Pagano A Republican - REALLY?

I find it interesting that Mayor Len Pagano is supporting Jay Nixon concerning the Missouri State Governor's race. Mayor Pagano has put it in writing that he would never take a stand in a partisan race.

In a letter dated January 14th, 2008 from Len Pagano to the Editors of the St. Charles Post-Dispatch, St. Peters Journal, Mid Rivers News Magazine and the Labor Tribune stated:

"The position of the Mayor of St. Peters is a non partisan office and I believe it is essential and in the best interest of the 58,000 residents of St. Peters to maintain an effective working relationship with elected officials across party lines, locally, regionally, statewide and federally."

The letter was generated after Tom Fann released a literature piece that stated:

"Tom Fann, his wife, and his three children have been a vital part of St. Charles County for decades. Fann is right on the issues. It is a shame that families do not have health insurance, and I know that he will do a great job" - Len Pagano, Mayor of St. Peters

The question remains did Tom Fann just make it up or did he believe that Mayor Pagano was actually supporting his campaign? In an April Aldermans race the St. Charles County Democrat chairman Tommy Roberts ran against an area unknown candidate to win the Alderman seat in St. Peters. In that race Tommy Robert's material stated that he was mentored by Mayor Pagano.

I think this calls into serious question Len Pagano's Republican standing. According to the article released today:

''Hulshof campaign manager John Hancock also asserted that Pagano "never -- ever'' contacted state officials, in either the governor's office or the state Department of Economic Development, about his concerns.

Furthermore Republican John Hancock had this to say about Len being a Republican:

"It's not credible to call him a Republican"

Repulican status aside if I were a resident of St. Peters I would have to ask, what's changed? I may agree that it is Len Pagano's right to have an opinion but is it in the interest of St. Peters residence for him to express it openly and use the power of his position to express it.

What happens if the Republican Party wins in a significant number of the area elections? Will St. Peters get a fair shake considering all the law suits that the city has had to over come in the last few years? The city took away the tax free weekend due to these very lawsuits. How much more presure will now come down on the city of St. Peters economically, financially and just through plain lack of co-operation with other county and state elected officials if he endorses the wrong candidate?

Mayor Pagano knows full well that he won't have to personally pay for this mistake but "the people" will get saddled with any financial drain that occurs due to retribution that may occur from the Republican elected officals that remain in office after November 4th which may include preventing St. Peters from further economic growth.