Outgoing councilman reflects on eight years in city government

Mike Harvey is serving his last term as 1st Ward councilman.
Mike Harvey is serving his last term as 1st Ward councilman.

Mike Harvey ran for a council seat four times before being elected.

Harvey, a 1st Ward councilman, said his persistence was a large part of his first successful run, which was followed by three unopposed re-elections.

But this will be Harvey's last term on the council as he finishes his eighth year. Term limits prevent Harvey from running again, though he said he will not stop being involved in city government.

The St. Louis native moved to Jefferson City in 1985 and made his first attempt for a council seat in 1993, but it wasn't until 2004 that he was finally sworn into office. Harvey said each unsuccessful run taught him how to run a successful campaign and eventually led to his winning campaign more than 10 years after his first run.

"By the fifth time ... I knocked on doors and people knew me," he said. "You learn, and I learned over time, how to run for office."