St. Charles City Council Ward 2 Candidate Profile: Bill Conrey

Bill Conrey is one of four candidates running for election as Ward  2 councilman. Other candidates include Venetia McEntire, incumbent Larry Muench and Tom Besselmann, whose candidate profiles are available. Conrey was interviewed for this questionnaire. 

CAMPAIGN CONTACT INFORMATION

• Website: none
• Email: Bconrey@hotmail.com
• Phone: 636-946-2136 

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Age: 58

Family: Married to wife for 34 years, three children

Education: Graduated from North Technical School

Occupation: Machine Shop Parts salesman

Party affiliation: Neither party

Previous elected offices: Served as St. Charles City Council from 1992 to 2001, served as liaison to the Parks and Recreation Department

Applicable experience: Conrey said his nine years of experience on the council and his many years living and working in the city have prepared him to serve. 

"I know the area," he said. "My kids have all gone through all of their school right there, so I’m familiar with a lot of the parents and kids the kids have gone to school with. I know a lot about the area. I know how the budget process works. After you're there for a couple of years, you have a pretty good knowledge of what’s going on."

CANDIDATE QUESTIONS

What is the primary reason you are running for this office? 

Conrey said with his kids grown, he has time for this position now. "I felt I did a pretty good job the first time around," Conrey said. "I’d like to get in there and see if we can straighten up the city practices."

Conrey said he's not happy that the Noah's Ark property received a Tax Increment Financing package. He also said he's concerned about the amount of property being acquired by Lindenwood University. "I have concerns," he said. 

What will be your single most important priority if you get elected? 

Conrey said standing up for the citizens of the ward and keeping them involved is his highest priority. "Like the circle up on Booneslick, we met with the state highway department," Conrey said. "I let the neighborhood decide what was best, should we keep Sunset (Drive) open? They wanted Sunset to remain open. Keeping the citizens involved in the process is the key to any big project." 

What sets you apart from the other candidates, if contested?

"Basically, the experience and knowledge I’ve had as a former councilmember and the willingness to fight for the citizens," Conrey said. "Basically fight for their rights and interests."

How long have you lived in St. Charles? Since 1973

What's your favorite thing about St. Charles? 

"It's just a great place to live overall," Conrey said. "I think every politician says the same thing. It’s a great place to live and raise a family. I love Frontier Park, you've got that open atmosphere you can see the river and the trees." 

What is the biggest problem in St. Charles?

Conrey said crime is the biggest issue now. "Statistically, it seems like it’s gotten worse over the last few years," Conrey said. "Other than that, it's the expansion of the university into the residential and business areas. We've lost what I consider an icon in the city in Jehling Hardware...It seems like we keep losing more and more businesses over time."

"Lindenwood has a new shopping center there, I think it’s great, as long as it stays on the tax rolls," Conrey said "I don’t want to see more and more coming out of the City. I’d like to see the university giving back to to the city by putting businesses back on the tax rolls."