O'Fallon City Council Members Sworn In

members were officially sworn in at City Hall on Tuesday evening. Of the six taking the oath of office, the only newcomer is Ward 3's Richard Battelle.

Battelle won a two-year term with 42.28 percent of the vote in a five-way contest with candidates Ken Wood (6.47 percent), Noal C. Roos (1.38 percent), Mike Nunnery (27.49 percent), and Dave Evans (22.16 percent). He thanked voters and those who aided his campaign.

“I’d like to thank my family and friends who volunteered," Battelle said. "I had numerous volunteers who worked behind the scenes and without them, this wouldn’t have been possible."

In Ward 1, incumbent Bill Gardner defeated A.C. Dienoff with 72.85 percent of the 1,812 votes cast. Councilwoman Rose Mack beat Stephen Macfarland with 63.75 percent of the vote in Ward 2. City Council President Pro-Tem John Haman, Jr. ran for Ward 3's three-year term unopposed. Bob Howell and Mike Pheney, incumbents in Wards 4 and 5, also won uncontested races.

Voter participation was significantly higher than in recent local elections, with a city-wide turnout of 19.7 percent.  As recently as last year, the rate was almost half that, at 10.4 percent. Ward five posted a 22.6 percent turnout, the highest rate this year.

Councilwoman Mack emphasized the importance of voter participation and thanked voters regardless of political affiliation.

“Thank you, citizens of Ward 2, for voting, whether you voted for me or my opponent. We need people to come to the polls on voting day,” said Mack.

City Clerk Pam Clement also officially certified the O’Fallon Smoke-Free Air Act, prohibiting smoking in indoor work places and public places. She said by law the ordinance would go into effect on June 16, 2011. The initiative passed with 72.58 percent of the vote.

Full results from the county-wide are available on the St. Charles County Election Authority’s website.