Staying Put: Crestwood Board Candidate Says He Won't Withdraw
A Ward II candidate was convicted of a felony, which is against city charter for those running for office, South County Times reports.
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A Ward II candidate in the upcoming Crestwood Boad of Aldermen election said he doesn't plan to withdraw from the race, though according to city charter, a previous felony conviction prohibits him from running, South County Times reports.
Bill Schelinski was convicted of aggravated assault in Illinois in 1996, according to South County Times. He is slated against Mary Stadter in the April 2 election.
"Schelinski acknowledges he was given a copy of the city's charter, but said the copy he was given, along with other materials he received from the city regarding qualifications for candidates, made no mention that convicted felons could not run for office," according to the report.
Schelinski told South County Times he "certainly would not have attempted to put [his] name into the hat" if the copy of the charter had any mention of felony convictions.
The city will consult their attorney and the St. Louis County Board of Elections "if this does become an issue," according to the report.
Read the full story on South County Times.
Call Newspapers named Schelinski among their April 2 election endorsements.
Two forums for Crestwood candidates are scheduled within the next week. All Crestwood candidates have been invited to a forum Saturday morning at St. Elizabeth of Hungary, 10 a.m.-noon. Ward I and II candidates are expected to participate in a Gravois Township forum, along with Sunset Hill board and Mehlville Fire District candidates, on March 27.
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Gravois Township Open Forum
City of Crestwood Government (Aldermanic Chambers at Crestwood City Hall)
Jill Cox
10:33 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
This may not be a popular opinion, but I say he has paid his dues, let him run for alderman. There are plenty of politicians walking around who have done worse. It is so unfair to air this before the attorney and Board of Elections have ruled. Just my humble opinion.
Stephen D
11:06 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Aggravated assault is not a minor felony. In essence, it's attempted murder (I believe there is no attempted murder charge available in Missouri). Sorry, but that's not the sort of person you want running things. If it had been pot possession or a DWI or something of a non-violent nature, I might agree with Jill. Attempted murder is in another league. However, we don't know the details of the crime or conviction.
susan vogt
11:27 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
I agree with Stephen D, I would not want this person representing me...this was a violent act on a pregnant person as the So Co Times has written. If in fact this is true, there's no way he should be running for alderman. I find this truly mind boggling that the city would allow it.
Dan H
7:40 pm on Tuesday, March 26, 2013
I can understand Jill's thought that if he has paid his due, he should be able to move on. You get out of jail, you can move on with your life...get a job, get married, etc. However, convicted felons lose (permanently) the right to do certain things, such as own firearms and hold certain public offices.
Even a conviction for a misdemeanor domestic battery prevents a person from owning a firearm, and this was a FELONY domestic battery. He can move on with his life, but he cannot forget.
He wasn't even up front about his past. He isn't coming off as a reformed spousal abuser who is campaigning against domestic battery. Not that he lied about it, he just didn't say anything possibly in the hope that no one would find out - but they did!!
But this wasn't a misdemeanor charge. It was a felony charge and conviction. We all watch Law & Order - you plead down to a lesser charge - he pled to this felony, what was he charged with that pleading to this felony was better than what he was charged with? More importantly, how BADLY did he beat the bejeezus out of her that he found it desirable to plea (ADMIT) to the felony?
Do you want someone who beat a (supposed) loved one THAT badly representing you in the Ward? We may not know the details, but newspapers can't print stuff without supporting facts (such as the criminal records or police report).