Now a St. Louis Rep Wants to Consolidate 31 Other Missouri Counties

[TexasTowelie]

If St. Louis County and St. Louis city really are better together, isn't that also true of, say, Mercer County and Putnam County? What about Worth County (population 2,053)? Why not merge all 31 Missouri counties of fewer than 10,000 residents with their nearest neighbor?

And hey, while you're at it, why not have state voters decide on who gets merged, not the small-county residents whose representation will be affected?

Taking her cue from the Better Together effort aimed at forcing St. Louis city and county into a shotgun marriage, state Representative Gina Mitten (D-St. Louis County) filed a resolution at the statehouse today aimed at forcing similar consolidations of our rural neighbors. Tongue firmly in cheek, twinkle presumably in her eye, Mitten titled her press release on the resolution "Rep Mitten Says What's Good for the Goose Is Good for the Gander."

The resolution calls for ballot language in 2020 that would treat the state's smallest counties — you can see a list here — much like its biggest. "Smaller counties would be absorbed by the larger counties in their select grouping," Mitten writes. "As has been proposed for St. Louis, the presiding commissioner of the largest county in the group would continue to serve, without a new election, until the general election of 2024."

Read more: https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2019/02/28/now-a-st-louis-rep-wants-to-consolidate-31-other-missouri-counties

[Sherman A1]

1. Excellent!

I hope that none of the proposed mergers take place, but if St. Louis and St.Louis County are to be merged with a state level vote rather than by the residents affected, then go for it.

[Smackdown2019]

2. Small county

I am in a 13k population county and to the west there are counties that are 6k populations a piece. The issue is not the population, it's the area. It would be an interesting fight for the local races for county seat holders if that was to pass. As for now, is it really necessary?

[Sherman A1]

3. It is a push back

against the Better Together concept of going to the full state population for approval of what is a local St. Louis Metro area issue. I suspect this bill will gain about zero interest in the legislature and have no chance of approval. It was introduced to make a point nothing more.