>>> ALVIN REID AND CHARLIE ON NEXT UP.

>> I AM SAYING SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY, BUT WE ARE JOINED BY MARK MANTOVANI.

>> HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M ALL RIGHT.

>> MY GREEN TREE FESTIVAL.

>> THERE YOU GO.

SOMEBODY CAME UP TO YOU AND SAID DO YOU KNOW MARK MANTOVANI.

I BELIEVE THEY KNOW EACH OTHER.

[LAUGHTER.]

.

>> YOU ARE A POPULAR GUY.

>> WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.

>> YOUR POPULARITY HAS WANED WITH DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THEY ARE CONFUSED BY YOUR CHOICE TO RUN AS A REPUBLICAN.

AND WE ARE CONFUSED BY IT.

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST, YOU KNOW, EXPLANATION?

>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.

BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I CLARIFY THIS.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING TO FOLKS HAVING RUN TWICE AS A DEMOCRAT AND RUNNING TWICE AS A REPUBLICAN.

I AM THE SAME GUY.

THAT'S THE IMPORTANT FACT.

MY INVOICES HAVEN'T CHANGED.

I'M THE SAME GUY.

THE REASON THAT I AM PURSUING THE OFFICE IS BECAUSE OF MY DEVOTION TO ST. LOUIS AND MY BELIEF THAT WE HAVE FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGES THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED.

AND SO, WHEN THE REPUBLICAN POSITION CAME OPEN, THE NOMINATION FOR COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAME UP THROUGH A BUNCH OF UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONVERSATIONS BEGAN, I HAVE REPUBLICAN FRIENDS LIKE YOU DO TOO, I'M SURE.

THEY SAID WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN RUNNING ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE?

AND I SAID, LOOK, WHEN I RAN AS A DEMOCRAT, I ASKED REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR ME, AND I ASKED DEMOCRATS TO VOTE FOR ME.

I WILL DO THE SAME THING FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

MY FOCUS HERE ISN'T POLITICAL PARTIES.

MY FOCUS IS ST. LOUIS.

YOU CAN CALL ME AN R, CALL ME A D. WORRY ABOUT ST L. >> SAM PAIGE HAS BEEN INVITED TO BE ON THE SHOW AND YOU SAID YOU WOULD BE HERE TOO.

>> SURE.

WHY NOT?

>> I HOPE HE JOINS US.

>> WILL THERE BE A DEBATE BETWEEN NOW AND FIRST TUESDAY OF NOVEMBER?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

WE HAVE ASKED BY ANOTHER LOCAL TV NETWORK.

WE AGREED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OTHER SIDE IS THINKING ABOUT THAT.

I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY IT IS IN DISCUSSION.

I AM OPEN CERTAINLY TO IT.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO HEAR US, SEE US AND MAKE THE JUDGMENT ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE REGION.

>> I KNOW THE REGION IS NOT GROWING.

THE COUNTRY IS.

SOME OF OUR COUNTY ARE, ST. CHARLES, JEFFERSON AND OTHERS.

SAINT LOUIS COUNTY, POPULATION OF ABOUT 1 MILLION LOST 7 THOUSAND.

IT WENT DOWN.

IT IS IN A RUT RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO REVERSE, SO IT IS A GROWING PART OF THE UNITED STATES?

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS TO DO.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OVERNIGHT.

BUT, THIS IS A BIG PART OF WHY I HAVE GOTTEN INTO THESE CAMPAIGNS.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER, CHARLIE, WHEN I FIRST STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE ME CONSIDER GETTING INVOLVED IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE WAS WATCHING YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVE THE COMMUNITY.

I HAVE CHILDREN WHO GREW UP HERE, WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL HERE.

WHEN THEY ARE IN THEIR MID TO LATE 20S, I NOTICED THAT THEIR FRIENDS WERE LEAVING SAINT LOUIS.

THEY ARE NOT COMING BACK AFTER COLLEGE.

I FOUND THAT TO BE VERY UNFORTUNATE.

