St. Charles County Executive Ehlmann to encourage job creators, keep neighborhoods safe, and meet the transportation needs of a growing county
ST. CHARLES COUNTY—Steve Ehlmann announced today that he will seek re-election as St. Charles County Executive. While the St. Louis region has faced many challenges over the last three years, St. Charles County has continued to be an economic driver in the area and a model for safe neighborhoods and good schools.
Over the past ten years, St Charles County has ranked among the fastest growing counties in the state, and the county’s unemployment rate is the lowest in the region—and far below the national unemployment rate.
“I’m proud to have served St. Charles County during a time of incredible growth and opportunity for those who live and work here,” said Ehlmann. “I can look out of my office and see St. Louis County across the river, and it is a constant reminder that we must be careful to avoid their failures.”
As County Executive, Ehlmann has focused on maintaining public safety, securing the county’s fair share of state funding for transportation and infrastructure projects, and growing the local park system.
While violent crime has been a problem elsewhere in the region, Ehlmann lauded the St. Charles County Police Department, created by the voters three years ago, along with other police agencies and the prosecuting attorney for maintaining the county’s low crime rates.
As aging transportation networks have stalled economic growth elsewhere in the region, St. Charles County provided MoDOT with funds to do engineering for the new Daniel Boone Bridge, which opened to traffic more than a year ago. Ehlmann put together the partnership between the county, its municipalities, and MoDOT that led to the completion of the Page Avenue Extension three years ago. And he has continued that partnership to build a new Fifth Street interchange at I-70 in St. Charles and procure funding for a new interchange at Highway P and Peine Road and many additional County Road Board Projects.
Over the last three years, the county has opened one park (Brommelsiek), acquired another (Lindenwood), started construction on another (across from the Kisker Road Library), and purchased land for yet another (New Melle). Ehlmann pointed out that the county had achieved the goal he set when first elected to have as much park land per resident as St. Louis County.
Ehlmann said, “I will be asking the voters for the privilege of serving them an additional four years. If elected, I look forward to working with our local, state, and federal officials to continue the progress we’ve made and ensure that St. Charles County remains safe, accessible, and business friendly—a great place to raise a family and start a business.”
County Executive Steve Ehlmann, a former teacher and small businessman, was first elected to office at age 39. Since then, he has been elected to serve in all three branches of government: legislative, judicial and executive. Steve is married to his wife, Jean. They have two sons, Brendan and William.
