CURRENT ALDERMAN SEEKING TOP POST
Steve Hoeger, currently an alderman for the city, has announced he will be on the ballot as a candidate for mayor of Platte City at the Tuesday, April 2 election.
With a healthcare career spanning 36 years, more than 30 of those as a paramedic, Hoeger says he has provided care to individuals facing injuries and illnesses, often on one of the worst days of their lives. It was not just the patients he cared for but often their concerned family and friends as well. He says these experiences taught him compassion and effective communication in stressful situations.
Hoeger currently serves as the corporate director of emergency management at an urban core hospital in Kansas City that includes a Level 1 Trauma Center. His focus is on ensuring preparedness for a variety of disasters, both internal and external. Despite the hospital’s extensive resources, Hoeger says he recognizes successful disaster response requires collaboration. His daily responsibilities involve fostering relationships with other hospitals, healthcare providers, and the regional community.
For the past five years, Hoeger has chaired the Mid-America Regional Council’s Healthcare Coalition. This role involves encouraging organizations that are typically competitors to collaborate, share resources, prioritize needs, and focus on the greater good.
“As mayor, you become the focal point of elected government at the local level. The executive branch, led by the mayor, must work collaboratively with the legislative branch–the board of aldermen. The most effective governance occurs when the mayor and the board cooperate, reaching consensus on decisions for the city’s best interest,” Hoeger said.
The mayor also acts as the city’s representative, engaging with the business community and the public regularly. Hoeger says being a positive figure and instilling trust through both word and deed are skills he practices professionally. He said he has brought this mindset to his seven-year tenure as alderman and intends to continue as mayor, serving the city his family has called home for the past 22 years.
Steve and his wife, Holly, have been married for 30 years, having met and married in St. Joseph. Both initially worked at Heartland Hospital, where Steve was a paramedic and Holly worked in the laboratory. Holly now works as a realtor and office manager in Platte City, helping people find their dream homes in the area. Their shared love for Platte City drives Holly to make that dream possible for others.
Steve and Holly are parents to two grown daughters. Ali, a 2012 graduate of Platte County High School, married Tyler Hurt in 2019. They lived in Platte City before moving to Arkansas at the start of COVID, considering Platte City their home base and seldom missing a Chiefs game and attending all three Super Bowl parades.
Katie, a 2016 graduate, is now a mother to a second-generation Platte County R-3 student in kindergarten. Katie works at the same hospital as her dad and is completing her training as a polysomnographic technician, conducting sleep studies and improving patients’ well-being through better sleep.
Hoeger is also president of the Platte County Amateur Radio Group, aligning with his passion for preparedness. The club focuses on emergency communications, planning and training to support emergency responses when needed.
An active member of his church, Hoeger has undertaken various responsibilities over the years, including teaching youth Sunday school, executive secretary and serving on the communications council.
Hoeger’s civic public service journey began as a board member of the Northland Regional Ambulance District from 2004-2010, where he played a role in passing a tax levy critical for the district. He said his advocacy in the community was instrumental in securing support for the levy.
Invited by then-Mayor Frank Offutt, Hoeger filled a vacancy on the Platte City Board of Aldermen in 2017, leading to his election in 2018 and subsequent three re-elections. He said his strong working relationships with fellow aldermen are vital for helping the city recover from recent controversies and positioning it as a choice location in one of Missouri’s fastest-growing counties.
Hoeger said his election committee has a Facebook page. He said the Committee to Elect Hoeger Mayor “invites all residents of Platte City to join the movement for positive change.”
Find his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hoeger.for.mayor/.
Hoeger will be opposing Tony Paolillo, current mayor, who is on the ballot seeking reelection.