Pardon us for being a little slow with this, we’re still getting caught up from a busy few days (more on that later), but last Thursday, the night Democrats all over the city gathered for the first round of selecting delegates to the national convention, there was a little bit of controversy in one northside ward.
At Yeatman-Liddell Elementary in the 21st Ward, caucus organizers Alderman Bennice Jones King, and her cousin, former state rep Amber Boykins, barred state rep candidate Chris Carter to entering the gymnasium where the caucus was being held.
Confused about why he wasn’t being allowed to watch the proceedings, Carter, who was accompanying a Democratic Party monitor, was told that since he was a candidate for office and not a resident of that ward, he couldn’t enter. To validate her point, Boykins later told the entire group of caucusers (see the video below), she called up Democratic Party Executive Director Ken Franklin to explain the situation. According to Boykins, Franklin agreed with her decision.
After the meeting, we ran into Carter, who’s running for the seat being vacated by term-limited State Rep. Connie Johnson (According to Carter, Johnson recently publicly endorsed his candidacy). Carter said there were no hard feelings and he looked forward to campaigning in the one precinct of the 21st Ward which his district runs through.
Carter’s opponent in the August 5th primary is 27th Ward Committeeman Curtis Royston.
Editor’s note: This reporter will soon be a candidate for Committeeman of the 21st Ward and was elected as a Democratic delegate at the meeting in question.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Chris Carter is a class act!
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
All this for one precinct??????
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Antonio said ” . .the one precinct of the 21st Ward which his district runs through”
I guess you know something the rest of the voters in the 61st don’t. Did Rep. Johnson relinquish the District to Chris already or are you just supportive of his efforts?
ANTONIO RESPONDS: Well, he does LIVE in the 61st District. It’s his district just as you live in YOUR district, or ward, or city.
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
dude…why the f*** are you stealing my handle?
March 3rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
‘YoungDem’ I am sorry you feel as though I “stole” your handle. In the course of world events one often runs across people who share common or similar names, as in this case. Does the fact that I posted after you mean that I “stole” your name, or could it be that I have had the name for quite some time just never felt the desire to post a comment. Maybe I was paying homage to your creativity in coming up with a name or I wanted to make my points as an “older” person. Don’t be so sensitive, makes you seem like a republican.
Antonio; point made. I simply know there are others interested in this race and filing doesn’t close until March 26th I believe.
March 3rd, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Old Dem–
Young Dem is talking to the first poster, who posted as YoungDem.
March 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Arent the caucuses an open forum to the public, I understand to particpate you have to live within the boundry lines. Under the rules clearly stated it would seem as it the 21st ward has broken the rule and in the spirit of openness and tranparency they seemed to fail. If I understand this right a federal lawsuit can be filed for this complaint. I’m sure no party wants to take it this far. But I think they need to re-examine the rules especially if they are trying to excute this ward meeting in accordance with the rules.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
First let me thank the residents of the 21st Ward for their participation in the 2008 21st Ward Delegate Selection process. I also want to thank Mary Wheeler (Democratic Director St. Louis City Board Elections & ward resident),long-time residents Jenola Hickombottom (Obama Caucus Chair), Shirley Williams, Eric,Jacquelyne, & Anna Tyler (Committeewoman), Bille Boykins, Committeman Arthur “Chink” Washington, Firefighter Ron Smith, Rep. Nasheed (Temporary Caucus Chair), and Alderwoman Bennice Jones King, and Democratic Party representatives Ken Franklin (Executive Director) , Kris Stock (Delegate & Convention Director) for their constant support before, during and after the delegate selection process. We had 28 voting partcipants and close to 15 observers. While we did have some guests arrive and enter our meeting at 9:15 p.m. (Chris Carter, another gentleman he identified as his friend and a newly elected delegate from the 27th ward, and a gentleman who Ken Franklin called later and identified as a Party Monitor) right in the middle of voting and electing our delegates. Congrats to our elected ward delegates- Brian Jones Jr. (top male vote getter), Lenon King Jr., Antonio French ( this website host), Ronald Smith, Jacquelyne Tyler, and Ardelie Wheeler. Special thanks again to ward residents and the Democratic Party Leadership Team, Kris and Ken who assisted the 21st ward throughout this process and during our delegate selection election and for guiding us through an open, transparent, fair, election according to established Democratic rules.