Meet Ward 4 Arnold City Council Candidate Butch Cooley

Patch sent all Arnold City Council candidates identical questionnaires in order to compile candidate profiles prior to the April election. Each candidate who returned the survey will be featured on the site this week alphabetically by ward.

Butch Cooley, 73 (Candidate for Arnold City Council - Ward 4) 

• Address: 2145 Lonedell Rd., Arnold, MO 
• Occupation: Retired operating engineer
• Education: Herculaneum High School
• Family: Married with two children and three grandchildren
• Years lived in Arnold: Lifelong resident
• Please provide a brief summary of your background, highlighting community involvement if applicable. 
  • Arnold Ward 4 City Councilman 2001-2009; Member of Arnold Parks and Leisure Services Board 2001-2009; Organizer of Arnold Days Car Show.
• Please provide a brief summary of your reasons for running: I am running for office because I feel that I can help bring an end to the current in-fighting on the Council, and help the City start to move forward again. I have served the City previously for eight years, during a time of tremendous growth and revitalization. I served during the conception through completion of the Arnold Commons Shopping Center, the building of the Recreation Center and Library and the acquisition of PommeCreek Golf Course – all projects that have enhanced the image and livability of the City. I love this City having lived here for my whole life.

Questions: 

1. What do you currently see as the biggest issue facing Arnold? The biggest problem in the City currently is the fighting and negativism onthe City Council. We need to concentrate on moving the City forward, not backward. We need to focus on improving infrastructure in the city to benefit the residents and businesses. The current atmosphere of attacking and suing the City is not productive and not in the best interests of the citizens. The City is being made to look foolish. If elected, I will do my very best to bring back responsibility, professionalism and service to the residents.

2. How do you plan to ensure the best use of taxpayer dollars?

The best use of taxpayer dollars is obviously to help the taxpayers. I believe that a strong Police Department well maintained roads and reliable Sanitary and Storm Sewers are the three ways that the taxpayers want their money spent.

3. In what area does the Arnold need to improve? Are you satisfied with the way the city has been operating?

There are projects that are being ignored because of the infighting. We need to review road and sewer projects, complete the park system and maintain our police department to ensure the safety of the residents and motorists. I am satisfied with the work of the City Staff, but very unhappy with a few of the Councilmembers.

4. Assume you win the election. What thing do you want to accomplish during your time on the council? 

I want to lessen the tax burden of the residents by working hard to continue to bring business into the City and increase the number of jobs and maintain FREE TRASH.

5. Many in the community have expressed discourse over the manner in which the council recently has conducted business. Specifically, community members have asked councilmembers to stop "bickering" and "do the jobs they were elected to do." How to you plan to address this moving forward? 

The only way to eliminate the bickering is to elect new Council members – new members who have the best interests of the City and its residents as their reason for running. I will be one of those new members.