Mark Cockson for Richmond Heights City Council

Patch sent all local candidates for office identical questionnaires in order to compile candidate profiles prior to the April election. Each candidate who returned the survey will be featured on the site.

Mark Cockson

• Occupation: Retired: For 42 years I worked in the fields of education (teacher, 7-12th grades; Parents-as-Teacher educator for 3-5 year olds); social service (ending as foster parent and adoption trainer); and non-profit management (City Museum; Hostelling International-Gateway Council).
• Education: B.A. in biology & education, St Louis University; Graduate Certification in Non-Profit Management, Washington University in St Louis.
• Family: Three children who all attended Clayton School District; my two eldest are professionals in the health care and hospitality fields respectively; my youngest attends St Louis Community College at Meramec.
• Years in Richmond Heights: 1987-present. 24 years in District 1; two years in District 3.

Background

My organizational and customer service skills make me ideally suited for politics. My experience in strategic planning, fund accounting, and personnel issues mesh well with serving on the Richmond Heights City Council.

These job skills have been used in volunteering for the community:

• Parent Teacher Organization (P.T.O.) Representative for Ralph M. Captain School (1 yr)
• Richmond Heights Beautification Commission (3 yrs)
• Friends of Richmond Heights Board Member and Treasurer (2 yrs)
• Neighborhood Watch Block Captain (2 yrs)

What do you see as the biggest issue facing the Richmond Heights area?

The biggest issue facing the future of Richmond Heights is finding new sources of revenue. Continuing to raise sales tax rates, like the proposal to fund more parks including the Gateway Arch, puts a huge burden on the poor and elderly. We have four public school entities in R.H. and the current funding formula also needs to be re-structured. 

In what area does Richmond Heights need to improve? Are you satisfied with the way the city has been operating?

Areas needing improvement are renewing our infrastructure, especially streets, lighting, and signage. We celebrated 100 years, so now let us spend some time fixing the sewer lines and streets which are almost as old. Lighting and signage (like in The Grove) could proclaim our “Shop Richmond Heights” destination and also announce the diversity of our school districts.

Assume you win the election. What single thing do you want to accomplish during your first term on the board?

Providing additional services for our residents by adding a social worker to our City budget. There are lots of nuisance calls to the police about barking dogs, loud parties, and homeless “passing through” that do not require police intervention. A social worker could also be helpful in keeping seniors in their homes with information and referral services.