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O’Fallon Councilman Conley to run for mayor

While filing for elected office in O’Fallon may not officially open until later this year, City Councilman Pierce Conley (Ward 2) announced on June 16 he intends to run for the office of mayor in the April 2009 municipal election and he’s getting started now.

“The office filings don’t open until December but I’m getting my committee together to assist me in my run for mayor,” Conley said.

He said that based on his experience on the O’Fallon City Council, as a broker-associate with Century 21-Luetkenhaus, as a resident of O’Fallon for the past eight years and in St. Charles County since 1993, Conley sees his campaign platform clearly.

“I know I can accomplish more as mayor,” Conley said. “I want to bring more balance to City Hall.”

Conley foresees a way to more quickly strike an even keel between the needs of the residents and those of the business community so that both segments of the population are equally represented at City Hall.

Specifically, Conley is putting together a punch-list of goals he would champion if elected to the city’s top slot.

That would start with constructing a new police department facility.

“They’re awfully crowded where they are at now,” Conley said. “Further, I want to beef up a police presence on the north side of town.”

Combining a more efficient police force with an intense street maintenance and construction plan will go a long way toward serving the residential and business communities, Conley said.

“Making sure that the roads are in good repair and safe for the residents would always be on the top of my agenda,” Conley said.

Number two is to see through a continued expansion of the city sewer and water treatment facilities.

“We’re working with our partner Alliance Water now and I want to continue that relationship so we’re meeting the needs of the citizens and the businesses,” Conley said.

Another program Conley is enthusiastic about is City Administrator Robert Lowery’s Neighborhood Preservation Program.

“That’s just getting started and I have to give it Bob (Lowery), that’s a good idea,” Conley said. “It will help the residents with property upkeep and maintain property values.”

He has been married for 33 years and has two adult children living nearby.

“This is where my family lives now and in the future,” Conley said. “I want it to be the best place it can possibly be.”