>>> WELCOME TO DONNYBROOK, NEXT UP.

WE HAVE ALREADY HAVING A LIVELY DISCUSSION WITH SAINT CHARLESTON EXECUTIVE, STEVEN ELMAN.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORIES IN THE REGION TODAY IS A SUDDEN FLASHPOINT, A FEUD BETWEEN YOU AND MAYOR JONES.

HAVE YOU OFFICIALLY COMMENTED ON HER RESPONSE TO YOUR ORIGINAL PIECE?

>> I DID RESPOND TO SOME OF IT.

AND THE BIGGEST -- HER BIGGEST CONCERN RATHER THAN ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THAT I'M TRYING TO ADDRESS, SHE WAS CRITICAL OF THE FACT THAT I HADN'T TALKED TO HER FIRST.

WHAT I POINTED OUT THAT EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN MY PIECE THAT WAS IN THE BUSINESS JOURNAL, WAS TAKEN FROM MY TESTIMONY LAST YEAR FROM A COMMITTEE ON ISSUES THAT MET AT THE COLLEGE.

AND DAN WAS THE CHAIR.

AND HER AND I BOTH TESTIFIED, ONE AND THEN THE OTHER.

I MENTIONED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE THINGS A YEAR AGO.

>> SHE WAS THERE?

>> SHE WAS THERE.

SHE HEARD IT AND DIDN'T RESPOND.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE MEDIA DIDN'T COVER IT LIKE THEY ARE NOW.

THERE WAS NOTHING KNEW.

WE HAD A BILL PUT IN LAST YEAR IN JEFFERSON CITY, THE BILL TO RETURN TO THE SYSTEM FOR 150 YEARS.

WHEN I HOPE WE NEVER HAVE TO DO.

WHERE THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.

I HOPE WE NEVER HAVE TO DO THAT.

AND A DISCUSSION NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW.

YOU KNOW, NOTHING QUICK HAPPENS IN JEFFERSON CITY.

THE CITY CAN FIX IT ON THEIR OWN.

>> ONE OF THE PROBLEMS I HAD WITH YOUR IDEA -- (MIC OFF).

>> BEEN A BIG CRITIC -- AND I REMEMBER TALKING WITH ERIC SCHMIDT BEFORE COVID-19 -- >> EXCUSE ME, BILL, WE ARE LOSING ALL OF THIS WISDOM.

YOU WILL HAVE TO TURN ON YOUR MIC.

>> THERE YOU GO.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

I WAS SAYING I HAVE BEEN A MAJOR CRITIC OF KIM GARDNER.

I KEEP RUNNING INTO THE WALL THE FACT THAT SHE HAS BEEN ELECTED AND REELECTED.

AND I REMEMBER TALKING TO ERIC SCHMIDT WHEN HE WANTED TO PROSECUTE MURDER CASES.

THE PROBLEM IS THERE IS AN ELECTED PROSECUTOR ALREADY.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF US OLD WHITE GUYS WANT TO UNDO KIM GARDNER.

BUT SHE IS ELECTED.

>> YES AND THE NEXT PROSECUTOR WILL BE ELECTED NEXT YEAR BUT FROM A LARGER POOL OF VOTERS.

>> THERE IS NOTHING UNPRECEDENT UNPRECEDENTED.

THEY WERE ONE PROSECUTOR.

AND JACKSON COUNTY, STILL HAS A SITUATION THEY HAVE TWO COURTHOUSES, ONE IN THE CITY AND INDEPENDENCE.

THAT WHAT'S WE WOULD HAVE.

EVERYTHING WOULD STAY THE SAME.

NO JUDGE, NO CIRCUIT -- EXCUSE ME, NO JANITOR WOULD LOSE THEIR JOB.

THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD CHANGE, BUT A SINGLE PROSECUTOR ELECTED IN BOTH WE WOULD BE XAKLY, THE SAME EXACTLY THE SAME.

>> YOU ARE REALISTIC ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT KIM GARDNER FANS ARE NOT GOING TO SIT BY YOU, FROM ST. CHARLES, TO TAKE HER OUT OF THE EQUATION.

>> I CAN COME UP WITH ALL OF THE PLANS I WANT, BUT IS ANYONE IN JEFF CITY BRAVE ENOUGH TO PUT IN A BILL.

