The Hazelwood School District Board of Education will remain unchanged following the April 3 municipal election. It was a close race for the leading two, but with each having about 38 percent of the vote, incumbents Desiree Whitlock and Mark Behlmann  will remain board directors. "I felt very confident that Desiree and myself were going to win," Behlmann said. "I think the numbers show how the voters believe in the board as it is currently." Both stayed close to each other the entire time votes were tallied and released to the public. The race was that of three with newcomer Keith Boykin Sr. …

On Friday, Hazelwood municipal judge Kevin Kelly announced he will seek the position of Florissant municipal judge. His brother Tim was the Florissant municipal judge until his untimely death in June, due to complications from diabetes. At that time Florissant City Council called for a special election of the position, to be held Nov. 8. Kevin Kelly currently serves as the municipal judge for Cool Valley and Maryland Heights, as well. He also serves as the prosecuting attorney for Dellwood. “It would be a great honor to serve the city of Florissant as its municipal judge,” he said to Patch. “…

It was a close race for the Hazelwood School District Board of Education, but with each having about 26 percent of the vote, incumbents Ann Gibbons and Charles "Chuck" Woods, along with newcomer Brenda Youngblood will fill the three open board member seats. "It feels good to know you are supported," Woods said. "It's always nice to win, because it was a trying time, as any election is." Woods, 73, was a principal in the Hazelwood School District (HSD) for 34 years, serving at Lusher, Coldwater and Barrington elementary schools before retiring. He first was elected to the board of education in…

Jake Zimmerman easily became St. Louis County's first elected assessor in 40 years, gaining 63.67 percent of the vote to 36.15 percent for L.K. "Chip" Woods. The vote total was 73,356 to 41,645 with 207 write-in votes. Zimmerman said he thought the large margin of victory was due to people wanting accountability in the assessor’s office. “The people of St. Louis County are looking for an accountable assessor who will treat people fairly whether their home is worth $50,000 or $500,000,” he said. The first order of business is a top to bottom review of processes in the office,” Zimmerman said. …

The St. Louis County Election Board has completed its task--tallying votes. Check out winners in the races. FINAL RACE RESULTS St. Louis County Assessor  Candidate Name Number of Votes Percentage LK "Chip" Wood 41,645 36.15 Jake Zimmerman 73,356 63.67 Percentage Reporting: 100 Hazelwood City Council Ward 2 Candidate Name Number of Votes Percentage Robert Aubuchon 137 96.48 Percentage Reporting: 100 Hazelwood City Council Ward 4 Candidate Name Number of Votes Percentage Mike Conley 177 98.88 Percentage Reporting: 100   Hazelwood City Council Ward 6 Candidate Name Number of Votes Percentage …

Well it's April 5--election day, and it's time to go vote. If you're still unsure for whom you plan to vote, check out Hazelwood Patch's voter election information guide. The resource may be able to help you decide as you take a look at articles run on the candidates for the St. Louis County Assessor's race, as well has the Hazelwood School District Board of Education. Don't forget. You have until 7 a.m. to cast your votes.

The City of Hazelwood’s registered voters have a huge responsibility on their shoulders when the April 5 municipal election begins. Voters will be selecting the first St. Louis County Assessor as well as choosing only three candidates to serve on the Hazelwood School District Board of Education. Hazelwood Patch hopes to make your life easier. We’ve prepared a thorough and comprehensive election guide for Hazelwood’s registered voters. Throughout the guide, you’ll find a list of all of the candidates from the assessor’s race to the HSD Board of Education candidates. You can also find a link to…

Nita Curry said she couldn’t hold a candle to one candidate when it came to academic degrees and accomplishments--two of her opponents are former principals in the Hazelwood School District (HSD). But Curry, 48, said she does bring something the Hazelwood School District Board of Education needs the most. “I walk the halls, I know the teachers, I see things that students are dealing with,” said Curry, a past PTA president for Russell Elementary School and current substitute teacher in several HSD schools. She is also on the district’s technology advisory and scholarship committees. “I feel …

Keeping the Hazelwood School District's finances in order and establishing an alternative school are among Charles “Chuck” Woods’ priorities. “We need to make sure we make every dollar count,” Woods said. Woods, 73, is one of four candidates running for three seats on the Hazelwood Board of Education in the April 5 election. The others are Ann Gibbons, Brenda Youngblood and Nita Curry. Gibbons and Woods are incumbents. A third incumbent, Diane Dowdy, decided not to seek re-election. Woods was a principal in the Hazelwood School District (HSD) for 34 years, serving at Lusher, Coldwater and …

Brenda Youngblood said her priorities are improving student performance and helping students to be active members of the future workforce. Youngblood is one of four candidates running for three seats on the Hazelwood School District's Board of Education in the April 5 election. The others are Ann Gibbons, Charles “Chuck” Woods and Nita Curry. Gibbons and Woods are incumbents. A third incumbent, Diane Dowdy, decided not to seek re-election. Youngblood served in the district for 22 years as a principal at Keeven and McCurdy elementary schools. She worked for the Hazelwood School District for 37…

