O’Fallon City Council Approves Mayor’s Appointment For Ward 5 Councilman

welcomed a new face to fill the open seat in Ward 5 at Thursday’s meeting.

Michael Snowden was chosen by Mayor Bill Hennessy to fulfill the rest of Mark Perkins’ term ending in April 2013.

Perkins at the Nov. 17 council meeting due to his acceptance of a new job. Perkins served six terms on the council and his resignation was effective Dec. 31.

According to the city charter, when a vacancy occurs on the council, the position shall be filled by a selection of the mayor. The city council may also adopt procedures to fill vacancies. The city began accepting applications for the position in November. 

O’Fallon City Council approved the motion for Snowden’s appointment and he was sworn in on Thursday.

Snowden, 44, moved to O’Fallon in 2005 with his wife and son.

He’s worked in public safety for 25 years, spending the last four as a training and quality assurance officer for the St. Charles County Department of Dispatch and Alarm.

Snowden's previous experience in local government includes two years on the Hazelwood Planning and Zoning Commission and Historical Preservation Committee.

After taking his seat on the council Thursday, he said he didn’t have any intention of becoming involved with O'Fallon city government, until he first met his fellow councilmen a few years back.

“My subdivision, Hampton Woods, had a couple of issues in 2009 and Mark Perkins and Mike Pheney were extremely helpful,” he said. “It showed me how a city government is supposed to work.”

Snowden said he felt it was his duty to apply when the Ward 5 position opened, and he is looking forward to serving the people of O’Fallon.

“Being appointed and not elected, I’m very conscious of the fact that I’m here to work for the constituents,” he said. “It’s a learning process, because I don’t know all of the issues being faced by other parts of O’Fallon and I’m eager to learn.”

Snowden has a bachelor’s degree in human resource management and a master’s degree in public administration. He said he thinks his previous local government experience and education will help him to see all sides of an issue before making a decision.

Snowden welcomes O’Fallon residents to contact him with their concerns.

“I would love to hear from them with any issues they need help with and they can plan on seeing me at their subdivision meetings,” he said.

Snowden can be contacted at 636-379-5588
 or msnowden@ofallon.mo.us