February 11, 2011

Gov. Nixon nominates four to serve on St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon has nominated four members to the St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners. The Board of Election Commissioners conducts all public elections within the City of St. Louis, pursuant to federal, state and municipal law.

Members of the board must be residents of the City of St. Louis; their terms on the board would expire Jan. 10, 2013. The nominees, who will be subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate, are:

• Joan M. Burger (D). Burger served as a Circuit Judge for the 22nd Judicial Circuit from 1995 to 2008. Her service on the bench included special assignment as a Drug Court Judge; she also has served as a volunteer judge in the Truancy Court Program since 2000. Burger graduated cum laude from Saint Louis University Law School. She has been active in community and charitable organizations in St. Louis for several years. The Governor has nominated her to serve as chair of the Board.
• Jack Lary (R). Lary is the current secretary of the Board of Election Commissioners whom the Governor has nominated for another term. Since 1992, Lary has worked as a senior manager for Cardinal Business Equipment Sales. A military veteran, he has been active in numerous community groups, including Parents as Teachers and the St. Louis Ambassadors, and served as commissioner of Air Pollution Control for the City of St. Louis. He is a recipient of the Mayor's Civic Award. The Governor has nominated him to continue to serve as secretary of the Board.
• Benjamin M. Phillips Sr. (D). Before retiring in 2009, Phillips was the Director of Administration for the St. Louis City Treasurer's Office, and is currently a senior consultant for Phillips-Moss Group. He previously served on the Mechanical Licensing Board for the City of St. Louis, was elected twice as Missouri State President of Blacks in Criminal Justice, and was appointed to the 22nd Judicial Commission.
• Andrew Schwartz (R). Schwartz is the founder of AJ Adhesives, a distributor of industrial adhesives to manufacturers. AJ Adhesives and Mid-America Packaging is headquartered in St. Louis, with branch locations in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Seattle and Tulsa. He is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and is active in community and youth sports organizations in St. Louis.