The Truth About Stephen Thompson: A Record of Deceit and Incompetence
Stephen Thompson has spent far too long trying to rewrite history on his personal website, taking credit for things he had little or nothing to do with, while deceiving residents about his actual record as alderman. Let’s break down the truth behind his so-called “accomplishments”:
1. False Claim: Purple Heart City Designation
Stephen Thompson falsely claims he “initiated and obtained” the Purple Heart City designation for Cottleville. This is a complete fabrication. The City Administrator, Rich Francis, was the one who formally submitted the application on behalf of the city. The designation was meant to honor James Ronkoski, the late father of Mayor Bob Ronkoski, a decorated Vietnam veteran wounded in combat and awarded the Purple Heart.
In fact, Sidney “Sid” Staton, Commander of Missouri Purple Heart Chapter 125, was the one who advised and walked the city through the process—not Thompson. There is zero mention of Thompson in any official city announcements, proclamations, or meeting records regarding the designation. Claiming this honor as his own is more than just dishonest—it’s a shameful act of stolen valor and an insult to veterans and their families.
2. Hypocrisy About Honoring Public Servants
Thompson states that he “ended the practice” of naming streets and parks after mayors or aldermen. But here’s the hypocrisy: he proudly promotes the fact that a day was named after him, calling attention to it as a personal achievement. That recognition was a one-time, kind-hearted gesture by the city to honor his photography—not an ongoing naming tradition.
For someone who criticizes symbolic honors for long-serving public officials, Thompson has no problem accepting one for himself and parading it around. It’s blatant hypocrisy, and it’s an insult to the many leaders who genuinely helped shape Cottleville into the vibrant community it is today—without needing to rewrite their contributions for political gain.
3. Distorted Narrative on Harmony Pointe Ordinance
Thompson claims he “exposed” a shady ordinance change that helped push through the Harmony Pointe development. In reality, the reduction of the minimum lot size from 5 acres to 3 acres was a citywide policy shift, designed to support smart and flexible development for the city’s future—not just Harmony Pointe.
The idea that this change was engineered to benefit one developer is a deliberate distortion of facts. Thompson’s “exposé” ignores the broader discussion and planning efforts that went into the ordinance. He either wasn’t paying attention during those public meetings or he’s deliberately spinning the truth for political points.
4. Deceptive Voting Record on Harmony Pointe – And the Risk He Created
This is where Thompson’s dishonesty really ramps up. He paints himself as the lone warrior who tried to stop Harmony Pointe, highlighting a single “no” vote to position himself as the community’s defender. But that’s not even close to the truth.
Thompson voted YES on August 18, 2021 to approve the area plan and rezoning—two of the most critical votes that allowed the project to proceed. He also voted YES on two conditional use permits, further locking in the legal foundation for the development. These votes gave the developer the approvals needed to proceed and left the city exposed to major legal risk if the project was later blocked.
His “no” vote came after all those approvals—when it was already too late to stop anything. That vote wasn’t a stand against development—it was political theater, a last-ditch attempt to rewrite his record.
He also claims the mayor “approved” the project by casting a vote. That’s false. The mayor only stepped in during a tie vote on site elevation, a separate issue with no bearing on the legality of the project itself. That elevation vote helped avoid a costly lawsuit by ensuring the developer could move forward safely under the already approved conditions—conditions Thompson voted for.
He omits this entire sequence of events to deceive residents and cover up the fact that he either didn’t understand the process or willfully misled the public. Either way, it was reckless, uninformed, and dangerous.
5. Misleading Claim About Halting Another Apartment Project
Thompson brags about “halting” an apartment project near Babylon. But that’s not how city government works. No single alderman can stop a development project. City decisions require majority votes. In this case, the board and the public were already united in opposition—Thompson was just one of many voices.
What’s worse, he acts like he single-handedly changed the outcome, erasing the work of residents, other board members, and community advocates who were just as involved—if not more. It’s another example of his obsession with personal credit and his willingness to bend the truth to inflate his role.
Bottom Line: Stephen Thompson Is Not Honest, Not Capable, and No Leader
Thompson’s track record is riddled with misinformation, half-truths, and outright lies. He claims credit for work he didn’t do, downplays critical votes he cast, and spins narratives that serve his ego—not the truth.