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The Missourian interviewed each of the candidates to hear their views on issues that face the district. Following are the responses of the candidates presented in alphabetical order.
Bockhorst
Aaron Bockhorst is a full-time firefighter in St. Louis County. He is married with two children.
Bockhorst has a combined 13 years of fire service, 10 years in the emergency medical field. He also is a member of the Local 2665 Professional Firefighters union.
His education includes East Central College emergency management technician certification and fire science courses. He attended the St. Louis County Fire Academy.
Bockhorst said he will seek additional paid firefighters to have crews on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"I believe that the Union Fire Protection District has some of the best firemen protecting our community. My first priority, if elected, will be establishing a full-time paid crew seven days a week, 24 hours a day," said Bockhorst. "At this time your tax dollars are not being used to their fullest extent. I will ensure that we spend the money wisely to accomplish this goal," he added. "Most people take for granted that if they call 911 a fire truck will show up."
Grimes
Benji Grimes is a soccer coach at ECC and works in the family business that includes tax and accounting services, property management and real estate development.
Grimes is a Union High School graduate with a degree in business administration from Lindenwood University. He is endorsed by the local IFW union.
Grimes said he was asked to run for the board because of his business background.
"Running a family business I deal with every aspect of business, from taking out the trash to business clients' issues," said Grimes. "I feel I will make good, smart decisions for what is best for the department."
Grimes said one major issue the district faces is financial challenges.
"We need to create new revenue streams," he said. "If people understand more of what firefighters do they may be willing to pass a sales tax to facilitate what they need.
"I would be an advocate for that, but we need to publicly debate it and get information for the people to consume."
He noted that fire crews respond to more calls daily than ever.
"There are a lot of people who don't understand how much they do," said Grimes. "Not only do they fight fires but they go to car crashes and save lives with no regard to their own life."
Van Leer
Jim Van Leer is married with one child. He is the owner of JTA Chimney Service and also employed by Power Supply Industries, a compressor service. He has been a Union volunteer firefighter for 18 years and was a volunteer with the Beaufort-Leslie Fire District. He also has worked part time with the Union Ambulance District.
Van Leer serves on the Franklin County Fair Board and is a Little League coach.
He told The Missourian that serving on the board always has been an interest of his.
"I have always wanted to do it," he said. "The district is going in a very positive direction but there are a few things I would like to be done better. "I feel that having firefighting experience, knowing the equipment and being a small business owner, I know both sides of the coin," he added. "I know what the district needs and if we have funds to purchase those things." Van Leer noted that the district faces financial issues due to decreasing property values.
"I am worried about the decrease in revenue as assessments go down," he said. "That makes our tax base go down."
Paid firefighters have become an important element in the district and he would like to keep the crew to continue to offer that service to the district. "We can hopefully maintain those crews and give them raises. The state is requiring more training but it is not giving any additional funding," said Van Leer. "All we will be able to do is cut corners in certain areas that we can cut back in.
"There are certain areas of the budget that have to be trimmed and we can possibly seek grants for equipment and personnel to help recoup costs." He added that a goal of his would be to have paid crews on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
