CLAYTON — ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Councilwoman Kelli Dunaway is not running for reelection this year, the Chesterfield Democrat said Tuesday, and at least two other Democrats are eyeing her seat.
Dunaway represents District 2, which includes Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, Hazelwood, St. Ann, Woodson Terrace, Breckenridge Hills, as well as parts of Overland, Florissant, Olivette, Creve Coeur and Chesterfield.
Dunaway, who has held the seat since 2019, said “politics is not my jam.â€
“I like working with people who aspire to be better and do better,†said Dunaway, 49, an attorney who runs a training and coaching service for lawyers. “And that’s the kind of work I get to do in my other jobs. I want to do more of the joy work.â€
Nicole Greer, a city , announced in December she is running for Dunaway’s council district in the Aug. 6 Democratic primary. The general election is Nov. 5.
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Greer, 51, has served on the Creve Coeur council since 2020, and she’s a data analyst for AT&T. She’s also vice president of candidate recruitment for the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus, a nonprofit organization that seeks to recruit and train candidates for office.
“I don’t consider myself a politician,†Greer said. “I consider myself a public servant.â€
Missouri state Rep. Gretchen Bangert, a Democrat from Florissant whose term ends this year, said she is also exploring running for District 2.
“I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from folks,†said Bangert, 57.
It wasn’t clear if any Republicans were eyeing the seat. Republican Central Committee Chair Rene Artman said the committee is working on finding candidates.
Dunaway is one of four Democrats on the seven-member County Council. She’s an ally of County Executive Sam Page, and, along with Councilwoman Lisa Clancy of Maplewood, almost always supports his policies. Page can’t always count on the support of two other council Democrats — Shalonda Webb and Rita Heard Days.
Dunaway was elected on Aug. 6, 2019, in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Page. She chose to be sworn in on the Dr. Seuss book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!â€
Dunaway often remained silent during council meetings, but was vocal on some issues including gun control, public health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, abortion rights and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Other council seats are up for election this year.
Webb said she’s running for reelection in District 4, which includes parts of Florissant, Bellefontaine Neighbors, Riverview, Black Jack and unincorporated areas north to the Missouri River.
Former Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray has an active campaign committee for the Democratic primary in that district.
Republican Councilman Ernie Trakas said he intends to run for reelection in District 6, which includes areas of South County from the city limits south to the Meramec.
Republican George Michael “Mike†Archer, an attorney from Oakville, started a campaign committee to challenge Trakas in the Republican primary. Former Mehlville Board of Education member Kevin Schartner of unincorporated South County is running in the Democratic primary.
Councilman Mark Harder, a Republican from Ballwin who represents District 7, is running for Missouri Senate this year.
If Harder wins and vacates his seat on the council, there could be a special election to fill it as early as April 2025, according to Rick Stream, Republican elections director for the county. If he loses, he keeps his seat on the council until the end of his term in 2026.
ºüÀêÊÓƵ County prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell is running against U.S. Rep. Cori Bush in this year’s Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District. If he loses, he keeps his job with the county. If he wins, voters will pick a replacement prosecutor in a special election, Stream said.
Candidate filing for county offices begins Feb. 27 and ends March 26.