MAYOR-ELECT ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO “STAY ENGAGED”
Alderman Steve Hoeger defeated incumbent Tony Paolillo in the race for Platte City mayor at Tuesday’s municipal election.
Hoeger won with 309 votes to 203 for Paolillo, a margin of 60% to 40%.
It has been a controversial past few months at City Hall, with drama among personnel that preceded the firing of Marji Gehr, who served as city administrator for eight months. Her firing was unanimous among the six members of the board of aldermen. Paolillo had been an outspoken supporter of Gehr.
On Monday of this week, former administrator DJ Gehrt was brought back to serve as interim city administrator as the city begins its search for a permanent administrator. Gehrt had retired from the city in July after serving as city administrator the past 12 years.
Most recently, Paolillo opened last Tuesday night’s city meeting by reading a letter of resignation, a letter in which he accused aldermen of not following the Sunshine Law in recent months. Paolillo read his letter of resignation and walked out of City Hall. Mayor pro-tem John Higgins, president of the board of aldermen, conducted the rest of the meeting.
Paolillo’s name remained on the ballot for Tuesday’s election despite his resignation last week. His resignation came several weeks past the deadline for having his name taken off the ballot.
The election of Hoeger as mayor will create an opening in Hoeger’s alderman position. As mayor, he will have the duty to appoint his replacement as ward two alderman. Hoeger will officially be sworn in as mayor later this month. Higgins, board president, will continue to fulfill the duties of mayor until Hoeger is sworn in.
Reached by The Landmark Tuesday night for reaction to his victory, Hoeger provided a written statement as follows:
“Dear Platte City Residents:
“I am deeply humbled and honored to have been elected as your mayor. This victory is not just mine; it belongs to all of us who believe in the strength, resilience, and potential of our beloved Platte City. Your support and trust in me to lead our community forward is a responsibility I do not take lightly.
“Throughout my campaign, I promised to listen, to understand, and to act in the best interests of all our citizens. Today, as I stand before you, elected to serve, I renew those promises with an unwavering commitment. Together, we will face the challenges ahead and work to ensure our community not only thrives but also becomes a place businesses want to be and citizens are proud to call home.
“I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to every volunteer, supporter, and resident who believed in our vision for a better Platte City. I am also grateful to have a strong Board of Alderman that share the same desire to see Platte City be all it can be and takes action to make that happen. To my family, thank you for your endless support – I could not have embarked on this journey without you by my side.
“As we move forward, I encourage you to stay engaged, share your ideas and concerns, and hold us accountable. My door is always open to you, for it is only through continuous dialogue and collaboration that we can build the Platte City we all want to be part of.
“Let us embark on this journey together, with a spirit of cooperation and optimism. Here’s to a future filled with promise, growth, and community achievement.
“Thank you for entrusting me with the honor of being your mayor. I am ready to lead, to listen, and to work for each and every one of you.
–Steven Hoeger
Mayor of Platte City