Meet the Ward 2 Candidates: Tania Pappas and Derek Grier

In a little more than a week, Chesterfield’s Ward 2 residents will elect a new representative to the city council.

Residents will choose between Tania Pappas, a former caregiver who’s full of ideas she thinks will bring the community even more together, and Derek Grier, a lifelong Chesterfield resident who’s passion to serve is driving his run for office.

Ward 2 stretches from the city’s borders with Town and Country west to Baxter Road. It is bordered by Olive Boulevard and White Road to the north. The southern boundary isn’t drawn along a road, but connects Baxter Road to Schoettler Road. (Click on the photo at right to see a map of the city's wards.)

Candidates are running for a two-year term. The election is April 5.

Tania Pappas

• Has lived in Chesterfield for almost 9 years. Currently lives at 15520 Highcroft Dr.
• 43 years old
• Was a caregiver for the elderly and activities director for 16 years; lists her occupation as “proud parent” to her son
• Currently a part-time student at St. Louis Community College, Wildwood. Has been formally educated with an emphasis in American history. Also holds a nurse technician certification and a technical certification in electronics.
• Pappas has been involved in several organizations. She is the treasurer of the Highcroft Estates Subdivision. She served on the 2010 Capital Budget Committee at STLCC, Wildwood and is a member of The Green Team and was the first president of the History Club at the school. She’s a children’s ministry teacher at . She was an advocate for The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation, which inspired the Bee Sweet Orchard in Ward 4 of St. Louis. She serves on the committee for the orchard. She’s also been the parent representative for the Chesterfield Bridle Creek Swim Team.

Pappas said she’s had the spark to run for public office since her 20s. She was brought up in Massachusetts and remembers a childhood full of visits to American landmarks, such as Seneca Falls. When she went back to school, she took a required course in early American history.

“I realized how attached I am to this country and to civic activities,” she said.

Pappas has never run for public office, but sees the city council seat as a natural extension as her time as a Highcroft Ridge Estates neighborhood trustee and as her work as a caregiver for the elderly.

Current Ward 2 Councilman Lee Erickson called her in December to ask if she was considering running, which convinced her to file for office, she said.

Since then, she’s been knocking on doors, making phone calls and emailing potential voters. She’s attended numerous city council meetings and committee meetings, and has been researching a few other cities to find ideas she’d like to implement in Chesterfield.

“This is a strong community. I just want to turn the volume up a little,” she said.

She’d like to find ways for the city to encourage more physical activity, for example. She’s looked to Blue Springs, MO, for inspiration—the Kansas City suburb is hosting a “March with the Mayor” event, inviting residents to take a 30-minute walk with their mayor. She said she’d like to see something like that in Chesterfield.

Blue Springs, MO, inspired her in another way, too. They’ve got a nationally accredited senior center, something she’d also like to see in Chesterfield. She’s also interested in ways to honor veterans, including bringing The Wall That Heals, the traveling exhibit of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, to the city. It would educate kids, honor veterans and draw people from surrounding communities to Chesterfield, she said.

Pappas also said she’d like to see council meetings be webcasted. She said she thinks this will improve communication between the government and residents by allowing residents to more easily follow what’s happening. That way, she said, they can hear about potential ordinances when they are first read.

“It will make it easier for hard-working people to decide, ‘Do I need to be there?’ ” she said.

Pappas said she thinks council members should be focused on listening to people and their concerns. She also said it’s important for council members to educate themselves and stay on top of any issues that may come up. She’s not worried about tackling that task. She calls herself a “ferocious learner” and said she is always willing to ask questions.

“I’ll have the information that I’m going to be voting on to read thoroughly and absorb and assimilate. Things aren’t going to be sprung on me,” she said.

She describes herself as fiscally responsible.

“I’m like the average American. I don’t want to see taxes raised,” she said. She said she would work to keep costs down and keep the city fiscally responsible.

Overall, she said she’s glad to be a resident of Chesterfield and pleased with the city.

“I’ve lived here for almost nine years and I’m happy as a lark,” she said. “I love this neighborhood. It’s a nice place to raise a family.”

Derek Grier

• A lifelong resident of Chesterfield, Grier moved here when he was 6 years old. He currently lives at 15680 Quail Meadows Dr.
• 30 years old
• Corporate services transaction manager for Cassidy Turley 
• Has a bachelor’s in business administration. Early in his career, Grier lead a local business and doubled its size in three years.
• He recently married his wife Ashley. They have a Boxer puppy named Baxter.
• Grier has been active in numerous community committee and organizations, including , the , Progress 64 West and The Urban Land Institute.

Grier is no stranger to the race for a Ward 2 council seat. In 2009 he ran against current councilman Lee Erickson. Though he garnered 444 votes, he lost to Erickson’s 599. But, he said his first foray into the political world was a positive learning experience.

“It was overwhelming, the number of people who stepped forward to support me and dedicated their time,” Grier said. The experience prepped him for this race. He said he knew what was important this time around—meeting residents, being accessible and available, and meeting business owners. He estimated that he’s knocked on about 1,500 doors and met about 2,000 people since he filed for office.

He has a deep love for the city, which he calls “the most vibrant community in all of Missouri.” Chesterfield is an economic center, boasts a great quality of life for its residents and is able to provide services at a high level, he said.

If elected to city council, he said he would work to maintain those things. He said he would be dedicated to enhancing essential services and reducing wasteful spending by looking for ways to cut costs. He also said he’d encourage local businesses to keep jobs in town.

Grier said he’s enjoyed seeing the city progress as he has grown up. He said he’s excited about several parks projects that will be completed this year. The will be a gathering place for the community and draw people from across the region, he said. As a music lover—he plays the saxophone—he said he’s excited to see another venue for performances in Chesterfield. And, as a new dog owner, he’s looking forward to the dog park in Eberwein Park.

Grier said a council member should have the ability and the willingness to listen to others. He said he learned to do that when he managed community associations of condominiums and subdivisions. He lead board meetings, returned residents’ calls and mediated difficult situations that at times involved a high level of emotions, he said.

There’s a learning curve in any new job, but he said he’s confident he would be up to speed quickly. His time on other community committees will help, he said.

“All of those things have provided me with a diverse background of business and civic leadership,” he said of his time with Chesterfield Arts, Progress 64 West and The Urban Land Institute.

He said he’s humbled to have the help of his supporters and his wife, Ashley. The couple was married in the fall of 2010. Without her advice and firm support, he said, he never would have run. Running for council is part of a larger driving force in his life.

“I have a passion and a deep desire to do as much good as I possible can in the time that I have,” he said.