2 Days to the Election, and...

Every year at election time, things get crazy. This insanity has been going on in Wentzville since I can remember and it's always the product of some strong-willed narcissist trying to influence, or manipulate elections. I won't go into previous administrations other than to say; after talking with the old-timers in town, none of them have ever seen a Mayor actively support and campaign for Aldermen candidates until Nixkolas Guccione. No one has ever seen flyers sporting a candidate with a picture of a Mayor supporting him. I cannot fathom that there is not some State statute or Federal law protecting citizens from this type of election manipulation. Personally, I can't imagine any candidate wanting Guccione's support especially after seeing his track record of election ethics.

Nick Guccione has been recruiting and actively supporting candidates in the last two elections. I've checked my list and found that in the last two years he has actively supported seven candidates, four last year and three this year, which includes one Municipal Judge. Of the four last year, none were elected and most of them have a bad taste in their mouths after Guccione lied and turned his back on them, in fact one of them was his own campaign manager. I can only hope that Robert Hussey and Michael Hays are prepared for Guccione blaming them for anything they did under his inept and unethical tutelage. I haven't seen Hussey's campaign flyer yet but I do know that Guccione is already back-peddling on the ethics infractions on the Hays literature.

Michael Hays could be in for a big surprise when the Election Commission and/or other City and State agencies come down on him for his flyer. His problem could easily be something every other disgruntled candidate fell for, being lied to by Nickolas Guccione. Guccione could easily say that he had no part in the content of the flyer (never saw it) and only gave him a personal endorsement letter and say that he didn't know Hays would stick the word "Mayor" on it. Tricky Nicky would have plausible deny ability leaving Hays to take the hit, I hope he has proof of Guccione's involvement or he'll take it alone leaving Guccione to move on to the next sucker.

Guccione is never going to change his campaign tactics or manipulation of our election process unless our Aldermen and City Attorney get more involved. The only thing we, the citizens can do to protect Wentzville is to identify those unsuspecting candidates of Guccione's choice and make sure they do not win the election. Those people are Robert Hussey and Michael Hays who are running for Aldermen, and Michael Carter for Municipal Judge. In this years election, the most damaging mistake could be the election of Carter. It has taken Judge Steve Martin two years to straighten out the Judicial budget mess left by Carter.

For the reasons stated above, it is imperative that Wentzville voters choose the right people to represent us in our Government:

Ward 1

Cheryl Kross

Ward 3

Darrel Lackey

Municipal Judge

Steve Martin



3 Days to the Election, and...

For those of you who may not know, there is an election in three days and it will have a great impact on the future of Wentzville. Nickolas Guccione makes his own rules in campaigns. Ethics violations are no problem, lies on campaign flyers are no problem and violating City ordinance is no problem for Tricky Nicky.

Yesterday I got a campaign flyer from Micheal Hays, he is learning the Guccione method the hard way. On his flyer I found a clear Missouri Ethics Commission violation by naming the Firefighters of Eastern Missouri listed as supporting him. The Firefighters are not happy, they are not supporting Hays and in fact, they don't even know who he is. Next he is clearly wearing his Wentzville logo pin which is a flagrant violation of Wentzville ordinance with a fine attached.

The third and most damning item is on the reverse, a picture of him and Guccione, both wearing the Wentzville logo pins with a written City endorsement signed by none other than Nickolas Guccione, Mayor. He just stated (in print) that the City of Wentzville endorses Michael Hays. Every citizen of Wentzville should complain to their Aldermen and have our Mayor brought to justice. Guccione was pardoned by Mayor Lambi when he left office for exactly the same thing. Rules do not apply to Nickolas Guccione (or so he believes) and our Aldeermen need to teach him and Hays that there are consequences for violating Wentzville law. Citizens of Wentzville and my readers should be outraged if Guccione is allowed to flaunt his arrogance and go unpunished for his crime—AGAIN!. The Ward 3 Alderman seat is an important job, if you want a proven liar and one who supports unethical behavior, vote Hays, if you want a man of sound ethics in or out of the campaign, it's Darrel Lackey.

