Grier, Nation Win City Council Seats

The Chesterfield City Council is gaining one fresh face and keeping a familiar one.

Lifelong resident will be a Ward 2 city councilman. Incumbent will serve another term as Ward 4 city councilman.

Ward 2
Grier won about 69 percent of the vote, with 1,165 votes. Tania Pappas received 505 votes. Grier will serve a two-year term.

Grier, 30, previously told Patch that he wanted to maintain Chesterfield as “the most vibrant community in all of Missouri.” He ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility and said he would work to maintain or improve the quality of life and essential city services in Chesterfield.

“Derek has a good, strong business background and a good work ethic,” supporter Bill Feeser said. “When he says he will do it, it will get done.” Grier’s supporters, including his wife, Ashley, and his parents, gathered at to wait for results.

But results were slow coming. The St. Louis County Board of Elections website was down for much of the night, which cut off Grier’s direct access to results as they came in. When Patch spoke to him at 10 p.m. he was well ahead in the race, but not quite ready to call it over.

“I’m very excited and overwhelmed by all of the support I had,” he said. “It was a real team.”

Derek said he’s sure a day full of campaigning will catch up to him tomorrow. He spent the day talking to voters as they headed into the polls. He said he had supporters at seven of the nine Ward 2 precincts all day.

Despite a long day, he’s ready to hit the ground running.

“I’m ready to get to work,” Grier said.

Grier had run for the Ward 2 seat before. In 2009, he lost to Lee Erickson by 155 votes. Erickson chose not to run for re-election this year.

Ward 2 could potentially have two new representatives on council. Bruce Geiger, current Ward 2 councilman, . His unexpired term will be filled by an appointment.

Final results:

Ward 4

Nation won 967 votes, or about 61 percent. Competitors Amy Nolan and Paul Dillender received 444 and 163 votes, respectively. Nation will serve a two-year term. He has been a city councilman since 2007.

Nation ran as a fiscal conservative who said he would keep an eye on the way the city spends tax dollars.

“I am most concerned with how we spend our tax dollars on behalf of the taxpayer,” he previously told Patch. “And I think I more than most individuals have an analytical way of discerning spending decisions.” He said he doesn’t believe that the city should collect more taxes than what is needed to provide services.

Traffic issues in Ward 4 also topped his list. He said he wants to make sure construction at Kehrs Mill, Wild Horse Creek and Long roads is completed without a hitch. He also said he’d like to revisit the comprehensive plan for an area around Wild Horse Creek Road commonly referred to as “The Bowtie.”

Nation chose not have an election-night gathering and instead spent the evening at home. He also struggled to get up-to-date results since the St. Louis County Board of Elections website was down for most of the night. When Patch spoke to him at about 10 p.m., he was still only able to access the totals for absentee ballots, the results released first from the county Board of Elections.

“Well, that makes me very happy,” he said when he was told he had won. “I’m very pleased and grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve.”

Nation spent much of his day at the polls, trying to reach voters one more time. He said he was somewhat concerned that he didn’t have very many poll workers. But, by the time people head into vote, their mind is usually made up, he said.

In the weeks leading up to the election, Nation went door-to-door to as many homes of frequent voters as he could.

“I gave them an honest statement, and I hoped they liked what they heard,” he said. “The majority has identified with what I think and hope for the city.”

Full results:

Reporter Susan Standish contributed to this report.