YOU KNOW HOW IT IS WHEN YOU ARE RAISING THE KIDS, YOU BECOME FRIENDLY WITH YOUR KIDS' PARENTS.

I SAW OUR FRIENDS SEEING THEIR FAMILIES FRACTURING AS THEIR FAMILIES EXACTLY WHERE YOU CAN PREDICT.

YOU COULD GUESS.

THEY WENT TO D.C., NASHVILLE, AUSTIN, AND COLUMBUS AND THE LIKE.

AND I THINK THAT HAS RUINED US AS A COMMUNITY TO LOSE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> YESTERDAY, I WAS SPEAKING TO A GROUP OF FOLKS AND I HAD LOOKED AT THE CENSUS IN ST. LOUIS MANY YEARS AGO.

MY GRANDFATHER CAME TO ELLIS ISLAND IN 1911.

ON HIS WAY TO ST. LOUIS.

IN 1911, ST. LOUIS WAS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA.

IN 1911.

OVER THE COURSE OF MY GRANDFATHER AND MY LIFE, WE HAVE SEEN THE DEGRADATION OF THE AREA.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

IT IS HAPPENING ON MY GENERATION'S WATCH.

THAT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO ME.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE FUNDAMENTALS CHALLENGES THAT ARE KEEPING PEOPLE FROM LIVING HERE.

FROM BEING COMFORTABLE HERE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST IS CRIME.

OUR REPUTATION FOR CRIME ACTS AS A VERY NEGATIVE FACTOR IN COMPANIES LOCATING PEOPLE HERE AND RETURNING HERE AND FRANKLY AND MOVING TO THE OTHER COUNTIES THERE, CHARLIE.

THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE HAS COMMUNICATED NO CRIME PLAN.

THEY THINK IT IS NOT A PROBLEM OR DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

I HAVE NOT HEARD THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAY THAT WE HAVE A CRIME PROBLEM.

>> THERE ARE CRIME PLANS ENACTED ALL ACROSS AMERICA.

IF YOU GOOGLE CRIME PLANS, YOU WILL SEE MOST MAJOR CITIES, COMMUNITIES HAVE A CRIME PLAN THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND THE WAY THEY DO IT, THEY PUT TOGETHER A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES.

THEY WILL WORK WITH THE FEDS, THE CLERGY AND OTHERS, THEY WILL EXECUTE THE PLAN TO MITIGATE CRIME.

IF I WERE EVER COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THIS WOULD BE AT THE TOP OF MY PRIORITY LIST TO ESTABLISH A PLAN.

>> OKAY.

IF YOU -- TO DO THIS, YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE I AM REPRESENTED BY ANYBODY ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

WHAT IS THE REACTION FROM THE CHAIR;?

DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THE FACTIONS COULD BE BROKEN DOWN IF YOU WERE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE?

>> I REALLY DO.

I THINK THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL IS A FUNCTION OF IN LARGE MEASURE OF THE DISRESPECT HE HAS SHOWN TO THEM OVER THE COURSE OF THE FOUR YEARS.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHAIRPERSON AND WEBB, AND A NUMBER OF THE OTHERS.

I KNOW THEM ALL.

BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH.

I KNOW THEM.

I HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF THEM.

MY OBJECTIVE IS TO TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT.

THEY ARE ENTITLED TO THAT.

THEY ARE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY FOR THIS REGION.

RIGHT?

THEY ARE AN EQUAL, COEQUAL PARTNER TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

TO TREATED THEM DISMISSIVELY, IT BREEDS DISRESPECT.

I GO INTO THE RELATIONSHIPS EXPECTING TO WORK WELL WITH THEM TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS.

>> YEAH, BUT THEY ARE DEMOCRATS.

AND YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN.

THERE'S A NATURAL -- THEY HAVE TO BE THINKING, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

HE IS SINCERE, HE IS GOING TO BACK US?

