Aldermen Scold Mayor Over Election Dispute, Ask for Election Ethics Discussion

The Wentzville Board of Aldermen will take another look at election ethics at its next board meeting after hearing citizen complaints about an election flier for candidate Michael Hays.

The flier was sent to Ward 3 residents and featured a picture of Mayor Nick Guccione wearing a city name tag and the title "Mayor" printed below his name.

Larry Marshall, a Ward 3 resident, said during public comment that he wished to lodge a complaint against the mayor and Hays, referencing the unauthorized use of the city logo.

"The Mayor stepped over the line and should be brought to bear," Marshall said, suggesting a new election be held for the Ward 3 seat. 

Marshall said Guccione has had a "chronic history of the same offense and should be treated more harshly."

"The aldermen should take action to remove the mayor from office," Marshall said.

Former Wentzville Mayor Darrel Lackey expressed similar concerns.

"These are tactics that are not fair to the public. Does the board really care about ethics and honor?" Lackey said.

The mayor responded that the city logo was not used in the election literature and called the accusations "twisted facts." He also mentioned he had not authorized the use of his title on the flier.

Hays said he hadn't proofread the flier and apologized to the board.

Nevertheless, several aldermen took the mayor to task during their aldermen reports, citing not only elections ethics, but what they said was a lack of leadership on the mayor's part during his first year in office.

"The public deserves to have this discussion," Ward 2 Alderman Sonya Shryock said. "So citizens have a clear understanding about our policy. That’s all I’m asking for."

Ward 3 Alderman Rick Stokes said he would consider a call for a censure, and added that he would wait until after a discussion about election ethics.

Forrest Gossett, Ward 1 Alderman, said the mayor's role should be one of a leader.

"We need you to lead," he said. "If you want to lower (taxes), go through the budget and tell us what projects we're not going to do. We owe (the public) more than rhetoric."