The Jefferson Review Voters Guide

Special Edition

The Jefferson Review Voters Guide is designed to help voters hear directly from the candidates seeking to represent Jefferson County. Candidate answers are published as submitted so readers can compare responses in each race.

Editor’s Note: Candidate responses are not endorsements by The Jefferson Review. Answers are provided by the candidates and are shared for voter information.

Richard "Stumpy" Durham

Political Party Affiliation: Republican

Short Candidate Bio

Raised in Jefferson County (District 1) most of my life, I am deeply rooted in the community. I am a 1998 graduate of Northwest High School and an active member of the Northwest High School Alumni Association. I am also an active member of the High Ridge Elks and have been involved with Northwest Jefferson County, Eureka and Fenton Chambers of Commerce. I currently operate our family business in the House Springs area of Jefferson County with my wife, Wendy, where we reside with our two sons.

Why are you running for this office?

Growing up in the community that I plan to serve, I have seen what has been done to help and improve our area, and the things that have held us back. The residents in District 1 need someone on the council that they know they can count on and who has their back. There has been a lot of conflict within the council in the past, and I want to be a part of changing that. I want to help update the process for new businesses in Jefferson County. We need to have a clear pathway for someone who wants to start their first business here. We should welcome new business instead of pushing them to go somewhere the process isn’t so complicated. I want to be the voice of District 1 and represent my fellow citizens. I am just an everyday hard working guy trying to represent the regular everyday people and “Good Ol Boys” that are the foundation of this county. I plan to work as hard growing this county as I do growing my business.

What experience best prepares you to serve in this role?

My wife and I have owned business in this community for over 20 years. I feel that it gives me the tools to be effective in the role of County Council. While I don’t have a degree in Political Science, and I am not a career politician, owning a business has given me experience managing difficult situations, and building relationships with people having different viewpoints and from all different walks of life. You can learn a lot from books, but it is the real-life experiences that prepare you for roles like this. County council is about representing all the people in your district no matter if you agree with all their views or not. It is about problem solving and being able to have difficult conversations. It’s about listening and being able to relate to the people in your community. Living here as long as I have, operating businesses here and growing up with the people I will represent makes me more than qualified to represent this district and to be able to work with the other council members to do what is best for the county.

What is the most important issue facing Jefferson County right now?

Lack of economic growth. There are a few areas of the county that are seeing growth, however, that is not the case county wide. A lot of this stems from the policies that are currently in place that make it more difficult for businesses to move into Jefferson County than other areas. I had the opportunity to speak with a new business that recently opened in the county and was told that with opening over 50 locations in the Midwest, Jefferson County was the 2nd most difficult county to work with. This needs to change and is on the list of impacts that I want to make when elected. There are too many vacancies in commercial buildings and strip malls that could be generating taxes for our area. Having an average of just 2.7% economic growth in Jefferson County as a whole is unacceptable and is pushing many people to travel into St Louis County to spend their money when they should be spending it here.

What is one specific thing you would like to accomplish during your term?

There are a number of things I would like to accomplish. I guess at the top of my list I want to bring healthy, responsible economic growth back to the Highway 30 corridor. I also want to continue the efforts to improve the safety of Highway 30.

How would you describe your approach to serving taxpayers?

Be approachable, have open ears and an open mind. I feel that in order to be effective you need to listen to the needs and concerns of the taxpayers in the community. It also means you have to have an open mind and be able to discuss those needs and concerns. We don’t always have to agree, but we need to work together to find common ground and results that everyone can live with.

What district or countywide concerns are you hearing most often from residents?

District 1 seems to be having a lot of concerns about the safety of the Highway 30 Corridor. That’s why that issue is one of my top priorities to work on. I think there have been some strides made help, but I feel like there is more that could be done. For example, I think we need to look at increasing acceleration ramps at many intersections. I think we could also look at a slight delay in lights turning green after all lights turn red. I feel that it is a small change that could make an impact. If it makes someone stay stopped for a few more seconds, it could be the difference of remaining safe rather than the possibility of being hit by someone running a red light. If we can save even one life, it makes these changes worth it.

How should the County Council approach zoning, land use, and development decisions?

I don’t think it’s a cut and dry answer. There should be a lot of planning and public transparency. When weighing a decision we should be looking at infrastructure to make sure if the current infrastructure can’t handle the development that there is a plan in place to make appropriate upgrades or changes. We need to make sure there are consistent and fair rules in place that are legally sound. The council should also be making sure that the public that these decisions could impact are adequately informed to the best of their ability. These decisions should be transparent and questions and concerns that arise should be addressed timely.

