Escalating feud between current, ex-mayor impacting election race in Village of Shiloh

Eight candidates are vying for the three open seats on the Shiloh Village Board, the most ever. The municipal election is Tuesday, April 4.

But it appears to be a race between the ideologies of the current mayor, Robert Weilmuenster, and the former mayor, Jim Vernier II, who was mayor for 20 years and a trustee for 16 years before that. Vernier is running to become a trustee, stating he wants to offer residents his 36 years of experience.

Besides the former mayor, candidates include former treasurer and trustee Daniel J. Weidenbenner, incumbents Kurt Burrelsman and Julia Warchol, former trustee Raymond Kelly, Shelly Ettling, Russell McCullough III, and Kristine Northway.

Weilmuenster has endorsed McCullough, Northway and Warchol.

“The people I’m endorsing are not yes people and will ask tough questions,” Weilmuenster said. “We want the facts and we’re not getting the facts. These are votes for the future.”

Several trustee candidates will take part in a Candidate Forum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at the Shiloh Community Center, 7 Park Drive in Shiloh, sponsored by the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce, the O’Fallon Progress and the O’Fallon Weekly.

O’Fallon candidates in contested races (Wards 2, 3, 4) will be included in a forum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in the council chambers at the O’Fallon City Hall, 255 S. Lincoln.

“These forums provide our residents with a chance to get to know the candidates and provide them information they may need to make an informed vote,” said Debbie Arell-Martinez, director of the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce.

A forum moderator will introduce all candidates, ask questions, manage time, and maintain proper decorum. The public is invited to attend, but seating will be limited.

Shiloh Mayor, Ex-Mayor Clash Over Issues

On social media, Vernier has been posting things he is not in agreement with — including the park pavilion.

Vernier posted on his Facebook page Sept. 26, 2022, his dismay over the old pavilion being torn down, and a new one being constructed behind Klucker Hall at the park.

“Heard this was happening. Unbelievable. Many memories under the pavilion in Shiloh Park,” he said. “They are building a new one. There was nothing wrong with it. Couldn’t they find a road or something like a police station to spend the money?”

He said they had spent $60,000 on a new roof two years ago, and questioned why a public hearing wasn’t held.

Weilmuenster said the 50-year-old pavilion was in bad shape, had rotting poles, bad wiring and other problems. The village is using TIF funds that would have expired for the upgrade. The work is expected to be completed in late spring.

“It’s going to have more lights, better flooring, and higher ceilings,” he said.

The pavilion was demolished after last year’s picnic in September. Weilmuenster said they wanted the village to benefit — not a corporation —from the TIF money.

“We’re doing this for the community. We’re moving in the right direction and some people want to keep it from happening,” Weilmuenster said.

He cited other future improvements and construction in the village. One goal is to find another home for the police station, which has sparked another debate between Vernier and Weilmuenster.

Both men are expected to be at the forum.

Last Election

Weilmuenster, a two-term incumbent trustee, received 70 more votes than incumbent Vernier II — 679-609 — on April 6, 2021.

The voter turnout was 13% for the municipal election, with 1,313 ballots cast out of 10,309 registered voters. That was an increase from the 2019 election, with only 278 ballots cast, but in 2017, about 900 more people voted.

At that time, Weilmuenster said his goals were to stabilize the village budget, eliminate waste, lower debt, invest wisely, promote business development, bring in additional revenue, and improve the relationships with county and state counterparts. He said he would bring new ideas, an open mind and an open-door policy and encouraged residents to participate in city government.

Vernier ran on his record.

“Shiloh is a destination for new families and businesses, and I’m very proud of that. Most homes when listed sell within hours over the asking price. What I am most proud of are the improvements in advanced health care we have minutes from home,” he said. “The village is now in a financial position we have never been in before, so I expect to see many good things coming.”

O’Fallon Contested Races

In Ward 2, incumbent alderman Jessica Lotz, elected in 2019, is facing Mary Jeanne Hutchison, the former director of parks and recreation.

In Ward 3, Alderman Andrea Fohne, who was appointed to fill the unexpired term of the thrice-elected alderman Kevin Hagarty after his death last spring, will face Vern Malare, who previously ran in 2017.

In Ward 4, Alderman Todd Roach, elected in 2019, will face former Ward 3 alderman Matthew “Gilly” Gilreath, who did not seek re-election in 2021 and he was elected O’Fallon Township Clerk. Gilreath was appointed to the council in 2016 and won the seat in 2017.

Ward 5 Aldermen Gwen Randolph is not running for re-election. Randolph, appointed in 2018, made history as the first African American woman to serve on the council. She was re-elected in 2019. Businessman Aaron Hudson has filed to run for the open seat.

One-term incumbents Dennis Muyleart of Ward 1, Tom Vorce in Ward 6, and Nathan Parchman in Ward 7 will not face opponents, and neither will appointee Eric Van Hook, the retired former police chief, who filled the late Dan Witt’s seat last summer, and is seeking the two-year term remaining.

How to view O’Fallon forum

The Forum will be televised on the city’s website www.ofallon.org and through Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qGk6_X04Q528r1MepT4gEQ.

The O’Fallon Forum will be streamed live on the city’s website. Simply click on the Video on Demand button on the homepage or this link http://www.ofallon.org/public-access-television/pages/video-on-demand.

The forum will also be recorded and made available to view at any time on the city’s video on demand page. To locate the recorded forums, people should scroll to the bottom of the on demand page, click on the “Other Programs” tab, and click on the forum of their choice.

It will be re-aired on Charter Cable Channel 993 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 through April 3.

A letter was sent to all candidates inviting them to the upcoming forums.

For more information, contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 618-632-3377.