AND HAVE A REAL DEBATE AND DISCUSSION.

I AM GLAD TO BE APART OF THIS SHOW.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE IN MEDIA AROUND ST. LOUIS WHERE PEOPLE WITH OPPOSING VIEWS ACTUALLY COME TOGETHER IN THE SAME ROOM AND YOU DEBATE THEM AND SOMETIMES YOU ARGUE WITH EACH OTHER.

WHAT KIM GARDNER OR STEVE OR JONES THINKS, IT IS NOT IMPORTANT.

IT IS THE LEGISLATION.

>> WE WENT THROUGH THIS WITH BETTER TOGETHER.

WE WILL ALLOW THE WISDOM DETERMINE WHAT THE CITY AND COUNTY SHOULD DO AND THEY SAID WE DON'T WANT THAT.

I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO RUN INTO THAT TOO.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO SAY, OKAY, LET THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM IN JEFFERSON CITY.

>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE STATE CONSTITUTION, DICTATED THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE THROUGH JEFFERSON CITY; IS THAT CORRECT?

>> HE IS TALKING ABOUT A BILL IN JEFFERSON CITY.

>> TO DO THE PROSECUTOR THING, THEY CAN COMBINE THE CIRCUITS.

YOU MAY HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION TO HAVE ONE PROSECUTOR.

IN WHICH CASE, IT WOULDN'T BE THE LEGISLATORS IN JEFFERSON CITY, IT WOULD BE THE PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE CITY TO DECIDE.

THE PROBLEM -- IF THIS PROBLEM WERE IN FRANKLIN OR OTHER COUNTIES.

THIS IS ST. LOUIS.

THE CITY IS THE FACE OF THE ENTIRE REGION.

WHEN THE CITY HAS A PROBLEM WITH CRIME, PEOPLE IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY LOOK AT THE FACT AND THINK THAT THE WHOLE REGION HAS A PROBLEM WITH CRIME.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET THE REGION MOVING FORWARD, SOLVE THE CRIME PROBLEM.

IF I DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT SOLUTION, FINE.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION?

THE STATUS QUO IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

THE HUB, THE CITY IS ABSOLUTELY THE HUB.

IS WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

IF IT STARTING TO COLLAPSE, IT IS GOING TO TAKE ITS FOLKS WITH IT.

>> THE IDEA OF LOCAL CONTROL, THAT YOU GUYS HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS, THE IDEA THAT YOU WILL TAKE LOCAL CONTROL AWAY FROM THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND LET THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE MAKE THE DECISIONS.

>> THAT'S WHAT WAS WRONG THE BETTER TOGETHER.

>> DO YOU KNOW BY THEY LIKE THE LOCAL CONTROL?

BECAUSE THEY HAVE CONTROLLED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WE CAN'T LIKE JEFFERSON CITY.

REPUBLICANS WANTED LOCAL CONTROL.

THEY ASKED ME TO TESTIFY TO GIVE LOCAL CONTROL BACK.

I WOULD LIVE TO SEE THE CITY SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE INTERVENING.

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.

TRYING TO GIVE THE CITY TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS, EVEN IF THEY DON'T WORK.

INSTEAD OF TAKING THE APPROACH THAT I SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED, THE LEGISLATURE SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED.

I CHALLENGE THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY, IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

COME UP WITH ANOTHER PLAN.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN GO DOWN THE ROAD WE HAVE BEEN ON.

AND THE LATEST PROBLEM, YOU KNOW, BILL, YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THE COPS MORE THAN I HAVE.

I HAVE BEEN AROUND THEM A LOT IN THE LAST 7 YEARS AND I HAVE LEARNED A LOT.

YOU KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALL ANGELS AND THEY HAVE A TOUGH JOB.

IF WE CAN'T GET BACK TO WHERE WE WERE.

THE IDEA OF THE HIGHWAY PATROL TO COME IN TO HELP.

THAT IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER IN '93, THEY HAD THE CRACK COKE WARS.

THE MURDER WENT UP TO 200.

AND THE CITY ASKED THE HIGHWAY PATROL TO COME IN.

THEY DID.

THEY HIRED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EFFORT.

AND WITHIN THREE YEARS THEY HAD THE MURDER RATE BACK DOWN.