OR YOU KNOW, REPUBLICANS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO VACCINATION AND, YOU KNOW, ALL HECK IS BREAKING LOOSE AT THE MEETINGS.

>> THE FACT THAT PEOPLE HAVE A DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES INITIAL AFTER THEIR NAME IN MY OPINION IS MUCH LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE PLAN.

WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN DIFFERENCES.

I THINK THOSE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE GREATER COMMUNITIES AND SO DO I. I THINK WE WILL WORK TOGETHER WELL.

FOR THE INTERESTS THAT THEY HAVE IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK WE WILL HAVE THIS SORT OF ROUGH RELATIONSHIP.

>> AND THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL IS NOT BASED ON PARTY.

THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH SAM OR DON'T.

IT IS NOT THAT THE DEMOCRATS WORK TOGETHER AND THE REPUBLICANS WERE OPPOSED.

IT IS QUITE OFTEN THE OPPOSITE.

I DON'T THINK THAT FOCUSES ON PARTY HERE IS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT.

>> IT IS INTERESTING.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE COUNTY COUNSELICIL IS NOT DIVIDED.

>> IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE SHOW, TYRONE FROM ILLINOIS CALLED THE 9-LINE AND WANTED TO KNOW HOW WE WOULD SPEND THE 512 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE LAWSUIT.

SAM HADN'T INDICATED WHERE HE WANTS THE MONEY TO GO.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEND THAT HALF A BILLION DOLLARS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE COUNTY IS NOT GOING TO GET A HALF BILLION DOLLARS.

THE MOST THE COUNTY WILL GET A THIRD OF IT.

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, RIGHT, IN TERMS OF THE DIVISION OF THE MONEY.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THE COUNTY IS GOING TO GET.

I FIND THAT TROUBLING THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON DURING A CAMPAIGN SEASON.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MAYBE THERE'S A THOUGHT TO PUT THIS OFF UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION AND THEN SAY THIS IS HOW MUCH WE ARE GETTING.

WITH RESPECT WITH WHAT I WILL DO, FIRST, THE COUNTY HAS SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.

IT IS OPERATING ON A DEFICIT BUDGET FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

TOMORROW, THE EXECUTIVE WILL GIVE HIS BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT DEFICIT IS THERE.

THERE ARE FUNDS WHICH ARE FEDERAL FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 TO BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR 2022, AND MAYBE '23.

THE PRIORITIES HERE ARE CRIME.

RIGHT?

I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO INVEST IN THAT.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS DECAYING.

OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN UNDER COMPENSATED IN MY VIEW FOR MANY YEARS.

SO, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY SHORTAGE OF WHAT TO DO FOR THE MONEY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF IDEAS.

WE'LL WORK WITH THOSE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.

>> IS THERE A MARK MANTOVANI CRIME PLAN THAT NORTH AND SOUTH COUNTY THAT CAN GET WITH?

>> SO, THE MARK MANTOVANI CRIME PLAN IS DEVELOP WITH PEOPLE FROM NORTH COUNTY AND SOUTH COUNTY.

THE EXAMPLE I WOULD POINT TO IS SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OPERATION SEIZE FIRE.

WHICH IS THE BOSTON CRIME PLAN THAT WAS EXECUTED 2000-2002.

THAT HAS BEEN USED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS WHY IT REQUIRES COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY AND OTHER PEOPLE.

OPERATION SEIZE FIRE, CLERGY AND THE POLICE WORKED TOGETHER AND THE CLERGY WERE CRUCIAL IN IDENTIFYING THE PEOPLE.

AND OFFERING THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE IDENTIFIED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TRAINING, JOB TRAINING, JOBS AND THE LIKE.

AND ESSENTIALLY, WHAT HAPPENED HERE WAS THE POLICE AND THE CLERGY SAID TO THESE BAD ACTORS, LOOK, YOU WILL HAVE TO CHANGE, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE STREET BECAUSE WE WILL BE WATCHING.

OR, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE YOU WITH JOB TRAINING AND GET YOU ON A BETTER STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY.

