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Monday, January 2k, 1977
Interview with Commlsslfcner Luo Ian Kidd - yy Jo© Pilet
Q. What are the duties of the 'ayor of toy St. Louis?
A.	ne is the Director of the Fire Department, the Police Dept.,
’Maintenance of public bulldlryrs, Sanitation Department, and Do*' harden.
Q.	What are the duties of Commissioner Tarry «nnett?
A.	Me Is the Tax Collector, the flax assessor, the Finance Officer,
and responsible for the Grave Yard.
Q.	What are your duties, Commissioner Kidd?
A.	I am the City Clerk, The Utilities Commissioner, the	.
Superintendent of the Water Works, Supt. of "as Works,	^
Supt. of Sewage, City Auditor, He^lstrar of Voters, and Mayor Pro ^em, and of course a member of the City Council. All three of us are Council Feobers.
Q.	Why do you favor the ’^ayor-Coanlssloner form of ;overnment
over the ’layor-Council form? It is ray understanding you will be a candidate for Mayor — would this in any way affect your position?
A.	Yes, I plan to run in any event, however, it would be easier
to ret thinrs accomplished under the present system and It	<
would be much cheaper.
Q.	Why do you feel that a chanre In the fora of government
to ‘ayor-Council would cost more?
A.	I know it would cost more because a person would have to
be hired to fill each separate Job. In my case I do 8 things	•
so you can Just count It up for yourself.
Q.	Why could not these Jobs be combined under the ^ayor-Councll
form. <ecause, look at the law — *ere, I will sro over it with you.
No. 2 - Advance Sheet of General Acts of ‘^e^ular Legislative Session 1976 published by ileber Ladner, secretary of state Is nroduced. Kidd refers to sec. 2. Section 21-8-3 and has underlined petition requirements per*. 7» 8, 9 - 10, 11, 12.
Kidd points to p*. 13 - 21-8-21 to stress compensation for mayor and members of council — to be set by the council — showinr voters will not know what salary will be.
On pa^-e 14- (3) VSach department shall be headed by a director he says is where he shows	the	number	of department headiT that
will be le-ally required.
Discussion follows suoh as possibility of combination of duties,
the very real dan-er of a mayor with so much power, the lack of
Interest in part-time councIlmen,	the expense of	redistrictlng;
estimated, by Kidd at	00,	the	knotty	problem	of financing,
the added naper work, the insecurity of employees, etc. and then
Kidd expresses his belief that after all the work done on the
petition and in the event enough voters have signed to brinp it to a vote — is it LHnAL?