Former Ritenour Board Member Hopes to Represent Maryland Heights

Two candidates are vying for the 71st Legislative District Democratic nomination this election season. Representative Tracy McCreery, who currently represents of the 83rd District as an independent, and former Ritenour School Board member Sue Meredith hope to be elected to a two year stint in Jefferson City. McCreery lives in Olivette.

State officials created the 71st legislative district during the 2011 redistricting process. It includes portions of Maryland Heights, Creve Coeur, Olivette and unincorporated St. Louis County.

While both Meredith and McCreery seek the Democratic nomination, the Missouri Secretary of State’s website indicates no Republican candidate is running for the seat.

Patch spoke with Meredith recently about her previous political experience. She said this isn’t her first time to run for the state House of Representatives— Meredith lost a bid for state representative to Republican David Levin in 1998.

But with a new district created—one, Meredith said, without an incumbent—the candidate decided to throw her hat in the ring once again.

Meredith became interested in politics while she was studying at Webster University. She interned with Rep. Charlie Bratkowski while a student and got a taste for politics.

Her website indicates Meredith graduated from before studying at Webster.

Her first elected position was as a school board member for Ritenour School District. While there, she said, she helped create a policy for students who had contracted the AIDS virus.

As for campaign events, Meredith said she has none planned. She said she wants this campaign to be very personal. She wants to listen to her constituents, she said, because if she want to represent them she has to know what they’re thinking.

The Democratic Primary is scheduled for Aug. 7.