Watermon left his job as vice president of communication for the St. Louis Cardinals last July to concentrate on his communications firm, Brand Journalism Strategies LLC.

In his introductory comments to his colleagues, Watermon called the county charter a “brilliant document” and said the county had been well-run for years. He suggested the commission study making countywide elections nonpartisan.

It was not until introductions were over that McNary brought up Better Together, and the discussion returned to the merger plan several times over the meeting.

Some members of the commission said on Friday they had no idea that Watermon was connected to Better Together. “I’m just kind of taken aback,” said Maxine Schumacher, who was appointed to the commission by County Council member Ernie Trakas. “... I’m surprised he did not say something at the time.”

Commission member Chris Grahn-Howard noted that each commissioner introduced himself at the start of the meeting and “he could have told us. The fact that we had that whole discussion and he didn’t say anything is a little duplicitous. He should have just said, ‘Hey, I work for Better Together. This is my viewpoint,’ and I would have been OK with that. But I’m a little irritated now.”