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I had the opportunity to interview Matt Hay. Matt is running against inclumbent Paul Vinson for the Ward One city council seat. It is a two-year position. ArnoldTalk: Tell me a little about you. What do you do? How long have you ived in Arnold? Do you have family here? Matt Hay: I am the father of a beautiful 16 month old girl named Emmalie Grace and husband to my beautiful wife, Stacie. I graduated Summa cum Laude from Maryville University with a degree is Business Administration and went to work at Edward Jones where I was introduced to the financial markets. Currently, I am a Revendor Relationship Coordinator for Reuters America LLC. Basically, I work with clients such as E*Trade Financial and Scottrade with regard to setting up and securing the necessary contracts to host financial and securities exchange data on the Internet in public domain. I also interned in the US Senate as a Senatorial Staff Assistant to the Hon. John Ashcroft. My wife and I moved to Arnold in March of 2005 from South St. Louis City. Prior to that, I had lived in the Arnold community for a year, which was what ultimately brought me back to settle down and raise my family here.
ArnoldTalk: Why are you interested in running for city council? Have you ever run/held public office before? Matt Hay: I am interested in running for Council for many reasons. The most predominant of which are my desires to see the direction the city is heading in change and working to make Arnold a more responsive, fiscally sound and accommodating community for its residents. In short, to facilitate the residents running the city, and not the other way around as seems to be the case now. I feel too often of late dictates are just being handed down to the residents on many issues without regard for the feelings of the community. Among these, the smoking ban, red light cameras, and the threat of the use of eminent domain. Also, I feel tax dollars are being spent frivolously on needless litigation such as the Adams Suit. I believe there is no overriding public interest in wasting tax dollars on this case, regardless of the ultimate outcome.
Yes, I have held public office. I have been a Planning and Zoning Commissioner in the service of Ward 1 since May 2006. I also ran briefly for what I believed was the Ward 2 Council seat against Mr. Venable in 2006. However, it turned out I had received some incorrect information from the city and was actually located in Ward 1, so I withdrew my name from the race. ArnoldTalk: How do you assess Mr Vinson's work on city council, and what would you do differently if elected? Matt Hay: Overall, I feel Mr. Vinson has done a very good job and served his ward with distinction. I hope to continue and expand upon his tradition of service and responsiveness to his community. Mr. Vinson and I agree on a number of things, however, we have our divergent opinions. For example, I supported the commercial rezoning of the property off Arnold Drive to allow for the expansion of the Walmart Supercenter, and Mr. Vinson did not. I also oppose the suit against Ms. Sonia Adams that was filed by the City. I do not believe that the council had an up or down vote on this per say, however, all members of the council were briefed and seemed to accept the explanation the City Attorney provided for the suit regardless of the lack of legal merit in the city's argument, thus resulting in wasted tax dollars. I have not heard Mr. Vinson support this suit publicly, nor however, have I heard him denounce it. A personal vendetta is being fought with our hard earned tax dollars. If I am elected, I will call everyone that will listen, including the State Attorney General, and request a full vetting of everything that transpired in regards to the allegations as well as the filing of the civil suit with public monies. ArnoldTalk: What is your standing on the use of eminent domain? What do you think about what Arnold has done thus far with their eminent domain use? Matt Hay: I am against the use of any taking of private property by a public entity, in order to turn that property over to another private entity for economic gain. I am troubled and disturbed by what the city has done with regard to the Triangle. From the fact the Becker's received more per square foot than most, if not all of the other property owners, to the fact that the City has continued to fight a losing court battle in regards to Dr. Tourkakis. My only hope is that the Missouri Supreme Court will find in Dr. Tourkakis's favor and thus establish legal precedent within the state of Missouri that will keep 3rd and 4th Class Cities from usurping private property via eminent domain, only to hand them over to another private owner for the sake of increased tax revenue. If the government forcing ownership transfer of private property is not diametrically opposed to what the fathers of this great nation fought and dies for, I am not sure what would be.
ArnoldTalk: If elected, what is the number one goal you'd like to achieve over your two-year term, and how would you go about achieving it? Matt Hay: My number one goal, upon which all my other goals are founded upon is making the city accountable to its citizens. This means that all ordinances, resolutions, etc. are posted both at City Hall and on the City Website prior to discussion and ratification by the council so that residents have time to read and digest the issues that come before the council. This also includes the bi-annual publishing of the Financial Statements as required by the Missouri Open Records Law (Sunshine Law), which is not currently being done. Too often, the only time citizens find out about changes that are made by the Council is after the fact via The Leader, and by that time, it is too late for them to provide any meaningful input as the ship has already sailed. These changes then become dictates to the citizens, rather than well thought out and reasoned changes. The "Internet Harassment Ordinance" comes most immediately to mind. If people actually read the ordinance prior to passage, I am convinced there would have been a great deal more folks at that council meeting. To help facilitate these changes to start, I would propose an ordinance that would prohibit a first and second reading and a vote all in the same meeting. That way, an ordinance could receive both the First and Second reading which are allowed for in the Revised Missouri Statutes, however, a vote would have to be held at the following Council meeting, thus allowing for 2 weeks for the public to provide input and reflection on the issue. Too often, we have a diverse pool of talent and resources in the community that goes untapped. For example, I do not believe a single Veterinarian was contacted in regards to the increase in Pet Licensing Fees. Obviously, these changes would affect them the most, it would have been nice to get their thoughts on it prior to passage. It just makes sense.
ArnoldTalk: You will be representing the citizens of Arnold. What do you think they consider the most important issue in Arnold? Matt Hay: As with any group of people, everyone has their own issues that are important to them. But I think I can say with certainty however, the one universal issue facing everyone, is the desire for a city that works with and for them, rather than against them. One that makes life easier, rather than more cumbersome. Most folks, myself included, want to be able to get up in the morning, go to work, and come home to their families at the end of the day, all the while not having to deal with any outrageous requirements imposed by the city, or finding out secondhand that a city employee has trespassed on their property in order to conduct an "investigation." I think there is a great deal of hostility towards the current city government, and much of it has been earned in my opinion through the "Trust us, We know better" attitude that seems to prevail. I would really like to work on changing that. The city government is funded by the taxpayers, for the benefit of the taxpayers. It should not at any time be to their detriment and an impediment to living in and enjoying our wonderful community. ArnoldTalk: How can people get involved and help you promote your bid for office? Matt Hay: Well, they say the "donation" is the greatest nation on the planet :)..... In all honesty, the things I want for the city, I am not going to be able to bring about on my own. I would like to see people become involved. Speak at Council Meetings. Approach me, or any other member of city government. Let us know your thoughts, or that you are interested in serving on a City Commission or Board. Run for office in one of the Wards the incumbents are running unopposed in. Most of all talk to your friends and do not sit on the sidelines. Unfortunately, too often, the silent majority stands idly by learning to "cope" with things just to make it from day to day. ArnoldTalk: Matt, thank you for your time answering these questions and for your interest in our great city. Matt Hay: Will, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for providing the public forum that you do so that people may become informed and freely exchange thoughts and ideas. In closing, I just wanted to say, that regardless of who wins the Ward 1 race, the residents of Ward 1 are the real winners. Though I feel that I would provide the leadership, guidance, and counsel which I believe the city so badly needs as it grows from "just that little town with the water tower on 55", to a town being caught up in the wave of urban sprawl, expansion, and migration, there is no one other than Mr. Vinson that I would rather see in the Ward 1 seat if I was not ultimately elected.
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