Alderman Candidate Terri Violet Says She'll Be An Effective Voice for the Community

The deadline for the April 5, 2011, St. Peters ended on Tuesday and Terri Violet is running for Ward 3 Alderman. Violet will challenge incumbent Ward 3 Alderman Gus Elliot.

If elected, the main issues Violet said she wants to tackle as Ward 3 Alderman are traffic improvement and control, neighborhood safety, community growth and a commitment to keeping parks and recreational areas safe and accessible.

While she has never held public office, Violet’s background is extensive and her community involvement is diverse. When asked if she ever saw herself running for public office, looking back, Violet said she had never planned to enter politics.

“It never crossed my mind, but the last couple of years I’ve been very busy in the community,” Violet said.

She added that her community service and volunteer experiences is what led her to run for alderman.

"I decided it’s time to step up and do more for the St. Peters community," she said. "I feel like we need an effective voice in the community as well as someone who will listen."

Violet’s background includes serving in the United States Navy, working in retail and as a dental assistant. She currently serves as a volunteer in the community. Violet said she served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged at the conclusion of her service, and she was the first female veteran appointed to the St. Peters Veteran’s Memorial Commission. Violet also is a St. Peters Citizen Police Academy and Advanced Citizen’s Police Academy Graduate

Violet said her strong commitment to volunteering and being active in St. Peters has made her trusted and well-known within the community.

“I think we need an effective voice and someone on the board that residents can work with and trust,” Violet said.“I believe I am that person."

Violet said she does a lot of volunteering and community work, and said she is trained to do many jobs within the Red Cross, from setting up shelters after disasters to doing writing and marketing work for the organization.

Violet said she is an American Red Cross Volunteer, and serves as the Marketing/Communication Liaison for the organization. The Red Cross awarded Violet with the Outstanding New Volunteer of the Year Award in 2009.

Violet said she became interested in volunteering with the Red Cross about three years ago when she went there to get recertified to perform CPR.

“They asked me to stay working with them, and I agreed, and that was almost three years ago,” Violet said.

Violet said the work she does with the Red Cross is important to her and she does not plan to stop her work with the organization if she is elected.

 “If I am elected alderman, I will stay connected to the Red Cross,” Violet said. “I’m definitely not leaving the Red Cross, they’re close to my heart.”