meet the Ward 2 Candidates:

Pepper has lived in O’Fallon for more than 12 years and served on the council for three years.

He retired from Xerox after 25 years, and in addition to O’Fallon City Council, he is involved with the Elks, No Hunger Holiday, Workforce Investment Board of St. Charles County, St Charles County Municipal League and the National League of Cities – Committee on Economic Development.

Pepper is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He’s been married to his wife for nearly 25 years and has two children and three grandchildren.

Before being elected O’Fallon Councilman, he previously served as mayor of Berdell Hills  and councilman in Normandy.

Pepper was also elected and appointed to the Home Rule Charter Commission, which put forward the O’Fallon City Charter approved by voters in 2009.

“I feel I have a lot more practical experience than a lot of people who have college degrees at this point,” he said.

Pepper said he is dedicated to the economic growth and development of O’Fallon.

Laulo has lived in O’Fallon for nearly 10 years. She said she was CEO of her own woman owned and operated company.

She is a graduate of University of Missouri St. Louis with a Master’s Degree in Business and has also taught business classes.

“I know how business runs, I know how the city council can run as a business,” she said.

Laulo worked on the O’Fallon Public Works Commission for five years and like Pepper, she co-authored the O’Fallon City Charter in 2009.

She has been married for 50 years and has four children and five grandchildren.

What specific ideas do you have to help O’Fallon’s economy grow?

Pepper said he attended the National League of Cities Convention in November 2010 and brought back the idea of the “Keep it in the O” campaign, which encourages residents to shop local and support small businesses.

He added, the city economic development director and staff are bringing forward new ideas to help O’Fallon grow.

“I want to support them in their efforts along with partnering with O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce and all of the businesses in bringing businesses in,” he said. “We need to really address the processes and procedures being used currently and make them more business friendly and timely.”

Laulo said she agreed with Pepper, but in addition to “buy in the O,” the city should focus on “bring to the O.”

“We want to create a community that is friendly to the businesses and not make it so difficult for businesses to come in,” she said.

Laulo said the city also needs to be more concerned with each business currently in city.

“I’d like to have a more one-on-one communication to the businesses in our area.

What can be done to increase youth participation in the city?

Laulo said one area she thinks O’Fallon is missing as far as youth activities is music.

“I’m positive we have kids your age or even younger who have wonderful musical talent and I’d like to see something like once a month and have a youth musical performance,” she said.

Pepper said he isn’t so sure it’s necessary what he thinks—but he’d like to hear more from local youth about what’s needed in the city.

“If you don’t raise your voice now, it won’t be heard,” he said.

What are your thoughts about regulating smoking in O’Fallon public parks?

Pepper said this was a difficult situation, because he is unsure whether you are infringing upon other people’s rights at the expense of others.

“I can see moving some of the smoking areas away from any congregated area,” he said.

He added he doesn’t think signs should be 100 yards away, but somewhere in an area that will it not irritate others.

“I do know that smoking is the big thing, and anti-smoking. Yes it is a bad habit, but people still do it and it is still a legal product,” Pepper said.

Laulo said he was surprised by Pepper’s answer, because he’s been a great promoter of smoking in restaurants and bars for the past few years. 

O’Fallon voters passed the smoke-free air act on April 5, placing a ban on smoking at most of the city’s restaurants, bars and public places.

Pepper criticized the ban in the spring of 2011, saying he believed it was too strict. He previously told O’Fallon Patch his stand was not about the health dangers of smoking; but about property rights and individual responsibility.

Laulo said she’d like to see some place where people who do not smoke could enjoy the parks.

With recent tragedies, the gun control debate has been a hot topic. Recently, Pepper supported a bill to prevent federal, state or local infringement on the right to keep or possess fire arms, accessories and ammunition.

Laulo said the real is is not guns.  

“The real problem is the ammunition,” Laulo said. “Already the government is going behind us and buying up the bullets. What good is a gun if you do not have a bullet?”

She said O’Fallon should see what they can do to promote ammunition manufacturers to build in the city.

Pepper agreed with Laulo, that the government is buying ammunition and said the proposed bill is not a gun or anti-gun bill, but a second amendment rights bill.

“Those rights are guaranteed by the constitution, not given by the government,” he said.

Pepper said residents’ rights are being infringed upon when political leaders try to ban the sale of certain types of weapons, using the example of a California senator who is currently trying to ban 150 different types.

“Look what happened with Hurricane Katrina,he added. “The police and the National Guard went into private homes and actually confiscated legally purchased guns that these people were asking to protect their own home, when the police couldn’t.”

Pepper said the city needs to make a statement to the state and the federal government, that O’Fallon believes in the constitution.

Who has your vote for Ward 2 Councilperson? 

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Check back with O'Fallon Patch later this week for more from the O'Fallon Candidate Forum.