Candidate Profile: Dan Barger

Name: Dan Barger

Age: 54

Family Members: Wife, Lynn Barger, children Ann Barger, Dan Barger Jr., Shelby Sandheinrich, Alex Sandheinrich, Luke Sandheinrich and Charlotte Barger.

Town: Belleville

Office seeking: Stookey Township Trustee

Occupation: Business Representative of the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council

Previous and current elected offices and terms served: None.

Why are you running? For the past 30 years I have lived in or around Stookey Township. Over the years there have been many positive changes. New park and sewer plant are two great examples. As a new trustee I feel I can bring new ideas to the table to continue building a growing township.

What is your view on township government and its roles? The township board plays a very important role in the future of the community. There needs to be a committed team, working together to make sure we continue to maintain our roads, bridges and infrastructure. This will ensure that we are prepared for future growth.

If you were writing a job description for the position you are seeking, what would it say? As your trustee I assure you I will make responsible decisions on how your money is spent. This will take input from the township. I will make myself available and help get your message heard.

What is the most important issue facing Stookey Township? How would you approach it? Safety is my #1 concern. We need better lighting on our streets. I would propose an outreach to Ameren to see there are programs in place to help achieve this goal. Reaching out to our local police to build better relations is a must. Watch out for each other and report any suspicious activity.

Why should people vote for you? I have never run for public office and given the chance I will be your voice at the township and will work to make it a better and safer place to live, work and play. I will work with existing neighborhood watch programs and create new ones. This is the best crime prevention. Get to know our neighbors, be aware!

This story was originally published February 27, 2017 at 4:37 PM with the headline "Candidate Profile: Dan Barger."