Politics & Government

Lake Saint Louis Swears in New Mayor, Aldermen

Ralph Sidebottom was sworn in as mayor after winning the April 2 race against incumbent Mike Potter.

Lake Saint Louis has a new mayor and an empty Ward 1 seat on the Board of Aldermen.

Ralph Sidebottom was sworn in as mayor after winning the April 2 race against incumbent Mike Potter.

READ MORE: Sidebottom Unseats Potter as Lake Saint Louis Mayor by Twelve Votes

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Also sworn in were Ward 1 Alderman Tony Zito, Ward 2 Alderman Kathy Schweikert and Ward 3 Alderman John Pellerito.

Sidebottom began his term with a few notes to the board about procedure and punctuality.

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"I ask everyone to please use your clicker," he said, referring to a computerized system where the aldermen click a remote to place themselves in a queue to speak. "No cross-talk. Speak when you're recognized, or I will rule you out of order if you speak out of turn."  

Earlier in the meeting, rules had broken down in a heated discussion between Ward 2's Karen Vennard and Ward 3's Richard Morris.

Sidebottom said that regular meetings would always start at 7 p.m. If discussion during the 5:30 p.m. public work session runs late, Sidebottom said, he would stop it at 6:45 and ask if the discussion would need to be continued after the meeting or at the next public work session.

Sidebottom called a special meeting for 5 p.m. on May 6 for the purpose of appointing an alderman to the Ward 1 seat left vacant by his election to mayor.

Also left vacant by Sidebottom's move to the mayor's office was the office of president of the board of aldermen. Zito nominated Schweikert, mentioning that the office has traditionally gone to the alderman with the longest continuous term in office.

The board voted unanimously to approve Schweikert as president.


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