Ward 1

Cheryl Kross

Ward 3

Darrel Lackey

Municipal Judge

Steve Martin

I forgot to mention, when Guccione presented his goals, he wants to see a full-time mayor instituted in the next three years. This tells me that Guccione wants to quit cutting up chickens and retire on great benefits and a fat paycheck of taxpayers dollars. God help us.

After I finished writing about Mayor Nickolas Guccione's goals and objectives yesterday I thought about something that happened Wednesday evening at the Board of Aldermen meeting March 27th that struck a chord. One of the goals Guccione is wanting to achieve is to lower sales taxes. This sales tax reduction he wants will reduce revenue to the City and lower sales taxes on everyone who shops in Wentzville. The Cuts to the sales tax will have to be made up somewhere and last Wednesday evening Guccione introduced into discussion his plan "New Business Item X.5. (ID # 4443) Preliminary Real and Personal Property Tax Levy 2013." Guccione wants a 2.3 percent increase in personal and property taxes to pay for the reduced sales tax.

Now let me see if I got this "strate," Guccione wants to lower sales tax on everyone shopping in Wentzville from Lake St. Louis, Troy, Winghaven, Foristell, Warrenton, O'Fallon, and Flint Hill, among others, and raise taxes on every resident and business in Wentzville. The consequence of Guccione's tax will burden Wentzville businesses and homeowner with higher personal property and real estate taxes to pay for everyone from other cities getting a sales tax cut. Why doesn't this seem right to me? I'll tell you why, because Guccione is living up to his name; Tricky Nicky.

It's scary to think that his sidekick the Appointed Ward 3 guy Michael Hays agrees with him. I hope when voters go to the polls that they remember this little tidbit and push the eject button on him and elect someone with some smarts, namely Darrel Lackey.

Speaking of the election, I have been flooded with campaign literature from Michael Carter who is running against my pick, Stephen Martin. I can only guess how many trees he's killed trying to get elected, hell I even got an Easter Card from him. I've never gotten one of those from anyone, but Carter wants to use Easter, the pinnacle of christian faith, to campaign, begging for your vote. I would think that kind of activity would be offensive to anyone calling themselves Christian, at least it should be.

4 Days To The Election, and...



I can't let go of just how important this election is, we have only four days left and every vote counts.

Ward 1

Cheryl Kross

Ward 3

Darrel Lackey

Municipal Judge

Steve Martin

Today I'll write about Mayor Nickolas Guccione's goals and objectives presented at the Strategic Planning Session March 23rd that I watched via a City provided DVD, thank you. In my opinion, his goals and objectives were the same as last year and by his own confession based solely upon a few citizen's suggestions. Nothing revolutionary, nothing new, just the same old feel good rhetoric.

1. Four New Police Officers: Exactly the same as last year and a safe one to say that will always garner support from everyone, paying for it is an entirely different question. I have to give you a direct quote credited to our illustrious mayor, "I want to have the best police department in the city." I have to ask; how many police departments do we have in Wentzville?

2. Lower Retail Sales tax: This is a noble statement made by every politician seated or campaigning since taxes were invented. A lengthy discussion followed this goal regarding just how it could be accomplished and from my interpretation of the debate, it can't be done. CIDs, NIDSs, TIFs, TDDs, and a plethora of other tax incentives to businesses just can't be renegotiated, but it was a good try, maybe next year.

Five of the six Aldermen weighed in on lowering personal and real estate taxes as an option. Guccione couldn't offer that one because it's been too well advertised that this has been the objective of the Board for the last four years. It would be difficult to steal that idea since everybody knows who is and has been doing that very thing. Guccione made a statement against the reduction of personal and real estate taxes to the effect: "The personal and real estate tax reductions have only averaged a savings of about $25 or $26 to residents so far." I can't believe that a Mayor would minimize a tax reduction to residents suggesting that the City shouldn't have cut these taxes.

