Ward 8 St. Charles City Council Candidate Steve Schad

Patch reached out to all local candidates for office to do an election profile before the April election. All candidates who spoke with Patch will be featured on the site. 

Steve Schad, 54

Occupation: Project Manager at Olneya Restoration Group, co-owner of Molly O's Tropical Sno
Education: B.A., Political Science, pre-law, Michigan State University, 1982, M.A., History, Michigan State University, 1998
Family: Wife, Molly, children, Harry, 12 and Grace, 10
Years in St. Charles: 4

Background: 

• Currently Associate Faculty member at the University of Phoenix in Earth City, teaching courses in "State and Local Government" and "U.S. Constitution."                                      
• Three years experience lobbying for the Autism Insurance Bill in Jefferson City, which passed in May 2010.                                      
• Small business owner in St. Charles with my wife, Molly, Molly O's Tropical Sno and Molly O's Chili Shack at Hwy. 370 and New Town Blvd.          
• High School Social Studies teacher and soccer coach for 13 years in St. Louis area, at De Smet Jesuit, St. Mary's and St. Louis University High
• Won four Missouri State High School soccer championships. 
• Co-founder of the new Town Men's Club

Why are you running for election?

I have always been employed in positions where I have helped people and it has prepared me to be an effective and diligent public servant.

What is the biggest issue facing St. Charles?

I feel that St. Charles is falling behind the other cities in the St. Charles County region in terms of economic development, quality of life and prestige. 

In what areas does St. Charles need to improve?

There needs to be more coordination, cooperation and promotion between the City of St. Charles and the businesses and neighborhoods of the city.

What will you do to help attract small business and retail to St. Charles? 

We need to be more diligent in recruiting businesses to the City by improving, and then actively promoting, its uniqueness and its quality of life. 

What will you to do to maintain quality of life for St. Charles residents?

By being responsive to the citizens and their vision of the future of the City versus what we in government or the business community might desire. Also, by developing further the proposal for a comprehensive community center for the city. 

What's one thing you'd like to accomplish this year? 

To get the city government to reconnect with its citizens so that they feel more involved in the growth and direction of the city in the future.