Two Maplewood Ward 1 residents are running as write-in candidates for council person in the April 8 election. The current Ward 1 representative who’s term is ending, Matt Coriell, is not running, and no one else filed to run, which leaves the election open to write-in candidates.
The currently two candidates running campaigns are C Wiley and Marie Long. They both recently announced their candidacy on Facebook. Their statements are printed below.
C Wiley
Hi there! My name is C Wiley, and I’m running for Maplewood City Council – Ward 1. I’m asking residents of Maplewood, MO to write me in for this open seat.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, an expecting parent, and an advocate for access to housing, I’m running for this City Council seat for the sake of representation and inclusion. I value the voices of every member of our Maplewood community, and I seek to amplify those that have been silenced by underrepresentation or inequity, including people of color, immigrant families, transgender individuals, and people experiencing housing or food instability.
To learn more about me and my platform, check out cforcitycouncil.com.
Marie Long
Hello Fellow Maplewoodians,
My name is Marie Long, and many of you may know me as Marie Konersmann or Marie Konersmann Long.
I am excited to announce my candidacy for Maplewood City Council Ward 1. I’m asking residents of Maplewood, MO to write me in for this open seat.
As a long-time resident of Maplewood, I have witnessed the incredible growth and change that our community has experienced over the years. With a deep-rooted commitment to ensuring our city remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family, I am dedicated to serving the diverse needs of our residents. and I’d love to share a little about my journey and why I’m passionate about serving our community.
Pronouns: she/her
Live Local: St. Louis citizen for life, Maplewood resident for over 25 years
Occupation: RN Case Manager at Amedisys Home Health, Sunset Hills, Missouri
Why am I running?
As a longtime Maplewood resident, a proud graduate of MRH (Class OF 1994) who has had children in the school district since kindergarten, and a new homeowner, I am running for city council to show my unwavering support for all citizens of Maplewood.
If you know me and my family, you know that we don’t judge others based on financial status, housing status, education, appearance, marital status, religion, age, race, sexual orientation, nationality, disability, language. I hope you get the idea. We believe in accepting people for who they are, but we also strongly believe in the importance of how they treat others—and yes, how they treat animals as well.
With my deep roots in this community, I believe I can represent not only the newer residents of Maplewood, but also those who have lived here for many years.
I want to advocate for all residents of Maplewood—whether you’re young or old, in a relationship or not, a renter, a homeowner, or hoping to buy a home one day, a new resident or a long-term resident. Whether you’re financially well-off, struggling, or somewhere in between, every resident deserves to be represented and heard.
During my time here, I feel that Maplewood has been a diverse neighborhood, and no one should ever feel excluded. While I recognize that this hasn’t always been the case in the past, it’s important to understand that we won’t always agree on every issue. However, I will do my best to represent all the people in my ward, including those with different opinions on the matters the City Council addresses. I am committed to ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and that all residents are treated with the respect they deserve.
Diversity includes not only differences in background and identity but also in ideas and lived experiences. We must move away from echo chambers that stifle dialogue and collaboration. Instead, we need to foster productive conversations, even when they are difficult, as these can lead to the best solutions. We need to move forward as a community, focused on the well-being of all, despite our differences.
I have already received an endorsement from Barry Greenberg, Mayor of Maplewood, MO.
YOU CAN CHECK OUT ALL MY INFORMATION ON MY WEBPAGE: Https://www.writeinmarielongformaplewoodward1.com/