I mentioned that one of the Aldermen said nothing during the half-hour discussion and that one was Guccione's appointed buddy, Alderman of Ward 3, Michael Hays. He has been truly a disappointment in his lack of desire to engage in any debates by the Aldermen.. Hays is running against Darrel Lackey for the Ward 3 seat and when Lackey wins it will be the first time Ward 3 has had a full compliment of Aldermen in six years. Some of you may puzzle over the length of time but it's simple, Guccione took up space in that seat for five of them.

3. Better Snow Removal: Guccione wants a new truck that can dispense a chemical agent that will be actively melting snow for 72 hours. Great idea, we can always use another very expensive vehicle in the stable that will be used four or five times a year. My question is, how are you going to pay for it?

4. More Entertainment: Guccione wants the Economic Development Director to more aggressively seek out "bowling alleys, teen-towns, or other events." Another feel-good request that will get the respect of citizens and has been asked of every mayor since 1872. Our mayor must have forgotten that the taxpayers have just paid for a new $20 million dollar park system that has yet to be completed, but that's another story.

5. Pearce Blvd. Beautification: He is requesting amenities i.e. park benches, lights, and new signs for Pearce Blvd. I think I know where this request came from but my question is; don't you think repairing sidewalks, or even putting sidewalks in areas along Pearce Blvd. that don't have them might be nice first?

6. Beautification of the Overpass at Hwy 61 and Pitman Ave.: The mayor wants to repaint the overpass that belongs to MODOT (Missouri Department of Transportation). He may also want to paint the railroad overpass which belongs to the Norfolk Southern Railroad. I don't think I need to Comment on this request.

That's it, Mayor Nickolas Guccione's vision for 2013. Alderman Shyrock said it best; "I agree with all of these Mr. Mayor, but how do you propose to pay for them?" To this Guccione responded with a classic; "That's why we have a staff." I'm still shaking my head trying to figure out what the hell he was talking about. President of the Board Rick Stokes said; "I don't see how you can dump this off on staff to pay for this. Everything here costs money."

The Goals and objectives portion of the meeting was ended with a statement by Alderman Stokes; "Mr. Mayor, I thank you for presenting your goals and objectives. I look forward to seeing your proposal on how we reduce revenues by reducing sales taxes and manage increased spending to accomplish them." Me too!

5 Days To The Election, and...

I want to mention, there are five days until Wentzville citizens go to the polls to vote for the future of our city. I strongly recommend that my readers vote and vote wisely. The Wentzvillian is actively supporting:

Ward 1

Cheryl Kross

Ward 3

Darrel Lackey

Municipal Judge

Steve Martin

Now let's talk about the meeting last night March 27th. There were some interesting things happen and I'm going to interpret (spin) some of them just so you can get a real flavor of what was said. First, our St. Charles County Councilman, Joe Cronin was there to speak on the new communications tower mandated to be built in Wentzville by the Federal Government. I'm sure this topic is of great interest to many people but frankly the discussion had my eyes glazing over. I came to attention when he congratulated the Board of Aldermen for taking the lead on the Highway 61 interchange that MoDot announced last week. Mayor Nickolas Guccione tried to claim this project in the social media leading us to believe that it was his idea. Cronin said; "It was this Board that did it." not Guccione, so much for his propoganda.

Alderman of Ward 2, Sonya Shryock gained bulldog status last night when she put on the gloves with Guccione. The attack revolved around the Mayor's goals he gave during the Strategmic Planning Session this past weekend, which are still not posted on the City's website. Shyrock said, "The goals you gave us Saturday are very expensive, how do you propose to pay for them?" Board President Rick Stokes cut in to say that this is not a topic for discussion but Guccione said "I will rebut her comments," with "I repeated the requests of the citizens." I can't believe our Mayor takes requests, comments, or complaints from citizens and makes them his goals for the future of the city. Since he adheres to the wishes of the people so well, maybe one of the 58 percent of our citizens who didn't vote for him could suggest that he run "strate" to the next bridge and jump off.

