Democrat John Kiehne is running for the St. Louis County Council District 7 seat, challenging Republican Mark A. Harder in the Nov. 3 general election. Kiehne, a Eureka resident, said his experience as a foster care provider and parent motivated him to enter politics.

The council sets the county budget, approves land-use decisions and passes ordinances affecting unincorporated areas and municipalities.

The positions below are drawn from the candidate's own campaign website and questionnaire responses.

Candidate information

  • Party: Democratic
  • Residence: Eureka, Missouri
  • Family: Married to Michelle Kiehne, a financial advisor; four grown children
  • Education: Francis Howell High School (1985); studied guitar and bass at Webster University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis
  • Business: Owner of Kiehne Media LLC (2019–present)

Kiehne is a fifth-generation Missouri native born in St. Charles. He said he was a licensed foster care provider for six years and an advocate for foster youth and people with disabilities for more than seven years.

Experience and public service

Kiehne said he has run for state legislative seats four times in the past eight years. He holds several Democratic Party roles, including vice chair of the Missouri 3rd Congressional District Democratic Committee, state committee member of the Missouri Democratic Party, Meramec Township committeeman and treasurer of the Franklin County Democratic Central Committee.

On the issues

Economy and development: Kiehne said St. Louis County contributes 25% of Missouri's gross domestic product. He said county government must balance expansion with maintaining community character and honor local master plans guiding growth.

Fiscal responsibility: Kiehne said he would push for the county to spend wisely, tax fairly and operate efficiently.

Public safety: Kiehne said he would advocate for county law enforcement, fire protection, ambulance service and emergency management.

Infrastructure: Kiehne said he supports improving roads and bridges and expanding public transit. He listed a fuel tax, sales tax, usage tax or limited toll roads as possible funding sources.

Environment: Kiehne said he supports "clean closing" the 100-plus-acre unlined coal ash ponds at the Labadie Power Plant along the Missouri River rather than capping them. He said coal ash contains lead, mercury, arsenic and molybdenum that could leak into drinking water, especially given the porous limestone geology in the area.

That coal ash issue is personal for Kiehne. He described the plant as sitting just a few miles from his neighborhood.