St. Charles County

Out here in Lake St. Louis, it's pretty much Republican country. So the town is full of signs for Scott Rupp (R) but only one sign for Wayne Henke (D) running for Jon Dolan's vacant seat in the upcoming special election. That's expected, but when my doorbell rang the other day, and it was a girl not more than 20 years old handing out Rupp flyers, my heart sank. I think it's the saddest thing that someone so young could be so out of ideals as to join the Republican party. That's all for now--illness in the family kept me from writing for a while, but all's well again. Dana Delibovi

On Thursday, November 17th, Senator Bond's office will be hosting 3 "listening posts" in St. Charles County. A Bond staffer, Mark Parkinson, will be available hear constituents concerns and ideas and questions. Bond is hardly a progressive guy, but every comment, every voice, every idea expressed for progressive ideas has its effect. Look at what's happening in the Senate—Republicans passing a resolution, sponsored by one of their own, to get a plan for withdrawal from Iraq (vague yes, but a start). Dripping water wears away stone. Here are the locations/times on Thursday, 11-17-05: O'Fallon: 8:30-9:30 AM, Food Court of O'Fallon City Hall, 100 North Main. Wentzville: 10:00-11:00 AM, Council Chambers, City Hall, 310 W Pearce Blvd. New Melle: 1:00-2:00 PM, Council Chambers, City Hall, 4600 Highway Z. Dana

Optical scan voting was coming up for decision with the St. Charles county council on 10/24. Any result? A group was opposing this an pushing for paper ballots to avoid fraid. Dana Delibovi

Some of us in St. Charles County are represented in Congress by 9th-District Republican Kenny Hulshof. Early in October, Kenny did the stand-up thing and gave to charity over $14,000. The amount is equivalent to what his campaign had accepted from Americans for a Republican Majority—ARMPAC—a fundraising group aligned with Tom DeLay. ARMPAC—or more accurately arm-twist—was one way Tom DeLay got his clutches on the minds and votes so many Republicans in Congress. Hulshof is to be commended for his action, and indeed, for criticizing DeLay in the past on ethical grounds. But the whole story shows how deeply the Republican Congress is bought and paid for by a corrupt cabal. The Republicans fabled unity is really a protection racket—do what we say, and the bucks keep flowing; oppose us, and you suffer. To read the article about Hulshof's decision, go to: http://www.showmenews.com/2005/Oct/20051002News002.asp Dana Delibovi

St Charles County is home of some of the most randomly placed and inappropriately sized housing and retail development in Missouri, But after a decade of " build it and they will come," residents of Lake St. Louis are battling a waterfront condo development that will destroy a woodland, add 300 families' boats to an alreay crowded lake, can alter traffic in a town just about to take a traffic "hit" from the obsencely ugly Meadows mall opening this year. The residents aren't well organized and they seem completely averse to getting their phone numbers in print, but once I get a hold of one of them, I'll write again. I am hoping this is the beginning of the end of development that is turning this county into something hideous. DD