April 7, 2011

Dear Friends,

In 1976, after 4 years in the Navy Seabees and 4 1/2 years studying Civil Engineering at Rolla, Mayor Eagan hired me to be the Florissant City Engineer and I fell in love with the people of Florissant and Rachel and I raised our six children here.

I remember the first time I walked inside of City Hall to interview with Mayor Eagan and I know that I will remember the first time I enter that same City Hall as the third Mayor under the current 48 year old Charter.

We are grateful for the continued support, encouragement and help that we received during this campaign and I have enjoyed meeting so many nice people and hearing their new ideas for a brighter future for Florissant.

I answered the call to duty and volunteered to serve two tours in Vietnam with the Navy Seabees. After my two years as city engineer and 32 years serving on the council I felt a similar call to duty, this time to serve the citizens of Florissant as Mayor.

We started this campaign with a survey to find out what is important to the voters because this election is about their investment in our city. As Mayor it will be my job to inspire all of our various groups to work together for mutual progress.

As a board member of the County Municipal League I know the value of working with Mayors of other cities for mutual progress for our region. Creating jobs with progress in Hazelwood, Ferguson or Black Jack and other areas in North County is good for Florissant and vice versa.

Again, I would like to thank the voters of Florissant for this great honor and ask them for their help and their ideas and we can all look forward to a brighter future.

Sincerely yours,
Tom Schneider
Florissant Mayor-Elect

April 5, 2011 - Florissant voters chose Tom Schneider as the city's next Mayor on Tuesday. Schneider will become only the third person since 1963 to hold that position.

Schneider topped a field of six candidates, garnering over 37% of the vote. Incumbent Mayor Robert Lowery did not seek another term and endorsed Schneider.

Schneider thanked the voters of Florissant and all the workers who helped during the campaign. He said he's excited about the opportunities ahead for Florissant is is ready to go to work for the city's residents.

Here are the unofficial results from the St. Louis County Board of Elections:

March 10, 2011 - All six candidates for Mayor in the April 5 election gathered March 9 at the John F. Kennedy Community Center to answer questions and exchange their views and goals for the city's future.

The forum was sponsored by The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce and moderated by the League of Women Voters of St. Louis.

Candidate Tom Schneider urged voters to ask themselves some important questions. He said, "This election is about your families and the direction of our city. We are at a critical time. It took 240 years to build our city but the wrong leader could cause a fast decline. Your vote will impact Florissant for generations. You must ask yourself, which candidate has the best qualifications? A track record of success? The experience to move our city forward? The education to understand the challenges and find solutions? An understanding of what is important to Florissant? The enthusiasm to gather a consensus for progress from all stakeholders?" Schneider concluded that each candidate should answer these questions.

Schneider thanked the Chamber and the League of Women Voters for conducting the event. Following the forum, Schneider commented that he was happy to see such a large audience. "The interest and involvement of the community is one more reason why Florissant is a great place to live," Schneider said.

March 5, 2011 - The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor, and the League of Women Voters of St. Louis will moderate, a Florissant Mayor Candidate Forum from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Community Center, located at 315 Howdershell Road. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is limited.

This will be an excellent opportunity to hear from the candidates and compare their views and goals in a live setting. The public is invited to attend.

March 5, 2011 - The weather outside was gloomy and cold but Rizzo's Pasta provided a cheerful, warm setting for another in a series of "meet the candidate" gatherings for Tom Schneider on Saturday.

Residents, volunteers and supporters discussed the campaign and enjoyed the great Rizzo's food. Attorney Carl Kohnen provided the afternoon's entertainment at the keyboard.

Dear Friends,

I consider anyone who loves Florissant to be my friend. I have felt that way since the day I came to Florissant to work in our great Police Department over 50 years ago. I have expressed my affection and love for the beautiful people of Florissant countless times and now I would like to thank you for your kind words of gratitude and your well wishes for me and my family as I prepare to finish my lifelong career serving you and your family.

It is important to me that the next leader of our city has the dedication, experience, enthusiasm, and leadership it takes to continue moving our city forward. I have been serving with such a man since 1976 when Tom Schneider was hired by the late Mayor James Eagan to be the Florissant City Engineer. He was there for us creating a Bridge Replacement program still in use today.

Tom Schneider was elected to the City Council just before I became Chief of Police in 1979. For 22 years I could always count on Tom to give our Police Department the priority and resources it needed to keep your families safe. He was there for our department and he was there for your protection.

As a 32 year Councilman he was there for us fighting for street and sidewalk repair, storm and sanitary sewer improvements, park and recreation facility and swimming pool improvements. He created the much acclaimed Project Lift Off holiday youth event which I expanded to a monthly event.

While we have not always agreed on every issue during my ten year tenure as your Mayor, I know that I can always count on Tom Schneider to be the first one to support meaningful and lasting progress for our city. He was there to promote the completion of many projects including Cross Keys and the Lindbergh Corridor.

Most important to me is that Tom Schneider loves the people of our city. I am proud to call Tom my friend. I trust Tom Schneider to do what is right, I am honored to endorse his candidacy and I urge you to help Tom become the next Mayor of Florissant.

Sincerely Yours,
Robert G. Lowery
Mayor, City of Florissant

Tom Schneider (second from right), who is a  former City Engineer  with new City Engineer Tim Barrett (far left) with electricians from Kay-Bee Electric at the start of installation of the solar panels at the James J. Eagan Center. Florissant goes green!

Tom's awards from his Navy days.

EA2 Tom Schneider with boots on the ground in South Vietnam near Quang Tri surveying on a project to rebuild Vietnam Highway 1.

Tom in the 2008 Veteran's Day Parade.

January 15, 2011 -- Tom presents the key to the city to veteran Don Voss at Don's birthday celebration.

February 11, 2011 - Schneider Joins Municipal Officials To Kick Off "Year Of The City"

February 10, 2011 - Tom Schneider Continues Visiting Schools To Commemorate 50th Anniversary Of JFK's Inaugural Address

January 31, 2011 -- Early Bird Party Gets Thumbs Up

January 6, 2011 -- Schneider Thanks Those Signed Petition

January 5, 2011- Tom Schneider Is First To Submit Petition For Mayor's Race

December 18, 2010 -- Tom Schneider's Thoughts On Mayor Lowery's Decision Not To Run