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Mayor Francis Slay has ordered flags in the city to be flown at half staff in honor of former State Senator, City Comptroller and Alderman John Bass.
"As an educator he inspired thousands of students in our city. As Comptroller he fought relentlessly for fairness and fiscal responsibility, and as State Senator, he fought fearlessly in Jefferson City to protect the vital interests of the City of St. Louis," said Slay.
"On behalf of all the residents of our City and all City employees, I want to extend my deepest and heartfelt condolence to his family and friends," he said.
Bass, who was 80 years old, passed away Sunday. A wake will be held tomorrow, Thursday, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Wade Funeral Home, 4828 Natural Bridge. The funeral is set for Friday, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist Parish, 4330 Shreve Ave.
Slay has ordered all the official flags be flown at half staff through Sunday.
Post-Dispatch Endorses Reed, Southside Journal Goes with Shrewsbury
By Antonio D. French
From the Post-Dispatch:
"Mr. Shrewsbury has a solid 24-year record of sometimes plodding, but honest and diligent service. Mr. Reed is a bright, engaging and capable politician who would help bridge the racial gap in city politics. The choice is a close one, but the recommendation here is that voters choose Lewis E. Reed."
From the Southside Journal:
"Both are sincere, hardworking men who are devoted to making St. Louis a better place to live.
Shrewsbury has been listening to the voice of St. Louis for nearly 25 years.
Reed has a vision for St. Louis that cannot be accomplished from the aldermanic chambers. Reed's vision is better suited for the mayor's office. Shrewsbury should be retained as aldermanic president when voters go to the polls March 6."
Several dozen or more people are expected to stage a protest in the rotunda of City Hall at noon on Friday in opposition to the planned takeover of St. Louis Public Schools.
Organizers, which include parents, activists and members of the teachers' union, are calling the event a "teach-in". Click here to view their flier.
According to a campaign press release, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Locals #1, #2, #4, and #1439) has endorsed Jim Shrewsbury for re-election.
At last night's debate between the candidates for President of the Board of Aldermen, a question from the audience asked President Jim Shrewsbury why his personal law practice is located in St. Louis County and not in the City.
Shrewsbury said he avoids all investment in the City to steer clear of any conflicts of interest.
At last nights debate between the candidates for President of the Board of Aldermen, a question from the audience asked Alderman Lewis Reed why his yard signs can be seen on so many trees in north St. Louis.
Reed's opponent, incumbent Pres. Jim Shrewsbury said his campaign never puts signs in illegal locations. But directly across the street from the debate site, a 4-foot by 8-foot Shrewsbury sign could be seen standing on city land in Fairgrounds Park.
Fairgrounds is located in the 21st Ward, whose alderman, Bennice Jones-King, and committeeman, "Chink" Washington, have broken from every other northside ward to endorse Shrewsbury.
Former State Senator and former St. Louis City Comptroller John Bass passed away yesterday.
In a message on her website, Bass' granddaughter, Kacie Starr Triplett, said Bass loved St. Louis and enjoyed being a public servant.
"He took his role very seriously, and was ALWAYS willing to share his wisdom and experience," wrote Triplett.
"My grandfather was both fair and honest. Although, I wasn’t around when he began his career in the 1970’s, so many people tell me today, how much of an impact he made on their life, and how fair and balanced he was. My heart is heavy with this great loss."
UPDATE: The arrangements are as follows:
Thursday, March 1st - Viewing from 4pm - 8pm at Wade Funeral Home, 4828 Natural Bridge
Friday, March 2nd - Viewing 9am - 10am at St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist (formerly St. Engelbert) Parish 4330 Shreve
Friday, March 2nd - Funeral at 10am, St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist Parish, 4330 Shreve Ave.
The two candidates for President of the Board of Alderman will meet today for a debate in north St. Louis.
The debate between incumbent Jim Shrewsbury and challenger Lewis Reed will be at Beaumont High School, 3836 Natural Bridge, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Questions will come from the audience and the four-person panel composed of radio show hosts Onion Horton and Mark Kasen, and attorneys Ruby Bonner and Robert Kenny from the Mound City Bar Association.
City Democratic Party chairman and 7th Ward Committeeman Brian Wahby has endorsed Lewis Reed for President of the Board of Aldermen.
Reed is challenging incumbent Jim Shrewsbury in the March 6th primary election. According to Shrewsbury's campaign literature, Wahby's committeewoman, State Senator Maida Coleman, has endorsed Shrewsbury.