IF WE BRING IN THE HIGHWAY PATROL AND PUT THE GOVERNOR IN CHARGE OF APPOINTING A COMMISSION.

I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY DO.

BUT THEY NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS PROBLEM IS EXISTING AND GO BACK TO THE TOTAL.

>> MAYOR JONES MADE THE POINT IN HER RESPONSE EITHER ON -- OR INTERVIEW, SHE WOULD BE WELCOME, SHE WOULD WELCOME RESOURCES FROM ST. CHARLES COUNTY IF YOU WANTED TO OFFER THEM TO HELP HER ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THEY FACE IN THE CITY.

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT?

>> I CAN SEND YOU A LIST OF HOW MUCH MONEY GOES TO THE CITY FROM THE REST OF THE REGION.

AND NOBODY HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT.

THEY HAD A HEARING TODAY ON THE EARNINGS TAX REPORT.

WE PAY TAXES WHEN WE SHOP HERE, GO TO THE CARDINAL GAMES.

THE ENTIRE REGIONAL.

IT IS THE STATE TAXPAYERS WHO PAID FOR HALF OF THE COST OF THE DOME.

THE CONVENTION CENTER.

AND THE OTHER HALF WAS PAID FOR MY VISITORS TO THE CITY WHO STAYED IN THE HOTELS AND MOTELS.

THERE IS ANOTHER OF REVENUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING TO THE CITY FOR A LONG TIME.

IF REVENUE -- WHAT DO WE HAVE?

A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.

>> JUST SITTING THERE.

>> IF MONEY COULD FIX IT, THINK IT COULD FIX IT.

BUT IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN MONEY.

>> I PAY EARNINGS TAX.

PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE CITY, WE EXPECT CERTAIN SERVICES, WE WANT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS -- >> THE TRASH.

>> THE POLICE TO COME.

WE WANT ALL OF THE SERVICES.

I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM FOR THE TAX FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SHOP OR STAY THERE.

>> WELL, WHAT IF THEY STAY AT HOME AND WORK AT HOME?

>> THAT'S -- A GOOD QUESTION.

I STILL SUPPORT THE EARNINGS TAX.

I MEAN, MAKING THE CITY HAVE DEEPER FINANCIAL PROBLEMS ISN'T GOING TO HELP ANYTHING.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS FLUSH.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM.

AGAIN, IF I CAN SHARE THIS STORY THAT I HAVE HEARD.

I AM PRETTY SURE IT IS TRUE.

IT IS A GOOD SOURCE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FOLLOW, IN WARREN COUNTY, ACROSS THE BORDER FROM ST. CHARLES COUNTY, THEY HAVE A NEW MEAT PACKING PLANT.

I WAS ASKED TO COME OUT AND MEET WITH THE PEOPLE.

THE GOVERNOR CAME DOWN.

HE IS A CATTLEMAN SO HE SPOKE THEIR LANGUAGE.

IT WAS A FATHER AND TWO KIDS.

THEY WENT BACK TO MILWAUKEE WHERE THEY ARE FROM WHETHER OR NOT TO GO TO ST. LOUIS OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THE TWO KIDS SAID DON'T GO TO WARREN COUNTY, ST. LOUIS BECAUSE ST. LOUIS HAS A CRIME PROBLEM.

I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU, THE DISTANCE CULTURALLY AND THE MILES IS TREMENDOUS.

PEOPLE IN MILWAUKEE DON'T KNOW THAT.

AND LUCKILY, THE FATHER SAID, NO, NO, WE ARE GOING TO GO TO WARREN COUNTY.

AND WE WILL BE JUST FINE THERE.

>> WE LUCKED OUT THIS TIME.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM I THINK WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE, AS LONG AS THE COUNTRY HAS A PERCEPTION THAT ST. LOUIS HAS A PROBLEM, THEY LOOK AT THE WHOLE REGION.

IF THEY DON'T LOOK AT ST. LOUIS, THEY WILL NEVER FIND OUT ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS GOING ON IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS ARGUING THAT ST. LOUIS DOESN'T HAVE A HUGE CRIME PROBLEM AND SOME OF THE OFFICIALS ARE NOT HANDLING IT AS WELL AS THEY COULD.

