Politics & Government

McCloskey Says Dept. of Revenue Investigating Candidates

Write-in candidate admits results are unlikely to be determined before Tuesday's election.

Ballwin mayoral write-in candidate Charles "Chuck" McCloskey said state investigators are examining whether two Ballwin aldermen should remain eligible for Tuesday's election.

At a "town hall meeting" Saturday night at the Madison at Seven Trails clubhouse in Ballwin, McCloskey appeared with fellow challengers Mark Harder and Raj Sajid, who are competing in separate races for alderman.

Incumbent Pat McDermott also made a late appearance at the informal, intimate gathering, which included discussions about issues such as government transparency and budget management, in addition to talk about election eligibility.

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Specifically, McCloskey said candidates Jim Leahy of Ward 3 and Jimmy Terbrock of Ward 1 were not up to date on property tax payments to St. Louis County at the time they filed to be candidates for Tuesday's election. According to an affidavit in their filings, that should render them ineligible, he said.

"The city residents deserve the best public officials they can have," said on Tuesday. "The best public officials stay on top of their own taxes and ought to bend over backward to get them paid on time."

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McCloskey said the Missouri Department of Revenue is investigating whether Terbrock and Leahy's payment history should disqualify their candidacy. However, the department would not indicate a timeline for completing its review.

"They will do the investigation, effectively, in secret," McCloskey said.

He said ballots for Tuesday's election already have been printed, however, and suggested that the issue may require a sitting alderman to step down after elections.

McCloskey and the other candidates present also addressed Ballwin's tax base and potential means to increase city revenue. McCloskey said "kind but firm code enforcement" would help Ballwin enhance its property values, which have been in decline for about 3 years, he said.

"We should also stimulate more Ballwin businesses to remain in the city, to expand in the city and to perhaps even open their doors for the first time in our city," McCloskey said.

Harder and Sajid, too, cited economic development as a top priority if elected, with all candidates lamenting recent losses of Ballwin businesses such as and .

Harder said that since Ballwin receives most of its tax revenue through sales taxes, those losses are doubly painful because of a potential domino effect.

"If a big buy down the street decides to leave, then another one, then the little guys go, 'I need them to bring people to me," Harder said. "So to keep the services that we've enjoyed, it's going to be tough if we lose more of those businesses."


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