SIMILAR PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE IN OAKLAND, CINCINNATI AND THE LIKE.

>> MY BEEF, IF I HAVE A BEEF, IS THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT.

RIGHT?

OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE WORKING ON THESE THINGS.

RIGHT?

AND WE CAN'T OPTIMIZE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF OUR REGION.

SO LONG AS WE ARE MUTE ON THE QUESTION OF OUR CRIME.

RIGHT?

WE HAVE TO BE COMMUNICATING WITH THE POPULATION, WITH THE METRIC IN PLACE, WE'LL BRING IT DOWN THIS TO THAT AND THAT TO THIS.

WE DON'T GET THERE, BUT WE ARE ON IT.

WE HAVE TO BE ON THIS STUFF.

WE ARE NOT.

>> I THINK THAT PLAN THAT YOU OUTLINED IS FROM THE BRAIN CHILD OF A B T. AND THE OBAMA AND MAYBE CLINTON.

IT HAS WORKED IN SOME OTHER CITIES.

HAVE YOU BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIM?

>> NO, I HAVE NOT.

I HAVE READ ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND STUDIED IT.

>> WE WERE TALKING -- >> AGAIN, I DON'T MEAN TO SUGGEST THAT THAT IS THE PROGRAM.

OKAY?

I MEAN TO SUGGEST THOUGH THAT THIS, OUR COMMUNITY, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF ENGAGED COUNTY EXECUTIVE OUGHT TO BE DEVISING A PROGRAM THAT WE TRY TO PUT IN PLACE.

I SAY THIS, I SAY THIS IN ST. LOUIS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A CRIME PLAN THAT THERE IS A DISBELIEF THAT THERE CAN BE A CRIME PLAN WHEN IT IS ENGAGED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> LET ME ASK YOU QUICKLY ABOUT THIS, STEVE IN ST. CHARLES COUNTY, A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY TAX, OUR CARS ARE GOING UP, THE VALUES ARE GOING UP, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX IS BASED ON THE VALUE OF THEIR CAR.

EVEN ON THEIR USED CARS, THE TAXES ARE GOING UP.

WOULD YOU SEEK TO DIAL BACK TO SOME EXTENT THE PROPERTY TAX THAT PEOPLE PAY?

>> PEOPLE ARE UNDER THE GUN RIGHT NOW ECONOMICALLY IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ELSEWHERE.

I TALK TO PEOPLE EVERY DAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO FOR CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT THE COSTCO FAMILY SIZE MACARONI AND CHEESE WENT UP 50 PERCENT.

PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.

IT IS ONLY RIGHT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE A MEASURE OF CONSIDERATION ALONG THESE LINES.

HAVING SAID THAT, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE POPULATION TO REALIZE THAT THE COUNTY IS OPERATING IN A DEFICIT.

WE HAVE TO BALANCE THESE TWO INTERESTS.

RIGHT?

I THINK IT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO TOTALLY ROLL IT BACK TO THE CURRENT LEVEL, WE HAVE TO CUT PEOPLE A BREAK.

>> ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

SOME THOUGHT, MARK MANTOVANI, WHATEVER BIG BUSINESS, WHATEVER CORPORATE ST. LOUIS WANTS, HE WILL GIVE IT TO HIM.

AND THE SMALL GUY WILL HAVE TO TAKE A BACK SEAT.

HOW DO YOU REFUTE THAT?

OR IT IS TRUE.

>> IF PEOPLE SAY THAT ABOUT ME, THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ME.

I STARTED OUT IN A LITTLE LAW FIRM.

AND I WORKED FOR A BUSINESS WITH 50 EMPLOYEES AND GREW IT INTO SOMETHING LARGER.

I'M THE LAST GUY WHO ASSOCIATED WITH BIG BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW?

MY OBJECTIVE IS TO START IT IN A SMALL BUSINESS AND GROW IT INTO A BIG BUSINESS.

I'M NOT A BIG BUSINESS GUY.

