Maplewood Ward 2 Councilman candidate, Ray Crader responded to a request by 40 South News to expand on his statement when he announced his candidacy.
The other candidates for office (Wards 1 and 3, and mayor) were also invited by email to comment on: attracting small independent businesses, ensuring that the City Council reflects the best interests of the residents of Maplewood, strengthening the working relationship between City Hall and the School District, and improving Maplewood roads and infrastructure.
This is Ray Crader’s response:
I feel very strongly that an elected official’s main responsibility is to represent the will of the people that elect them. In the days and weeks to come, I plan to launch a social media forum that will allow the community to weigh in on and give me feedback on what’s most important to them. I remember years ago when Margaret Donnelly was in the Missouri House of Representatives, she used to send out a questionnaire to voters to get their opinion on matters before the House. That always impressed me as what government could and should be.
I agree with Andrew that diversity and walkability are two of the many factors that make Maplewood a great place to live. Over the last 23 years I have seen Maplewood become one of the most economically, racially, and socially diverse communities in the St. Louis region. But I have also seen it lose some of that diversity in recent years. I don’t believe that taxes alone have caused this change. All levels of government do have a duty to provide and maintain the services that their citizens have voted for and must remain financially solvent to do so. It is no secret now that Maplewood is a great place to live and as a result real estate prices have gone up making it more difficult for lower income families. This is a common cultural shift but it saddens me.
I also agree with Andrew that I would like to see Maplewood continue to strengthen its walkability. I would also like to see initiatives to make it a more safe environment for cyclists. When I first moved here I chose Maplewood because I worked in downtown Maplewood and wanted to live close enough to walk or bike. I also had lived for a year in Copenhagen, Denmark, where the primary mode of transportation was trains and bicycles. But unfortunately we do live in an automobile society. And we must recognize that most of us do drive a car daily. And many people visit our great restaurants and shops from other communities and they drive to get here. So we must maintain our existing roads. Although I don’t work in Maplewood anymore, I do enjoy getting out and walking and biking with my sons. But I do get nervous about safety on some of our streets and I think measures can be taken to make our streets more safe.
I don’t pretend to have answers for all of Maplewood’s challenges. I can’t predict what might come before the Council in the next three years. I can say that I am ready and excited to jump in and tackle those challenges that lay ahead. Anyone who knows me, from school members and business owners to friends and community members can tell you that I am very open-minded and dedicated. I am eager to hear from the community, learn what’s most important to them and work hard to keep Maplewood the very best place to live and work.
Thanks again for the opportunity to express these thoughts.
Ray Crader