St. Charles City Council Ward 1 Candidate Profile: Rory Riddler

Rory Riddler is one of three candidates running to represent Ward 1 on the St. Charles City Council. The other candidates, Mary Ann Ohms and Kenny Biermann have their candidate profiles posted as well. Riddler filled out this questionnaire and submitted it to St. Charles Patch via email. The answers are edited for spelling only.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Age: 56

Family: Single, two children, both in college

Education: Indiana University at Bloomington (freshman year) and University of Missouri St. Louis (three years)

Occupation: Public relations consultant

Party affiliation: Not applicable as this is a non-partisan election

Previous elected offices: Held the office of city councilman from this ward previously.

Applicable experience: Served as a councilman for 27 years, passed over 200 bills, saved city tens of millions of dollars, helped secure over half a billion dollars in new development, proposed Hawks Nest Overpass, lobbied for and helped fund Mel Wetter Parkway and extension over Interstate 370, worked for series of riverfront parks in north St. Charles, sponsored such programs as the home maintenance loan program, the sewer lateral insurance program, and the extended historic district overlays. I am most proud of having proposed the site for and helping to secure funding for the Foundry Arts Center. 

CANDIDATE QUESTIONS

What is the primary reason you are running for this office? 

I’m running because it takes experience in city government and finance to solve the budget crisis and get things done. Lately it seems like no one at City Hall is listening. I once more want to see our residents receive the attention they deserve. Also, over the past four years that I have been out of office, our ward has lost to other parts of town over a million dollars in money that had been budgeted for projects here. I’ll make sure our end of town is not ignored.

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? 

There is so much that needs addressed it does a disservice to narrow it to just one top priority. Issues are also interrelated. We need to focus on economic development to jump-start the local economy to have the resources to do other things. We have to have a safe community and support our police and firefighters, because if the city isn’t safe, people will move away and property values will plummet. You also have to keep up with all of the infrastructure and maintain good streets, sidewalks, alleys, parks, recreational facilities and keep the city clean to make it an attractive place for people to live and for businesses to locate.

What sets you apart from the other candidates, if contested?

My experience is directly related to city government. A lot of people run for office and make promises, but I know how to get things done.

How long have you lived in St. Charles?

I have lived in St. Charles over 40 years. My father still lives in the home where we lived on Benton and I walked to the old high school. My grandparents lived on Clark Street. When I bought my first home it was in the block behind their home at Eighth and Adams, so both of my children could walk to Benton Elementary, Hardin Middle School and SCHS as I did.

What's your favorite thing about St. Charles?

It has to be the beautiful old homes, our scenic riverfront, and great neighborhoods. It makes you feel good just to walk the streets. The people of St. Charles also have a real sense of community and take pride in their homes and property. 

What is the biggest problem in St. Charles?

We need to restore fiscal sanity to City Hall. In the Capitol Improvements Budget I saw that the administration had budgeted $250,000 to fix an eroding creek behind just one home. The creek no doubt is in need of repair, but is the house worth saving at that kind of cost? $235,000 was paid to the Finance Director for resigning. There aren’t a lot of places that pay that kind of money when you effectively quit. Having her sign a gag order made it appear that she was compensated to not talk about what she knew. Our tax dollars should not be going to pay “hush” money.

I’ve also noticed that millions in the CIP are being diverted towards building a potential “new” City Hall that voters have not been given any details on. At the same time, money has been being diverted away from a promised community center. As city councilman, I would be able to ask the tough questions.