>> WILL I GIVE BIG BUSINESS EVERYTHING THEY WANT?

I DOUBT IT.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITY HERE.

RIGHT?

YOU DON'T JUST CREATE BIG OPPORTUNITY WITH BIG COMPANIES.

YOU CREATE BIG OPPORTUNITIES HELPING SMALL ENTREPRENEURS LIKE I WAS AS WELL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH WE CAN BE DOING TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS AND SOLE, AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AND IS THE LIKE CAN CREATE BIGGER BUSINESSES OUT OF SMALLER ONES.

THOSE THINGS ARE CRUCIAL IN MY OPINION.

>> FOLLOWING UP ON ALVIN'S POINT, THERE IS A COMPANY.

ULRI ULRICHMAKING SPINAL INPLANTS.

THEY ARE MOVING TO DALLAS.

THEY WANT TO GO SOME WHERE WHERE THERE IS A -- THIS SEEMS LIKE A GREAT PLACE TO BE BUSINESS.

>> ANYONE WHO RUNS A BUSINESS, WE HAVE NOT HAD ENOUGH TECH PEOPLE.

I STRUGGLED WITH IT WHEN I RAN MY BUSINESS.

THERE WAS NOT THE SUPPLY OF TECHNOLOGY FOLKS.

WE HAVE CREATE MORE, WE HAVE TRAIN PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE UP TO SPEED AS WE ARE DOING IN SOME CASES AROUND TOWN, TO CREATE MORE TECH PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT ST. LOUIS HAS A BAD REPUTATION WITH A LOT OF BUSINESS PEOPLE.

SOME OF IT COMES FROM A LACK OF SUPPLY AND SKILLED TECH PEOPLE MOSTLY.

SOME OF IT COMES FROM OUR OTHER CHALLENGES, CRIME AND THE LIKE.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE FOLKS ON THEIR OWN TERMS.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THEY WANT.

THAT MEANS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

AND FIND OUT WHAT THEIR PAIN POINTS ARE.

I THINK WE HAVE BEEN LACKING A CHEER LEADER IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I THINK SOMEBODY, AND I THINK IT IS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S JOB SHOULD BE SPEAKING FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE BOTH TO THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE HERE, TO THE BUSINESSES THAT MAY COME HERE, AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE AND OTHERS WHO WANT TO COME HERE.

THE BULLY PULPIT IS AN IMPORTANT PART TO THE TOOL CHEST.

I WOULD OFFER THAT TO ST. LOUIS RESIDENTS FIRST AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, JUST WORDS?

>> OF COURSE NOT.

>> HUGELY IMPORTANT.

THERE'S NO POINT IN US TRYING TO GROW THIS PLACE AND LEAVE PEOPLE BEHIND AS WE HAVE IN PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.

LOOK, ALVIN, OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FOUR YEARS, I HAVE MADE A LOT OF FRIENDS IN NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY.

FRIENDS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TEN YEARS AGO.

I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE THERE NOT JUST ON ECONOMICS, WITH RESPECT TO SYSTEMIC RACISM AND THE LIKE.

THERE IS NO BETTER PERSON THAN ME TO SPEAK TO THEM.

IF I GET IT, IF I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I MAKE IT IS PRIORITY, IT WILL BE MORE OF ALIKELY PRIORITY FOR US.

>> SOMETIMES WE HAVE DEI GOALS.

>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT STAFFING?

>> YES.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO WORK THAT WAY.

I THINK WHAT WE DO IS WE MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE STAFFING IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE AND THE GOVERNMENT REFLECTS THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE POORLY IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS IS WE HAVE HIRED PEOPLE IN SOME CASES WHO WERE NOT CREDENTIALS IN THE AREAS THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE WHERE THEY WERE EMPLOYED.

BUT THAT IS NOT AT ALL A FUNCTION OF D EI.

>> YOU CAN DO BOTH.

