St. Joseph native Jeff Schomburg seeking re-election for City Council seat
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- When Jeff Schomburg first ran for City Council in 2022, he admits he didn't fully know what he was getting into, but four years later, the at-large councilman says that on-the-job experience is exactly why voters should send him back for another term.
"I think basically I would say experience. That goes a long ways now," Schomburg said. "Four years ago, I couldn't say that because I wasn't experienced. But now I would say that I look out for the taxpayers dollars. I'm very conservative as far as fiscally, and I do not want to have any wasteful spending."
A St. Joseph resident and small business owner, Schomburg has co-operated Kruse's Auto Center for 30 years.
He describes his first term as a learning experience that shifted his perspective on what city government can actually accomplish.
Born and raised in St. Joseph, he moved away for about a decade before returning and noticing how little the city had changed.
That observation initially drove him to run, hoping to create better opportunities for future generations.
A deep connection to the community is what fuels his commitment.
A graduate of Central High School who raised his own family here, Schomburg speaks with affection about what makes St. Joseph special.
"I kind of like St. Joe because it's got some of the larger town amenities to it, but it's got that small town feel, because everybody kind of knows everybody," he said. "You get that warm, fuzzy feeling walking around and knowing people. You go somewhere and you don't know anybody. When you go into St. Joe, you may run into three or four different people when you're just walking down the street or going to shopping."
Schomburg points to the city's use of federal ARPA dollars as one of his term's signature achievements. Rather than spread the COVID-19 relief funding broadly, he said the council focused on infrastructure and public safety.
"We put a maintenance program in for it," Schomburg explained. "You build something new or fix something, you got to have a maintenance program so that that particular product or vehicle or whatever you're doing or building that it will last longer if you do maintenance on it."
The approach funded new vehicles for police and fire departments, pay raises for public safety personnel, and updated safety equipment for firefighters.
Schomburg noted the police department has gone from being down 30 officers to now just seven or nine vacancies, mostly due to retirements, and the fire department is fully staffed.
City Hall, approaching its 100th anniversary next year, is also undergoing significant renovations as part of the city's commitment to maintaining its existing assets.
"When I got in there, they were down 30 officers," he said. "Now they have a lot of good things going on with the police department, and a lot of it was because we did take home vehicles with the police department. We got them pay raises. We basically took care of the fire department. We've got them new buildings, new equipment."
On taxes Schomburg says he's "fiscally conversative."
"I'm very against taxes," he said. "I think the government over taxes us to begin with."
Instead, his platform hinges on growth, relying on businesses instead of taxpayers for city budget.
By attracting more residents and businesses, Schomburg argues the city can expand its tax base and increase its budget without raising rates on existing taxpayers.
"What we need is more housing to put these young entrepreneurs or young people," he said. "We need more youth in St. Joe. And we need to have jobs for them. If we can create that, get that for them, have plenty of housing here, then we should be able to get more bigger businesses in here and smaller businesses, and then have more things to do for the youth. Our town has gotten older, and we just need to get more youth back in here."
Housing affordability remains a pressing concern, and Schomburg acknowledges the challenge facing young families trying to enter the market.
He pointed to efforts like the Northside apartment complex and partnerships with local organizations that purchase lots, demolish old structures, and build new affordable homes.
"We're trying to get it for the younger generation that are just starting out, trying to build some houses for them, because we are lacking in some of those types of houses," he said.
On the issue of homelessness, Schomburg emphasized a coordinated approach between city government, law enforcement, and nonprofit partners.
He noted that the police department has an officer dedicated to working with the homeless population, connecting those who want help with organizations like United Way, Community Missions, and Pivotal Point.
"Is it going to be 100 percent? No," he acknowledged. "You're still going to have those that don't want the help. But the ones that do, we can try to get them help and get them back on their feet."
Regarding the relationship between city council and the school district, Schomburg described it as a careful balance.
While the entities operate independently with separate budgets, he believes collaboration is essential, particularly on safety, workforce development, and youth programs.
"You have to have good leadership in each one of those departments to be successful," he said. "We all need to work together and collaborate."
Schomburg remains consistently to the theme of responsible stewardship.
He highlighted the council's practice of bidding extra amounts on construction projects to set aside maintenance funds for future years, ensuring that new investments don't become future liabilities.
He also noted that council members receive agenda packages a week in advance and do their homework before meetings, which is why votes often proceed smoothly.
"The biggest key for St. Joe is growth," he summarized. "If you get our tax base up in St. Joe, that means more people here and more businesses, then that means more money for St. Joe. That gives us a bigger budget. If we can work with a bigger budget, that means better amenities."
That vision for the future is rooted in a lifetime of love for the city.
"It's a good place to raise a family," Schomburg said. "Crime statistics have went down tremendously since we've gotten more police officers back on the streets again. I think it's a good community overall."
If reeelected, he says he'll continue focusing on infrastructure, public safety, and smart economic development, the same priorities that defined his first term, now guided by the experience of having actually done the job.
"Four years ago, I wasn't experienced, but now I think that I look out for the taxpayers dollars. I'm very conservative as far as fiscally and and I do not want to have any wasteful spending. I want to make sure that your dollars are being spent correctly and and I think the four years that's been in here, I've learned quite a bit, and I think I can apply that again for four more."
Like other at-large candidates, Schomburg goes against 7 other individuals on April 7th's ballot.
CITY COUNCIL COVERAGE 2026
