ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – The head of the St. Charles County government says there needs to be a change in voting at the East West Gateway Council of Governments.
County Executive Steve Ehlmann says the City of St. Louis should be stripped of one its three votes as it has lost much of its population.
“Because they have three votes now, same number they had when they had twice as many people,” he said. “We have two votes now, which is about the same number as when we had half as many people. The math just doesn’t work out.”
The East West Gateway board of directors will start revamping the bi-laws and Ehlmann plans to propose a change.
St. Charles County has three votes on the council that divides tens of millions of federal dollars, as well as making policy on issues, like combating crime. St. Louis County has four votes and St. Louis City has three. Ehlmann says it just isn’t fair.
“One of the things that I’m suggesting when we redo the bylaws is that we take one seat away from St. Louis City and give it to St. Louis County. If we do that, it will become much closer to everybody having equal representation,” Ehlmann said.
FOX 2 reached out to St. Louis County Executive Same Page’s Office, but haven’t heard back. However, the head of East West Gateway, Jim Wild, explained the county’s view on the votes.
“I think they view the work at East West Gateway and the actions those board members take as being collaborative, working together, and helping out one another when they need help,” Wild said. “They’re willing to look past that in their situation.”
Mayor Tishaura Jones’ Office sent FOX 2 a statement Wednesday, which reads, in part:
“The East West Gateway Council of Governments is meant as a convening body—one that underscores the fact that crime, homelessness, public transportation, and other issues don’t stop at our borders, and our solutions shouldn’t either.
It’s clear from recent votes that the council continues to coalesce around the mayor’s vision for the future of our region, and we’re happy for the collaboration with regional partners.”
Additionally, St. Louis City’s Communications Director Conner Kerrigan sent the following statement:
“It’s clear from recent votes that the council continues to coalesce around the mayor’s vision for the future of our region, and we’re happy for the collaboration with regional partners.”
When we told Ehlmann of the county not being concerned of having the extra vote, he responded by saying, “Well, maybe they haven’t done the math yet.”