Next in the ring was Alderman Stokes. The subject was Guccione's Newstime article of last week where he stated; "The Aldermen threw out the bids for the two remaining parks." Stokes wasn't a happy camper (wink) and confronted the mayor as to whether or not he supported the decision. "You were blaming the Board for throwing out the bids." Guccione squirmed and said, "I support you." Then he tried defending himself using his usual tactic, blaming someone else. In this case it was the City Publicist, Ms. Laura Pendino who was thrown under the bus. "I gave it to Laura and she copied it out of the minutes, I didn't do it." Ouch, I'm glad I don't work for Guccione! He reminds me of the little kid on the playground who is always pointing his finger at someone else; "I didn't do it, she did it teacher." Hey Mr. Mayor, don't you know that you are responsible for any content with your name on it? You just admitted that you don't write the articles but didn't you even read it before it was delivered to 17,000 residents in Western St. Charles County? Talk about irresponsibility.

I had the pleasure of meeting our new City Administrator, Mr T. Michael McDowell and I am impressed with his knowledge and strength of conviction. It's still early, but I believe he may be the strongest CA Wentzville has had in the last 20 years. I'm happy to report this information because we need a strong CA to carry the mayor and relieve our Aldermen from babysitting this ineffectual blowhard.

So much for today. There were other important issues debated last night but most of them are boring so I'll leave them to the Patch or Journal. The fluff patrol is more patient than I, no offense.

Blogosfear

The City of Wentzville has not posted the video from the Retreat...er...uh, I mean the "Strategic Planning Session," held Friday and Saturday, March 22nd and 23rd. During discussions at past board meetings we (the public), were promised that it would be videoed, I'm starting to wonder if the City didn't pull the same stunt they pulled last year, "Technical Problems." I can excuse it last year simply because the City handled all of that themselves, but now since they terminated staff, dissolved the City-operated IT department, and hired an outside contractor to handle the IT matters, we have to assume "Technical Problems" would be a thing of the past.

At the last board meeting the topic was discussed and it appeared to be a priority of the President of the Board, Rick Stokes, Alderman of Ward 3 to insure the Strategic Planning Session would be videoed. The only Alderman who was not pressing the issue was from Ward 2, Chris Gard who stated "The process is more important than the video." I strongly disagree with Gard, the citizens who voted for him and all of the aldermen sitting up there, have come to rely on the videos of public meetings posted on the City's website. You can't just say; "oh what the hell, we can do without it for this public meeting or that public meeting," when you tell the citizens it will be available, it should be available at all cost.

I regret not going to the Retreat last year because I was told by the City it would be recorded, and then, "Technical Problems." This year, hopefully I didn't fall for the same sad story for the "Strategic Planning Session." Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it will be posted but it's been five days since the session started, and besides, I spoke with the IT Director, Carolyn Sutton of Winning Technologies and she told me that it would be recorded, I can only hope she wasn't premature in her statement.

On to politics: A few things are bothering me. First, my mailbox is being bombarded with pretty campaign cards for a Mr. Bob Mainiri who is running for Wentzville Fire Board of Directors. I know he is supported by none other than our own Mayor Nickolas Guccione and that as of today, the Firefighters Union has donated $38,600 to his campaign. My question is; If he wins, what will he owe to the union? Secondly a question of ethics regarding the campaign of Bob Hussey for Alderman of Ward 1. It appears that on Mr. Hussey's campaign donations he has listed $400 from the Fire District. Perhaps I'm misdirected but, the Ethics Commission says that taxing entities cannot donate money to campaigns and the Fire District is a taxing entity. Could there be a little mischief afoot?

Now for some fun: Most of you would be correct in assuming that The Wentzvillian is not one of Mayor Nickolas Guccione's favorite publishers so I have come up with the word which best describes his phobia:

blogosfear (Blog´ôs-fear) n. Fear of being talked about or becoming a character in some one's blog. e.g. Anytime the Mayor talked to his friends, he was overwhelmed with blogosfear thinking their conversation would be published the next day in The Wentzvillian.

"Just To Set The Record Strate."

