Lambi Reflects On Deciding Not to Seek Re-Election

After eight years as ’s mayor, Paul Lambi says he’s done what he wanted to do.

“I think I accomplished my goals,” said Lambi on Monday. Lambi, 61, announced earlier this month that he doesn’t plan to run for re-election in April.

He said he plans to devote more time to his fundraising and consulting business, Winning Endeavors. Lambi has served four, two-year terms as mayor starting in 2004, and a two-year term as a Board of Aldermen member.

As major accomplishments, Lambi cited the development of 109 acres of additional city parkland and a parks master plan. Wentzville voters approved a half-cent sales tax to fund building three new parks and maintain its present parkland.

He also cited the adoption of a Village Center overlay district master plan for the older part of downtown Wentzville. The plan has helped spur the redevelopment of seven buildings, including the construction of a new city hall.

The plans also provided assurances to developers that previous zoning could not provide, he said.

Lambi also pointed to his active work with the General Motors Corp. to keep the facility open and help it grow. Increasing the sewage treatment plant’s capability was a factor in adding a second product line, he said.

Few auto plants in the country are producing two vehicles. Adding 1,800 more workers will have multiplier effect and add thousands of jobs around the community, he said.

During his tenure, Lambi said he’s seen the city grow from about 6,900 people to nearly 30,000 residents — a more than 300 percent growth rate. And with that growth, came sometimes long hours on the job.

"I devoted 20 to 30 or more hours a week and also had an active career,” Lambi said. “There is a lot of work involved.”

Residents often don’t understand the scope of the job, he said. Mayors now have vast responsibilities in areas such as emergency planning.

“When the tornado and thunderstorm season rolls around, you get a whole different perspective,” he said. “You don’t take it for granted.”

Lambi is leaving on the eve of changes that will give mayors a four instead of a two-year term, starting with the April 2012 election. He suggested that the city consider a more “livable” salary than the $1,100 a month paid now.

Still, Lambi said he likes the job. “I’ve enjoyed all of it,” he said.

His telephone number remains in the phone book but he said he only gets three or four serious calls a month from residents. That’s an indication that the city staff and officials have done a good job, he said.

He said he plans to devote himself through his consulting work to encouraging residents get at least two years of post-secondary training, whether it is in college or trade school.

That training is a key to generating more jobs because business and industry are looking for an educated workforce. About 40 percent of the city’s adults have that kind of training, with the goal being 60 percent.

Lambi said isn’t planning to run for office again but will remain actively involved in the community. He and his wife, Rose, plan to continue to live in Wentzville.

He’s not endorsing anyone else running for mayor. Three candidates, Bill Schuette, Ward 3 Alderman Nick Guccione, and current board president and Ward 1 Alderman Leon Tow have filed so far.

“I’m going to stay neutral,” he said. He said he wants to work with whoever is elected to continue to encourage the city’s economic development and parks efforts.

What he also wants to encourage is more citizen involvement in local government.  It’s fine that residents crowd government meetings when a controversial issue occurs but they often aren’t involved regularly, he said.

“People need to be more involved in local government,” he said. “Nothing in their daily lives affects them more than local government.”