MARY SINGLETON If you’re taking a stroll in Howdershell Park and notice a friendly redhead with glasses and a smile, you may have spotted Councilwoman Mary Singleton taking a brisk walk, as she often does. Singleton represents Ward 8. She is a member of Hazelwood’s newly launched Green Committee as well as an environmental enthusiast  and will be finishing her first term this April. Since she has no opposition for her seat, she will remain in the position for a second go round on Hazelwood City Council. “Election campaigns are fun, but they are also expensive and a lot of work,” she said. “I …

WARREN “BUTCH” TAYLOR Councilman Warren Taylor, Hazelwood's Ward 6 representative, who goes by “Butch,” is serious about his job and anxious to get started on another term. He said he is looking forward to another election “so we can get started with the new stuff.” When asked why he filed for re-election, Taylor said, “I enjoy my job and I think I’ve been a plus to the council.” Taylor says that one of the council’s largest accomplishments, and one that makes him most proud, is “getting the Ford Plant taken care of.” Taylor expanded on the subject, telling Hazelwood Patch that when the Ford …

Ann Gibbons said the Hazelwood School District’s (HSD) main priority should be obvious. During a recent candidate forum, Gibbons said the district must improve on teaching reading, math and science because that’s what the state testing and accreditation process focuses on. “We have to bring up the test scores of the kids who score below the state average on the MAP (Missouri Assessment Program) tests,” Gibbons said. “We don’t have any accreditation problems right now, but you can’t coast along, resting on your laurels. You have to constantly work on it.” Gibbons is one of four candidates …

As it nears the April 5 municipal election, Hazelwood Patch is dedicated to bringing as much extensive coverage of your local candidates and incumbent council members. Throughout the upcoming week, be sure to check back for profiles on Hazelwood School District Board of Education candidates. Beginning March 25 and rolling through March 30, we will feature a different candidate daily. This gives you the readers a chance to know a little bit more about those for which you plan to vote. The same goes for Hazelwood City Council. Although there were four seats up, no residents challenged the …

Two candidates running for St. Louis County Assessor — one with more than 30 years of real estate experience and the other with a political and legislative background — both promised they would get property assessments right the first time. Republican candidate and long-time realtor L. K. “Chip” Wood faced Democratic candidate and current Missouri State Rep. Jake Zimmerman (83rd Dist.) Saturday in a candidate forum, co-sponsored by the Lemay and Affton chambers of commerce at Bayless High School. Each candidate had 15 minutes to explain how they would straighten out what both said was a …

In case you weren't able to "Meet the Candidates" on March 3 here's a sneak peek at a few of the questions asked of each Hazelwood School District Board of Education candidate. The questions in order on the video were: Do you have any advice for operating the Hazelwood School District? What is your stance on open enrollment? What would be your top priorities if elected to the HSD Board of Education? You can read Patch's coverage of the forum here.

Hazelwood School District (HSD) parents interested in getting to know the candidates running for the open seats on the HSD Board of Education got that opportunity Thursday night during a question/answer format. “We wanted the public to find out more about each school board candidate’s views on public education and to also have the opportunity to see another side of the candidates,” said PTA member Chip Wilson. “The election isn’t too far away and I was very impressed with the questions asked of the candidates.” There are three open seats on the board of education and four individuals vying …

Why should you, as a Hazelwood resident or business owner, care who wins the election for St. Louis County assessor? That person will lead an agency that will assess the value on your home and property, directly affecting how much you pay in taxes each year. The assessor is in charge of the St. Louis County Assessment Division, which discovers, identifies, classifies and assesses all real and personal property in St. Louis County. Every two years, the assessment division is required by state law to reassess values on about 389,000 parcels of real estate in St. Louis County to market value. …

Hazelwood, along with the rest of St. Louis County voters will elect an assessor for the first time on the April 5 ballot. The choice comes down to a third-term state representative, Jake Zimmerman, and a real estate executive with 37 years experience, L.K. “Chip” Wood. Both candidates said they believe that by making it an elected position, voters sent a message that they want the assessor to be accountable to them. The charter amendment allowed the two parties with the most votes in the 2008 governor election – Democrats and Republicans – to nominate candidates for the office in the 2011 …

The deadline has approached to file as a candidate for a Hazelwood City Council seat or Hazelwood School District Board of Education seat for the April 5, 2011 election. Filings began Dec. 14 at 8a.m. At that time Hazelwood city clerk Colleen Wolf said she didn't expect a large crowd of people coming in to file throughout the month span. "All incumbents have picked up petitions to file," she said. She added that at that time, the incumbents were the only people that had picked up packets. Wards 2, 4, 6 and 8 council seats are up for the April 5 election. That means council members Robert …