THE PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE GETTING GOOD PEOPLE IN THESE POSITIONS INSTEAD OF APPOINTING JUST POLITICAL OPERATIVES AND EMPLOYING PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED IN THE AREA WHICH THEY ARE GOING TO MANAGE.

WE HAVE TOO MANY POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS IN MY OPINION AND NOT MUST HAVE PEOPLE PEOPPEOPL PEOPLE APPOINTED INSTEAD OF THFD >> IS ST. LOUIS COUNTY DOING ANYTHING RIGHT?

>> I THINK THE RANK AND FILE ARE DOING A LOT RIGHT.

THEY DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT FOR KEEPING THE SHIP AFLOAT.

THEY HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ANY LEADERSHIP.

I THINK THAT WE HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE HERE THAT WE CAN SELL IF WE PUT SOMEBODY IN THIS JOB WHO CAN COMMUNICATE IT.

WE HAVE A COST OF LIVING THAT IS MANAGEABLE, AND A QUALIFY OF LIFE THAT IS GREAT.

I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY.

I LOVE IT HERE.

AND I HATE TO SEE IT GO DOWN HILL FURTHER.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD STUFF GOING ON HERE.

NET, NET, WE ARE IN DECLINE.

THAT'S A FUNCTION OF SUB-STANDARD LEADERSHIP.

WHICH IS WHY I RAISED MY HAND, LOOK, COMMUNITY, I GET THIS, I HAVE THE SKILLS TO LEAD THE GOVERNMENT MATTERS.

IT IS AN EXECUTIVE LEVEL POSITION.

I HAVE THOSE SKILLS.

I CAN HELP.

>> IN A PREVIOUS LIFE YOU MAY HAVE HAD THIS POSITION, THE CITY AND COUNTY WILL MERGE, OR MERGE SOME SERVICES.

WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON THAT IN 2022?

>> I WAS NEVER IN FAVOR OF MERGER.

I AM NOT TODAY WHEN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS IN A STATE OF DISFUNCTION.

WE HAVE TO STRAIGHT OUT THE GOVERNMENT, FIRST.

THAT IS ON THE BACK BURNER TODAY.

NONE OF THIS COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT THE PEOPLE VOTING TO APPROVE THIS.

RIGHT?

HOWEVER, HAVING SAID THAT, I DO THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE COUNTY IS NOT THE CITY'S COMPETITION, THEY ARE NOT COMPETING.

IT IS KANSAS CITY, NASHVILLE, OTHER CITIES.

WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO COMPETE WITH OTHER MIDWEST REGIONS THAT ARE EATING OUR LUNCH.

I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO GREATER COLLABORATION.

THERE ARE DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HOW RIDICULOUS WAS IT THAT YOU COULDN'T EAT IN A RESTAURANT IN THE COUNTY BUT YOU COULD IN THE CITY.

IT WAS RIDICULOUS!

.

WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND MORE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SIDE SO OUR CRIME PLAN HAS BROADER REGION IMPLICATIONS.

THIS IS COLLABORATION, NOT MERGER.

AND LOOK, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN THE COUNTY, I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY, I HAD A BUSINESS IN THE CITY.

I HAVE HAD A FOOT ON BOTH SIDES MY WHOLE LIFE.

I FEEL CLOSE TO BOTH.

I JUST THINK THAT THE REGION OUGHT TO BE THE FOCUS HERE.

BUT THE FIRST THING THE COUNTY HAS TO DO IS GET ITS OWN HOUSE IN ORDER.

>> WHERE DID YOU GO TO HIGH SCHOOL?

>> I WENT TO ST. LOUIS HIGH.

I COULD HITCHHIKE HOME.

I GREW UP THERE.

I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL AND NEVER HAD A RIDE HOME.

I RODE THE BUS OR HITCHHIKED HOME.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT WORLD.

>> I'M SORRY, WE ARE ABOUT OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR HALF HOUR WITH US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MARK MANTOVANI, HE WANTS YOUR VOTE.

WE HAVE EXTENDED THE INVITATION TO DR. SAM PAGE.

WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM HIM.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.