CLAYTON • ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger said Thursday she will not seek a fourth term on the council, and former ºüÀêÊÓƵ County Police Chief Tim Fitch said Thursday he is running for her seat.
Wasinger, 52, a Republican, has occupied the seat since 2007. She said she was “grateful for the opportunity to serve but I think it’s time to give someone else a chance and consider other opportunities and ways for me to serve.â€
Asked whether she was interested in running for county executive, she said that “people have suggested that to me, and I’m considering all options at this point.†Wasinger, a lawyer, said it was also possible that she could work in the private sector or for a nonprofit.
Her husband, David Wasinger, an attorney and CPA, he is running as a Republican for state auditor.
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Wasinger said Fitch was one of a few people in her district who has expressed interest in her seat, but she was not endorsing anyone yet. Filing opens on Feb. 27.
Fitch, 56, who lives in an unincorporated area between Fenton and Valley Park, is running as a Republican. Fitch served 31 years with the county police department, retiring in 2014 after 4½ years as chief. He is the manager of global security for Emerson Electric and runs a public safety consulting business.
The normally outspoken figure declined to discuss his platform, saying he would have more to say at a campaign kickoff event on Jan. 17.
Fitch said he had never considered a political career until the unrest in Ferguson. He said he was inspired by a Dec. 29, 2014, by ºüÀêÊÓƵ Alderman Antonio French that said: “Don’t feel you’re being represented? Step up. Run for office.â€
In 2016, Fitch agreed to accept an appointment to the county Republican Committee. He said it was because of the actions of some top Democrats during unrest in Ferguson who “took the opportunity to throw law enforcement under the bus†for political reasons.
A major question is whether he would support County Executive Steve Stenger, who has been at odds with a council majority for the past year over a several issues.
Fitch supported Stenger in his 2014 campaign for county executive, vigorously opposing incumbent Charlie Dooley.
In February, the county GOP committee voted unanimously to oppose Prop P, a proposition to enact a special tax to support law enforcement. Fitch abstained, and declined to publicly explain his reasoning, citing Emerson’s company policy.
Another committeeman said Fitch had told the committee he would support the proposition only if Stenger would publicly promise that he would never reduce the police department’s existing budget and replace existing money with the new sales tax money to cover the county budget woes.
Stenger has said voters would hold him and other elected officials accountable. He also said the public will be able to monitor the money online.Jeremy Kohler • 314-340-8337 @jeremykohler on Twitter jkohler@post-dispatch.com