I THINK THE PROBLEM, STEVE, THE IDEA THAT WE'LL LET THE REST OF THE STATE MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WON'T HAVE SUCH A CRIME PROBLEM.

>> THE ECONOMIC ENGINE IN THE ENTIRE STATE?

ST. LOUIS CITY GOES DOWN, IT HURTS ST. CHARLES COUNTY, IT HURTS THE ENTIRE STATE.

WE ARE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THE STATE.

LIKE IT OR NOT.

ST. LOUIS CITY IS OLDER THAN THE STATE.

THERE ARE SUBDIVISIONS OF THE STATE.

>> STEVE, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN YOUR OPINION TO DIVIDE?

I WAS LISTENING TO AN INTERVIEW WITH MARK AND HE WAS SAYING WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER THERE IS THIS BICKERING AND FIGHTING AND PERSONALTY CONFLICTS BETWEEN THIS LEADER AND THAT LEADER.

CAN YOU POINT TO ANY ONE THING?

HAS IT BEEN GROWING?

ARE WE JUST ONLY IN OTHER SILOS THAT THE LEADERS ARE TAKING THEIR QUES FROM THE VOTERS THAT ARE SO POLARIZED.

>> I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES.

WHEN I WAS IN JEFF CITY, YOU REMEMBER JEFFERSON CITY 20 YEARS.

THE DEMOCRATS THAT SERVED CARED AS MUCH AS I DID ABOUT SAFETY ON THE STREETS, PUTTING CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

IT IS HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE CITY HAVE CHANGED THAT MUCH.

I KNOW THE LEADERS HAVE CHANGED.

WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THE PEOPLE I SERVED WITH, THERE WERE AS INTERESTED IN THIS AS THE REPUBLICANS WERE.

AND I JUST CAN'T -- YOU GUYS KNOW BETTER THAN I DO, THERE HAS TO BE PEOPLE IN THE CITY WHO STILL ARE NOT SATISFIED AND WANT TO GO GO AHEAD AND GET IT BACK WHERE IT WAS.

WHERE NO ONE WAS AFRAID TO GO OUT AT NIGHT.

>> I WAS A NIGHT REPORTER IN 1982.

1981.

THERE WAS A LOT OF CRIME.

IT ISN'T TOO NEW.

>> LET'S GO TO SOMETHING ELSE.

AS LONG AS WENDY MENTIONED MARK MANTAVANI.

YOU ARE AT THE COUNTY NEXT DOOR, YOU KNOW SAM PAIGE, MARK MANTAVANI.

>> WHAT DO I THINK?

>> YEAH, WHO ARE YOU FOR?

>> SAM AND I HAVE BECOME FRIENDS.

I WON'T SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT SAM.

I TALKED TO MR. MANTAVANI WHEN HE RAN AGAINST STEVE.

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH HIM.

AND EVEN SAM ADMITTED THAT HE WAS A SERIOUS PERSON.

HIS IDEAS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

AT THIS POINT, OBVIOUSLY, AS A REPUBLICAN, I GUESS I AM -- FOR MR. MANTAVANI.

>> JUST BECAUSE I WILL HAVE TO WORK -- >> SURE.

>> -- WITH ONE OF THEM.

YOU GUYS KNOW IT WAS THIS WAY IN JEFFERSON CITY.

>> YEAH, SURE.

>> WHEN I WAS A REPUBLICAN FLOOR LEADER THE REPUBLICANS WERE TRYG TO GET SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES BEAT.

I TRIED TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT.

IN JANUARY, WHOEVER WON, I HAD TO DEAL WITH THEM.

YOU WON'T SEE THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS GETTING THAT INVOLVED WITH THIS.

OBVIOUSLY.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE ANOTHER REPUBLICAN.

WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL, THIS GOES TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, IS ANYBODY INTERESTED IN WORKING TOGETHER?

IT IS A SHAME THE ONLY TIME THAT THIS REGION PULLS TOGETHER IS WHEN THE CARDINALS GET IN THE PLAYOFFS.

>> ALVIN REID IN THE SPIRIT OF THIS CONVERSATION, HE WANTED TO ASK YOU, IF CRIME IS SUCH A PROBLEM IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, DO YOU FEEL SAFE TO CHEER THEM ON IN THE PLAYOFFS?

