Controversial council member is target in St. Francis

Like many of its municipal neighbors, St. Francis faces a tough budget season, with the loss of about $561,000 in local government aid over three years and no relief in sight.

Candidates vying for two City Council seats and the mayor's office say they need to cut costs while maintaining services, not to mention replacing a dilapidated public works building and a police station that some say the city outgrew a decade ago.

But two of the four challengers for two City Council seats are also motivated by a desire to unseat controversial Council Member LeRoy Schaffer, whose behavior in and out of the council chambers, they say, has consumed council time and drawn negative attention to the city.

Six candidates in all have filed for Schaffer's and Tim Brown's at-large council seats, and two have filed to challenge Mayor Jerry Tveit in the general election on Nov. 2.

Schaffer, the top vote-getter in 2006, is seeking a second term. Since he's been in office, he has been censured by the council three times.

In December 2007, he made what the council called inappropriate sexual remarks to a young woman during a community event. In May 2008, the city attorney found he had publicly humiliated Brown's daughter.

And last November, he yelled at the city's public works director about a personnel dispute.

An effort to recall him in December 2008 failed when he prevailed on a 341-300 vote. The numbers who voted were fewer than those who signed a petition calling for the vote.

The abundance of candidates in the race doesn't ensure Schaffer's ouster. His supporters will continue to vote for him, but his opponents' votes could be split among the other five.

Schaffer said he still has ideas to contribute. The friction on the council once caused him to question whether he should seek a second term or stick with his original intention to serve only one.

"You never say never in politics," he said. "We all have to be willing to change our minds."

The city comes first

"We need to get somebody in there who's going to have professionalism and integrity and get some business done and make some good decisions," McClish said.

Similarly, Paul T. Hare III said he is running because he "could offer up an alternative leadership to what is currently being used there."

McClish and Hare said they know it's possible that they'll have to work with Schaffer on the council.

"If I win, I have to work with four other people to try to do the city's business," Hare said. "Whatever my opinion of another individual, the city's business is first."

The two other challengers, Brant Standridge and former City Council member Ray Jones, said that while infighting is counterproductive, Schaffer has some good ideas.