Leading by Example

board member Mark Behlmann likes to wear blue jeans most of the time because they’re comfortable, even though many might consider the attire inappropriate in some occasions.

“If that’s all people have to criticize me about, more power to them,” said Behlmann, who was wearing black jeans during an interview with Florissant Patch. “I feel I’m approachable.”

A different approach is what Behlmann hopes to bring to the office of Florissant Mayor.

During the past four or five years, Behlmann said he’s seen a big shift in the leadership of Florissant, which has included a dominating and intimidating presence by the current mayor, Robert Lowery. In seeking the city’s top job, he said he’s focused on building cooperative relationships with other municipalities and St. Louis County.

“I do talk with other cities; I do talk with other police chiefs; I do talk with state reps, local as well as South County, St. Charles, and they all have a perception about the Florissant leadership that I want to change,” Belhmann said.

A Crowded Field

Behlmann’s not easily shaken by the six-person mayoral race. He said after two long-term mayors--Mayor Jim Eagan served more than 35 years in office and has served 10--the race for Florissant mayor could be considered historical.

“I welcome the fact that there’s six of us,” he said. “It makes everybody work harder. It gives the opportunity for the residents.”

He’s also doesn’t hide who he considers his biggest opponent in the race, Ward 3 City Councilman .

“Tom promotes the fact that he’s the best of both worlds, Eagan and Lowery,” he said. “I’ll be the first one to say, if people want a carbon copy of , Tom is the one.”

Beyond his frank attitude about his opponents and the mayoral seat, Behlmann has a focused keen eye about the position and the future of Florissant.

His road to the April 5 municipal election began way before the Jan. 18 filing deadline.

Beating the Odds

Born in 1958, Behlmann grew up in Florissant, where he graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School (now Trinity Catholic High School) in 1976.

When he finished high school along with his girlfriend Cathy, they were expecting a baby. 

“That was back in an era that a pregnant Catholic girl was frowned upon,” he said. “I’m very proud of the fact that we beat the odds. I brag about that fact.” 

He quickly became a family man as he and Cathy married at the end of 1976 and welcomed their daughter soon afterward.

Behlmann didn’t have a problem finding his career path either, joining his father and uncle in the family carpentry business soon after graduation. Twelve years later, Behlmann decided to branch out and start his own construction company.

He opened M.J. Behlmann Construction Inc., which has completed a number of housing projects in Florissant and Greater St. Louis throughout the next 22 years. 

, a Florissant resident and friend to Behlmann for the past 25 years, said Behlmann was the contractor for the current chamber building, a project he completed under budget.

Weidinger became acquainted with him through a working relationship at the chamber, and as Behlmann became an active member in the chamber. 

While getting his company off of the ground, Behlmann caught the civic bug and was elected to the Florissant Valley Chamber of Commerce board of directors in 1994.

During his tenure on the board, he helped to create an economic development committee. Weidinger credits Behlmann with getting committees established in the city of Florissant. Three years later, he successfully captured a seat on the Hazelwood School Board.

“I’ve been very fortunate being on the Hazelwood School Board for 14 years because that has opened up a lot of avenues for me or for any school board member from a school board standpoint,” Behlmann said. “From Jefferson City all the way down to a local school district, from a political standpoint, there’s nothing more valuable than talking about schoolchildren.”

With 14 years of experience on the Hazelwood School Board, Behlmann, along with his wife Cathy, made the decision to gear up for a run for the mayor of Florissant four years ago. Soon after, Cathy was diagnosed with lung cancer, and she passed away in January 2010.

“Not from a political standpoint but as a husband standpoint, it sucks losing your wife of 34 years,” he said. “I would not wish that experience on my worst possible enemy. I just wouldn’t do it.”

With no partner by his side for the first time in his adult life, Behlmann decided to close his business soon after losing his wife.

He admits that after the loss, he put his his candidacy of mayor on hold for six months. With the help of friends and grief counseling, though, he began to move forward with his life and rededicated it to his community and his shot at mayor.

Serving a New Purpose

Being a business owner for 22 years, Behlmann feels that his commercial sensibilities will aid him in the position as mayor of Florissant.

“As a business owner, I have 22 years of sole leadership,” he said. “If I made a mistake, it cost me. My mistakes were always dollars. I didn’t have anyone else to blame.” 

“Now, you’re dealing with somebody else’s money being the mayor of the city, I can guarantee you, if you make wrong decisions, especially financial decisions, people are going to be coming out of the woodwork because you’re talking about they’re tax dollars.”

Behlmann does have plans for the residents of Florissant, which include leading by example, being transparent and getting the community involved in city affairs.

“There’s no reason the city budget that is set by council should be kept as a secret, or if you want a copy, you have to go pay 25 cents for it,” he said. “It should be on the website and quarterly updated. Everybody should know per quarter of the year where you stand in your budget: Are you ahead of the game or are you behind the game?”

Steve Stygar, who’s remained a close friend of Behlmann’s for the past 15 years, said that Behlmann is up for the challenge of being the leader of the next administration.

“I think there will be some change in the administration,” he said. “As a friend and professional contractor, he’s loyal, very generous and community-minded,” he said.