What standards should council members use when weighing staff recommendations, public opposition, and property owner rights?

As a council we should ultimately protect the rights of the property owner to the best of our ability. We need to weigh the recommendations of the staff and the public opposition against legal constraints and policies in order to make an informed decision. We should also be looking into policies that have been in place for decades to see if changes need to be made to keep up with the everything that has been happening over time. Property owners need to stay protected while we also allow growth to happen across the board.

How would you approach the county budget and spending oversight?

First, there should be a clear and transparent budget process. We need to make sure that the budget is being disbursed responsibly throughout the county and not funneling it to just a couple major areas. We should enforce accountability and transparency to eliminate wasteful spending. We need to be sure that the budget is in line with community priorities and be strategic with those priorities to ensure that the budget runs efficiently. At the end of the day the budget is the funds of taxpayers, and they should see where their dollars are being spent and should be able to trust that we are treating their dollars with care and respect.

What role should the council play in holding county departments accountable?

I think it’s vital to have checks and balances in place in the county. I think that there should be transparency from the county departments so that the council can make sure the citizens are being represented appropriately. The council should strive to have good working relationships with all the county departments to ensure that the county is run efficiently and fairly. It will only benefit the citizens of Jefferson County to have all departments and the council in harmony. Will everything be sunshine at all times, no, but we need a council that has the ability to have respectful conversations and work through any adversities.

How should the council balance private property rights with the concerns of nearby residents?

We should listen to the concerns of nearby residents, however, we should not react without looking at the situation as a whole. Property owners have the right to use their land, the council just needs to make sure that zoning laws are being abided by. We should assess whether the property owner is within their rights or not and respond to concerns within our legal limitations and within reason. The council needs to make sure we are respecting both sides and encourage open conversations, watch for real, harmful impacts the use could have on neighbors, and respect rights of property owners within our legal realm. The council needs to make sure that there are consistent and reasonable standards and procedures.

Would you support stronger public notice or public explanation requirements for major land-use decisions?

Yes, I feel that the public should be aware of what is going on in their community and be well informed. Having stronger public explanation requirements is crucial. Explanations to the public need to be clear and in plain language instead of just legal wording. The public should have plenty of notice to public hearings in order to ask questions and raise concerns, and public hearings should be structured and fair. Having stronger public notice requirements is key for transparency and will go a long way to build trust between the council and the public.

What would make you an effective representative for your district?

First would be that I am approachable. I am reliable, honest, fair, and have integrity. I am always open to have a conversation with anyone (if you ask my wife, it’s probably almost to a fault). Just as important is that growing up and raising my family here in the district has given me a better understanding of the concerns and needs of the area. I am already building positive relationships with current and future council members. I am active in the community that I will serve, and I am dedicated to the success, growth, and safety of District 1. I know a great number of people in Jefferson County, whether it be my neighbors, many business owners, first responders, families who have been here for generations, and numerous people involved in local politics. Having these relationships and friendships will always be an asset to getting things done for our District.

Would you support sewer and/or water service consolidation in the county? Why or Why not?

Yes, I would support sewer and water service consolidation in the county because Jefferson County needs more infrastructure for water and sewer. There should be a solid plan that is not rushed and is well thought out addressing every concern and measuring the benefits so they don’t just benefit a select few or select group. At the same time I think that we need to be cautious about the possibility of a Monopoly which could end up hurting the community instead of helping. I also think we need to be sure a coordinated growth plan will ensure efficiency and lower long-term costs, and to make transitioning affordable and obtainable for everyone. Too often these decisions are made and without a thought about if less fortunate families are able to afford it

Voters Guide Notice: This candidate profile is not a paid advertisement. Candidate responses are published as part of The Jefferson Review Candidate Voter Guide and are presented in the candidate’s own words.

The opinions and statements expressed above are solely those of the candidate or campaign and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jefferson Review, its staff, sponsors, or partners. Publication of a candidate response does not constitute an endorsement.

Candidate responses were submitted through The Jefferson Review Candidate Voter Guide questionnaire. Responses are presented in the candidate’s own words and have not been rewritten by The Jefferson Review. Formatting may be adjusted for spacing, readability, or display.

Questionnaire Note: Candidates were invited to respond to the same questionnaire for this office. If a question was left blank, The Jefferson Review may mark that answer as “No response provided.”