>> I DO.

THERE ARE 47 THOUSAND PEOPLE THERE.

>> YEAH.

>> I FEEL VERY SAFE.

I FEEL SAFE GOING TO THE SOCCER GAMES TOO.

BUT, THE PROBLEM IS, DO THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS FEEL SAFE GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE?

THEY ARE THE ONES THAT -- WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE CHILDREN WHO HAVE DIED.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WHEN I TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M MISSING THE POINT.

IT IS A TRAGEDY FOR THOSE PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, WALKING OUT SEEING THEY ARE NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORS, KIDS KILLED.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING YOU COULD DO FROM ST. CHARLES TO HELP THE CITY AND NORTH COUNTY WITH ITS CRIME PROBLEM BESIDE CALLING TO TAKE LOCAL CONTROL AWAY?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IN MY ARTICLE THAT I SUGGEST, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN DO TOGETHER.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY GOT -- A WAY TO GET THE POLICE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER.

IT IS A PROGRAM TO DEAL WITH TERRORISTS.

OUR POLICE CAN TALK TO SOMEBODY IN THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT TERRORISM.

THEY PROBABLY KNOW MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

IF WE HAVE SOMEONE STEALING A CAR AND HEADING ACROSS THE BRIDGE, WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO TALK TO PEOPLE IN ST. LOUIS AND SAY THEY WILL BE THERE IN 10 MINUTES.

HERE'S THEIR LICENSE PLATE.

WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOME COMMUNICATION WITH OTHERS.

THERE IS A JOINT STRIKE TASK FORCE.

AGAIN, ALL OF THESE THINGS, SOME PEOPLE ARE IN, SOME AREN'T.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE LEGISLATOR GET IN.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS A RICK.

CAN WE HAVE A JOINT RICK?

THE BAD GUYS DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO BOUNDARIES.

THE ONLY REASON THEY KNOW ABOUT BOUNDARIES THINKING THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE BOUNDARY AND WE WILL STOP CHASING THEM.

>> YOU HAVE MADE THE POINT THAT ST. LOUIS CITY'S LOSS IS ST. CHARLES' GAIN.

>> IT IS.

>> COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THAT.

YOU ARE BUSTING AT THE SEEMS, AREN'T YOU?

>> WE GREW 12.4 PERCENT.

OUR MINORITY POPULATION IS GROWING.

AND WHEN I TALK TO AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO MOVE TO ST. CHARLES COUNTY, EVERYONE HAS MOVED THERE FOR THE SAME REASON THE WHITES HAVE.

THE SCHOOLS WERE GOING DOWN, THE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE NOT SAFE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE DON'T SPEND A DIME ON ADVERTISING.

IT IS NOT A PULL FROM US.

IT IS A PUSH.

PEOPLE ARE BEING PUSHED OUT OF THE CITY AND PARTS OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND THEY ARE GOING TO JEFFERSON, ST. CHARLES.

IT IS A FREE COUNTRY AND THEY ARE VOTING WITH THEIR FEET.

IT IS GOING WELL IN ST. CHARLES.

EVERYONE WANTS TO MOVE TO ST. CHARLES COUNTY AND THE WHOLE REGION WILL BE NO GROWTH.

WE HAVE TO GET THE REGION GROWING.

TO GET IT GROWING WE HAVE TO GET THIS PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF IN THE CITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING IN THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND GREATER STL HAVE MADE GOOD ROADS TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER.

AS LONG AS THE FACE OF THE REGION HAS THIS PROBLEM, I THINK THE WHOLE REGION SUFFERS.

>> IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THINK THAT ST. CHARLES COUNTY IS NOT WILLING TO HELP MUCH.

IN 2016, WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO GET THE ZOO-MOORE MONEY.

LET'S INCLUDE ST. CHARLES COUNTY IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THE CITY AND COUNTY GOING TO THE ZOO.

IT IS MOSTLY ST. CHARLES COUNTY.

NOW IT IS ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER THAT GO.

WE, THE ZOO PEOPLE APPROACHED ST. CHARLES COUNTY, YOU WERE AGAINST IT AND DIDN'T WANT IT TO GO TO A VOTE.

YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ARCH.

>> WITH THE ZOO, THEY DID.

