Student Vies for Ward 5 Council Seat Against Incumbent

A 22-year-old student who wants to make his political start as a St. Charles City Councilman in Ward 5 is running for election against an incumbent seeking his third term.

, who attends St. Louis University, will face , 53, in the election Tuesday. Weller has represented Ward 5 since 2004.

Schauf said his experience as an intern for St. Charles City during the summer of 2010 sparked his interest in running for the seat.

“I got to see both the politics side, but the personal side to how different directors interact and the overall mood of certain people,” he said.

Schauf said in talking with some residents he learned some people are ready for a change.

“I decided this was something that I could do,” he said. “I feel I could have a positive influence, a fresh take, fresh ideas and represent the citizens.”

Schauf said he believes transparency should be the No. 1 priority of a councilman. He said he’d like to build a stronger bridge between residents and city hall. If elected, Schauf said he would have regular meetings with residents.

Weller said he wants to run for reelection because he has several projects that he’d like to see though, from road projects to economic development.

He said during his time on the council, it has grown more civil.

“All 10 council members can get along and have a healthy debate but not take it personal,” he said. “Everybody is working toward the betterment of the city as a whole.”

Weller said the council looks toward the city as a whole and doesn’t focus on one ward in particular. Projects are prioritized based on importance, rather than having one person siphon projects into his or her ward, he said. 

Weller said he is the candidate who has the experience. He said he’s had an opportunity to run for office at a state level, but decided he wanted to stay at local level. “You’re closer and you can do more for your people in local government than state government,” he said.

Weller questioned whether Schauf was seeking election as a way to advance his career.

Schauf said that’s not the case. He plans to graduate in the spring and to apply for graduate school at University of Missouri-St. Louis.

His career goal is to be a city manager or director of administration for a city, although he said he’s not using this as a stepping-stone into public office.

“Something that I’d like to say, there are people who have questioned my abilities because of my age,” said Schauf. “Being available to talk to people, being fiscally responsible, spending money wisely and being available, are not something you have to be a certain age to understand.” 

Ward 5 includes the western part of St. Charles, including residential areas to the east and west of Muegge Road. See attached ward map.