Even though the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District has been the subject of investigations over the last three years and is the target of several ongoing lawsuits, there is no shortage of people seeking a spot on the district's board.
Eleven candidates have filed for election April 5 for the three-member board. Normally, only one of the seats is up for election every two years. This year, all three are open because of departures and ousters.
The board positions pay $800 to $900 a month, depending on the number of meetings. And the meetings in recent years have often been contentious, marked by quarrels over how the district spends its money. The district has faced investigations over asbestos removal and Sunshine Law issues. The district, which serves 15 north St. Louis County communities and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, has been under court supervision since October 2009.
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None of the board's current members was elected by voters. Two were appointed by judges, another by a previous board majority.
Two of the current members — Derek Mays of Pasadena Hills and Bridget Quinlisk-Dailey of Normandy — are running for election.
Quinlisk-Dailey is seeking a full six-year term, along with LaTonya Henderson of Northwoods, Robert Edwards of Pasadena Hills and Donald K. Morice of Bellerive.
Edwards was elected to that seat in 2005, but a year ago a judge ousted him at the request of the St. Louis County prosecuting attorney's office. It said Edwards conducted district business without a quorum and a majority vote of the board.
Mays is seeking a two-year unexpired term, along with Jewellette "Jewel" Donald of Northwoods, and Ryan M. Smith and Barry E. Buchek, both of Bel-Nor.
The third position is for a four-year unexpired term. Seeking that are Clarence E. "Jim" Young of Pasadena Hills, Lona J. Moore of Northwoods, and Bertha M. Myers of Bel-Nor. Rhea Willis, who did not file for election, currently holds the position.
Willis was appointed by two other board members — neither of them now on the board — after they ousted Bob Lee because he had taken a job with St. Louis County.
A judge has ruled that Lee was illegally removed from the seat, but the matter of whether he'll be able to regain the position is now before the state appeals court.
Board attorney Anthony B. Gray has warned that the winner of the election could lose the seat if Lee wins his case.