THEY CAME OUT AND TALKED TO ME.

YOU NEED TO GET THEM TO CHANGE THE STATUTE IN JEFFERSON BEFORE WE PUT A TAX OUT.

THEY GOT NOWHERE.

WE LOOKED INTO IT AND MET WITH PEOPLE AT THE ZOO, AT THE TIME.

THERE WERE LOOKING TO CREATE A CONSERVATION AREA.

>> I REMEMBER THAT.

>> 450 ACRES IN VIRGINIA, THEY WENT TO LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO.

WE BOUGHT AN ADDITIONAL ONE HUNDRED ACRES THAT WE HAD.

AND WE OFFERED IT TO THEM FOR A DOLLAR A YEAR.

WE OFFERED IT TO PUT 1 MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS THE OPERATION.

BECAUSE WE HAD DONE SOME POLLING.

YES, IF WE WOULD PUT A TAX ON, IT WOULD NOT HAVE PASSED.

WITH POLL PEOPLE THERE WERE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ZOO TO BUILD A FACILITY INSAIN STATE CHARLES.

LONG STORY SHORT, THEY DIDN'T TAKE US UP ON THE 1 DOLLAR, THEY PUT A TAX INCREASE AND BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

THAT'S FINE.

I UNDERSTAND.

I HOPE PEOPLE IN THE PAST WHO DID CRITICIZE US, NOT WORKING TO HELP THE ZOO ISN'T ONE OF THEM.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE AGAINST IT GOING UP FOR A VOTE.

YOU SAID WE WERE NOT SUPPORT THAT.

>> NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT ABOUT THE ZOO.

I SAID THAT ABOUT THE ARCH.

>> HAS YOUR POLITICAL GOALS CHANGED?

>> NO.

>> BEYOND ST. CHARLES COUNTY.

>> I WILL DO THIS FOR FOUR MORE YEARS.

I AM TELLING YOU, THIS IS -- THINGS ARE GOING WELL IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY.

OUR FUTURE IS TIED TO THE REGION.

AND I THINK IF I CAN DO ANYTHING IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS TO GET THE REGION GOING, THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO DO.

AS FAR AS ST. CHARLES COUNTY, IT IS GOING VERY WELL AND I WILL TRY NOT TO SCREW IT UP.

>> THEY HAVE DIVISION 1 FOOTBALL.

>> YEAH!

.

I WENT TO THE GAME ON SATURDAY.

IT WAS A GREATEST DAY FOR THE AREA.

THE STADIUM WAS FILLED.

THE SCORE DIDN'T TURN OUT LIKE WE WANTED IT TO.

IT WAS A GOOD GAME UNTIL THE FOURTH QUARTER.

IT WAS GREAT TO SEE.

WE WANTED TO BE A COLLEGE TOWN AND WE FINALLY ARE.

>> WE HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

WITH THE BOOM IN TERMS OF THE POPULATION IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY AND THE EAST, WEST, GETTING CLOSER TO A THIRD CHAIR?

>> THAT'S ONE OF MY GOALS.

AGAIN, THE CITY HAS 330 THOUSAND, AND THEY HAVE THREE SEATS AND WE HAVE TWO.

MOST OF THE TIME THE VOTES ARE NOT CLOSE.

IF IT DID COME TO A CLOSE VOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AS MANY SEATS AS ST. LOUIS.

WE HAVE WORKED PRETTY WELL DOWN THERE.

THERE WERE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THAT HELD THEIR NOSE VOTING FOR THE NEW TROLLEY MONEY.

BECAUSE THE MAYOR AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE REGION.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

AND IN THE FUTURE, YOU KNOW, IF SHE WANTS TO DO THE SAME THING TO ST. CHARLES COUNTY, THE RESPONSE FROM ME IS WE DON'T NEED IT BECAUSE OF A, B, C. AND I WOULD CHALLENGE HER, YOU RAISE SOME GOOD REASONS NOT TO BE FOR THIS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DEBATE CONTINUE HERE.

EAST WEST GATEWAY, AND JEFF CITY.

>> WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE HOPE YOU COME BACK.

>> HEY, I ENJOYED IT.

>> ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE AT 9 PBS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING NEXT UP.

AND HAVE A TERRIFIC WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT THURSDAY.

GOOD NIGHT!