Francis Slay has drawn his first challenger for re-election. Today Thursday at 11:00 AM in the Rotunda of City Hall, Green Party candidate Rev. Elston McCowan will announce his candidacy for Mayor of the City of St. Louis. Not quite the top-tier challenger people have been waiting for, but perhaps Rev. McCowan’s example will inspire someone to come off the bench.
Names mentioned as candidates who could pose a real threat to Slay include Comptroller Darlene Green, License Collector Mike McMillan, and further down the list, State Senator Maida Coleman and Circuit Clerk Mariano Favazza.
Aldermanic President Lewis Reed is also mentioned as a viable candidate, but since he would become mayor anyway should Slay resign sometime in his next term (say, to accept a federal judgeship), it’s unlikely he’d jump in the race now.
More on McCowan from his press release:
McCowan’s Green Party successfully collected 11,000 signatures calling for the audit of St. Louis’ finances, prompting the audit currently being conducted by Missouri State Auditor, Susan Montee’s office. The Greens also worked with the Committee to Recall Slay, ultimately collecting 15,000 signatures aimed at ousting the Mayor. With such figures behind him, McCowan considers his run a mandate from the people.
“The 26,000 people who signed those petitions, and many others I’ve spoken to, are ready to end the ‘Slay-ride’ that has been racial division and further deterioration of the St. Louis Public Schools,” says McCowan.”The firing of Fire Chief Sherman George and Slay’s refusal to make lead-based paint abatement in our schools a priority sends a clear message that this mayor is not interested in the will of the people. It’s time for the dawning of ‘A New Day for St. Louis.’”
A community organizer for more than 23 years, McCowan is currently a Labor Leader and board member of the Walbridge Community Education Center.
The first in a series of McCowan fundraisers will be held, also on Thursday the 20th,
7 p.m. at Legacy Bookstore, 5249 Delmar (at Union).
Damn! That was a start you gave me.
Well, excellent! We need more people to stop sitting scared and challenge Slay! I think Darlene Green would be the best of all worlds. (c’mon, Darlene, pleeeese?)
Posted by Turd Ferguson | 18. Nov, 2008, 3:08 PMGreen Party? I think that I remember them. They have one committeeman in Ward 22! What a strong bunch they are.
Posted by Jackson | 19. Nov, 2008, 11:26 AM@ Jackson-”…Green Party? I think that I remember them. They have one committeeman in Ward 22! What a strong bunch they are…”
Reply- If you know your history then you know that the same thing could have once been said about the GOP.
Thanks to Black Freemen that changed.
I wonder-most of all- if you’re the ‘hired hyena’ in the file room at the Clerk’s office who can always be counted on to belittle the aspirations of other Blacks who possess more courage than yourself.
If that’s the case I wouldn’t be surprised at your frustration as this would be your 14th or 15th year as a ‘straw Supervisor’ who better not be caught acting like anything more than a High School Freshman.
Case-in-point
Posted by Quit Playan' | 22. Nov, 2008, 11:14 PMHmm, a Green Party Primary in March would be interesting! Now we need credible a Dem challenger to Slay (besides Irene Smith; sorry, but I don’t think the Slay crowd will let curtain-gate down, that’s what cost her in 2004, it will cost her again).
Don’t belittle the Green Party, they got 21% of the vote in 2004, and that was before the Schools, Sherman George, towing scandal, etc ,etc, etc.
Posted by Turd Ferguson | 23. Nov, 2008, 2:01 PMWhat worries me about the Green Party is the clique of white leftists in University City who run the party from their county homes. Will Elston stand up to those jerks?
Posted by Jackson | 24. Nov, 2008, 11:15 AMYou have a point. Maybe Peter Downs will run?
Posted by Turd Ferguson | 24. Nov, 2008, 12:52 PMElston McCowan is Literaly a LOOSER , He was my Union Representative in the past and he was worthless , He was bought and paid for during negotiations , He would sometimes not show up on scheduled hearings regarding representation for employee’s that he was supposed to be the voice for. He’s A LOOSER and always will be , any person who votes for this guy is an Idiot.
Posted by Jack | 01. Dec, 2008, 8:54 PMI think you mean “loser.” Being loose is an odd way to describe someone.
Posted by anon | 01. Dec, 2008, 9:56 PMMcCowan hasn’t even filed yet. Hmmm.
Posted by Jackson | 07. Dec, 2008, 4:42 PMI have known Mr. McCowan for a long time and tell you that he is a man of character. Those union statements are from a disillusioned fraction. You could not find a better man to put into city hall. A candidate with a heart for the people. Obama has shown us it is time for a change. No longer politics as usual. Vote for a change St. louis deserves Vote for Elston McCowan.
Posted by david | 23. Dec, 2008, 12:07 AMThe McCowan campaign now has a new website with media gallery, platform planks, and discussion forum:
http://mccowan4mayor.com
Posted by Ben | 24. Dec, 2008, 2:46 PMWhy is Slay so upset? If he would have made the trip to the White House to visit President Obama with the other mayors’ maybe we would had recieved more money for St. Louis.
But you know he’s this Interent savvy guy who is to busy worrying about the spring break chicks. Talking about Bumping and Grinding
Check out this site:
http://www.zimbio.com/Mayor+Francis+Slay/news
But some folks can’t except the fact that we have a Black PRESIDENT—-GET OVER IT!!!
I guess your Mayor Slay is not a Ass Kisser,
it seems he rather not fight for us-the people of St. Louis. Oh, that’s right…he only serves certain areas of St. Louis. My Bad!!
My advise to you people of St. Louis: It’s time for a change. With Slay as mayor again, what will change?? What have he done for you, lately?
If we allow him to win…Slay will go back to his norm….He’s smiling in your face today but what about after the election.
Did you all forget the last election..he come up to you and greeted you. Asking for your support and after the election he turns his head and walk away as you attempt to greet him.
Not me again!!
I know how you feel Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman.
Used and dirty!! Yuk…………
Think about the crime rate here. Is it better since he served? What about the jobs, do you have a job? What about education for your children? What condition is the school in? Do your child have computers that work, are the bathroom toliets working in your child schools. The teachers need more money to be able to teach. They spend their own money to buy supply’s for the children.
I bet you: the schools Slay family members and friends children attends have the best, teachers isn’t spending money out of their pockets and the toliets are working!!
Parents- your children deserve the best too!
This is why you need Sen. Maida Coleman–she will fight for your children- her heart is education, she will fight the police officer’s who fight crime and put their lives at risk!
Vote4 Senator Maida Coleman. I promise she will not turn her back on.
Who am I? I work the same administration as Slay.
What about that!
Vote SenatorMaida Coleman for your next Mayor of St. Louis, Mo.
tball2green–Signing Out!
Posted by tball2green | 07. Mar, 2009, 9:05 AM