Pellerito Declines Run for County Council Seat

Filings closed Monday for the St. Charles County Council elections with opposed races in each district.

In District 2, Republican incumbent Joe Brazil will run in the primary against Republican Bob Stephens, who owns on Swantnerville Drive in Wentzville.

Lake Saint Louis alderman John Pellerito, who had expressed interest in challenging Brazil, decided not to run.

"Basically, I decided not to run because my heart is really in Lake Saint Louis," Pellerito told Patch. Pellerito is currently running to retain his seat on the Lake Saint Louis Board of Aldermen.

"I would have to campaign for both seats and I just don't have the time to do that."

"I do believe that there needs (to be) change on the council since quality decisions are few and far between with politics running rampant. Just look at the smoking ban which should have been passed a long time ago."

Pellerito said that council members were afraid to make a quality decision because of pressure applied by a minority of business owners who would actually benefit from a smoking ban. "(There is) more concern about reelection that doing what is right for their constituents," Pellerito said.

"My platform would have been to change all that and get the residents of the District more involved in that process. The City of Lake Saint Louis is part of District 2 but very seldom are decisions made to the benefit of this city and that needs to change."

Before the ballot is finalized, the filings must be certified by the St. Charles County Election Authority to ensure all candidates are eligible to run for the elected offices.