For the past few years I've constantly said how our mayor, Nickolas Guccione does nothing, needs to go back to school, and tries to take credit for everything. He thinks he's pretty good at covering his tracks but yesterday he really stepped in it.

Alderman of Ward 2, Sonya Shryock posts on Facebook frequently giving news regarding the City of Wentzville. Yesterday, she reposted an article from stltoday.com; Plans Announced for Highway 61 Improvements, (click here). The first comment to her post was our claim-jumping Mayor. Guccione posted; "This was also a huge part of my goals fit 2012 when I became mayor of Wentzville..." You need to go to the link I provided to see for yourself the string of comments that followed her repost, it's very revealing.

Another comment (copied and pasted exactly) by our highly literate Mayor was as follows: Nick Guccione: "Just to set the record strate Scott smith Doug'lee and Doug Forbeck set up the meeting with Modot at my request it took a lot of people working together local county and state just to set the record strate " I noted his mispelling of the word straight and the comment that followed; Michael Hulse: "Um ... Mr Mayor, it's spelled 'straight,'" and Guccione responded; Nick Guccione: "Thanks Michael for spelling lesson all thumbs." All thumbs? Mr. Mayor you used the non-word "strate" in two places in the same post and two times you spelled it the same way, coincidence, all thumbs? I think not. If anyone reads your propaganda in Newstime each week they would notice a marked difference in writing. As a matter of fact I read your last article and I have serious doubts if you could even read it, much less write it.

Now that the fun part is over, let's get back to our claim-jumping Guccione. Later yesterday afternoon a Facebook post by Alderman of Ward 1 Forrest Gossett (click here) really set the record STRAIGHT. Gossett gave a lengthy progression of the Highway 61 story. From his information I can safely say without fear of sucessful contradiction, the only part Mayor Nickolas Guccione took in the entire process was to nod, make it one of "his" goals (after the fact), sign the letter, and take credit for everything. I'm trying very hard to be nice here but I'm about to blow.

Footnote: I cannot find the word "strate" in any dictionary I have on hand. I'm beginning to wonder if he meant "strait?" Surely that must be it.

The Wink

Since there wasn't a City meeting last night The Wentzvillian thought maybe a little ad lib would be in order. Most of my readers know that The Wentzvillian has a low opinion of Mayor Nickolas Guccione's job performance (last measured at 19 percent) but be assured, it's only because he can't do the job he was elected to do. The only thing he excels at is campaigning, it's dirty, nasty, and unethical, but he's good at it and can lie with the worst of them. Guccione is such an easy target, you could put a list of city topics on the wall, throw a dart at it and assuming you hit the paper it would score a subject that he knows nothing about. On the other hand, if you miss the target you may have hit the one thing he knows everything about—nothing!.

I'm going to dedicate a few lines to boards and commissions and our mayor's seeming lack of ability to understand the appointment process. On March 1st The Wentzvillian posted "Turnip Truck 101," where I reported on Guccione's failure to bring forward applicants for the Board of Adjustments and even tried to shove that task off on Alderman Cheryl Kross. Alderman of Ward 3 Rick Stokes brought forward a candidate from Ward 3 and Guccione finally made the appointment. The problem is, after three weeks Guccione hadn't bothered to notify the applicant to inform him that he had been appointed. The applicant seeing his name on the website had to call the City for confirmation. I can't fathom the embarrassment Guccione brings to Wentzville, he ducked another opportunity to do the right thing or should I say, anything.

On another subject, Guccione is so fed up with The Wentzvillian he has some attorney reading all of the articles written here over the past five years trying to find something he can sue me for.  To Mr. Guccione I say; Good luck with that, but I'm kinda wondering why someone in this City hasn't taken legal action against you. Since you had no reason other than ego to be the Mayor of Wentzville, I can't think of any reason to make it pleasant for you.

Alderman/Mayor Nickolas Guccione has done some pretty foul things during his time as a politician. In addition, he's done little for the City and accomplished nothing. For all he doesn't know and cannot do in our City it's entirely possible he could be more useful sitting around all day in the Mayor's office surfing porn sites.