Bill Hennessy, Candidate for O'Fallon Mayor

Name:  Bill Hennessy
Age:  55
Family:  Married to Debbie for 34 years, Father to Erica, Bruce, and Tony, Father-in-law to Emily, and Grandfather to Jack
Education:  Lewis and Clark Tech
Occupation:  Service Technician for Diebold, Inc. for 33 years
Previous Elected Offices:  Councilman for 10 years and current Mayor of O’Fallon for 4 years
Number of Years Living In O’Fallon:  32
Organizations:  Member of the Knights of Columbus #2269, Member of the O’Fallon Elks Lodge #2587, and Member of the O’Fallon Historical Society

CANDIDATE QUESTIONS

1. What is the primary reason you are running for this office?
My primary reason for running is to serve the citizens of O’Fallon and make our city a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.

2. What will be your single most important priority if you get elected?
My top priority is public safety. O'Fallon has been ranked one of the safest cities in the country. I will continue to advocate for more patrols in our subdivisions and work to make sure all residents and business owners always feel safe. Plans are also in the works for a new Justice Center, as O'Fallon has outgrown City Hall.        

3. What's your favorite thing about O'Fallon?
During the 2009 mayoral election, I advocated for an all-inclusive playground in O'Fallon. It was the centerpiece of my platform. Now, as I look back over my last four years as mayor, two words come to mind: Brendan's Playground. After the ribbon cutting, to see all the kids playing together, it warmed my heart. And it wasn't just about the kids who had always come out to play, but rather the kids who had never been able to play before. And now they could. Being a part of that made all the fundraising and hard work worthwhile.  I was not the only one to appreciate what a crowning achievement this park represented. St Charles County voted Brendan's Playground the best park in the county in 2012.

4. What is the biggest problem you see in O'Fallon?
Traffic congestion is the biggest problem I see daily in O’Fallon. As we continue to grow, protecting our city's infrastructure becomes increasingly important. Extra turn lanes have been added to the intersections of Hwy. K and Veterans Memorial Parkway as well as Hwy. K and Laura Hill/Feise Rd. I also advocated  for the extra lane on Interstate 70 between TR Hughes and Hwy. K, greatly reducing the traffic around those exits. Completion of Hwy. 364 (Page Extension) in late 2014 will further decrease congestion near Hwy. K and Bryan Rd. When re-elected, I will continue to not only maintain our existing infrastructure but also look for opportunities to ease congestion on our main thoroughfares. By doing this, I hope to encourage more businesses and families to make O'Fallon their home.

5. What is your vision for O'Fallon?
My vision for O’Fallon is for steady growth and to maintain the quality of life for all our residents.

6. If an incumbent, why do you think you should retain your seat? If you are challenging an incumbent, what do you think qualifies you for the position more than the incumbent?
I have served my community for fourteen years, from Councilman to Mayor. I have the proven experience and leadership with a vision for the future of O'Fallon. I use a common sense approach to solving complex issues within our city. I listen to the needs of the community and decisions are based on input from our residents. My family and I are proud to call O'Fallon home.