This news comes contrary to a false report in this week's St. Louis American, which claimed Wahby was "a Shrewsbury man".
Seventh Ward Committeeman and Chairman of the City Democrats Brian Wahby has endorsed Alderman Lewis Reed for President of the Board of Aldermen.
Reed is running agaist incumbent Jim Shrewsbury in the March 6th primary. According to his campaign literature, Shrewsbury has been endorsed by Wahby's committeewoman, State Sen. Maida Coleman.
From an article in the Kansas City Star on the KC mayoral race:
Still, the Internet is a good way for candidates to communicate with their base and raise funds, said Antonio French, a St. Louis political observer and sometime campaign adviser. It has the advantage of being cheap, potentially yielding more votes for the dollars spent...
French acknowledged that the blogging era is still in its infancy, is more prevalent in middle class and affluent neighborhoods, and has yet to really make an impact in poorer, minority or rural communities.
Here is Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury's campaign commercial currently running on TV. It features cameos by State Sen. Pat Dougherty, Ald. Phyllis Young, former Ald. Irv Clay, Chief of Staff Pam Ross, and campaign staffers Harold Brown and April Harris.
Shrewsbury is in the last 11 days of a close campaign with 6th Ward Alderman Lewis Reed to be decided in the March 6 primary election. *Reed is a client of A.D. French & Associates
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has endorsed Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury for re-election.
"SEIU members run the gamut from healthcare to the public sector and building services. This is the kind of support from hardworking men and woman that any politician would be proud to have,” said Shrewsbury in a press release.
Shrewsbury is in the last 11 days of a close campaign with 6th Ward Alderman Lewis Reed to be decided in the March 6 primary election. *Reed is a client of A.D. French & Associates
By a vote of 2-1, the Board of Estimate & Apportionment has agreed to modify and extend BJC HealthCare's lease of a portion of city park land.
At their meeting this morning in City Hall, Mayor Francis Slay and Comptroller Darlene Green voted in favor while Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury voted against.
The following is from the office of Comptroller Darlene Green:
St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green is prepared to move forward and support the lease of 9.4 acres of Forest Park to BJC to accommodate the hospital’s future healthcare service expansion in the city of St. Louis. The lease agreement is vastly improved now in large part because of direct discussions between BJC and Citizens to Protect Forest Park facilitated by Comptroller Green.
Compromise has merit and guarantee:
Green space will be preserved in city parks.
Prohibition ordinance which prohibits the sale, lease, or giveaway of parkland (see attached PDF file).
No net loss of green space in Forest Park will occur with BJC expansion.
"Green Ribbon" committee created.
Forest Park and other city parks maintenance is funded.
$3.8 million annually for Forest Park maintenance and 1.2 million annually for other park maintenance.
All other city parks receive equal treatment and equal funding.
BJC to expand in the city with approved lease extension.
City’s largest employer expanding in the city protects jobs.
$1.5 billion of construction by BJC in the city creates jobs.
Northside 24 hour emergency medical facility plan completed by 2008.
"I believe that all sides have reached some common ground enabling the lease agreement to move forward. I honor the request of Citizens to Protect Forest Park to create a "Green Ribbon" committee that provides for an open, public process in the tradition of the Forest Park Master Plan with citizen involvement in any further park planning.
"While a compromise is never perfect, neither side is getting everything they initially wanted. But working together achieves a greater benefit for all involved," explained Comptroller Green.
The following is a list of improvements to the Forest Park/BJC lease agreement:
No net loss of green space to Forest Park as a result of the lease.
The amount of land in the lease is down from 12.9 acres to 9.4 acres. When you add that to 4.5 acres of green space additions to Forest Park since the master plan; anywhere from 2 to 7 acres returned to the park from highway 40 construction; and BJC agreeing to setting aside a minimum of 15% green space on the site, there is a net gain of green space to Forest Park.
Forest Park will receive $2 million a year (originally $1.6 million) from the BJC lease in addition to $1.8 million a year (originally $1.6 million) from Forest Park Forever for the life of the 99-year lease. This amounts to $38 million for ten years before BJC plans to begin construction.
A companion prohibition ordinance to the lease agreement that protects the city’s park land from future sale or lease and holds BJC accountable in the event Proposition P on the April 3 ballot fails.
There is an amendment to the lease that requires the city to equally fund north and south side park improvements and maintenance.
There is an amendment to the lease that holds BJC accountable for building a 24 hour emergency center in North St. Louis.
The Board of Estimate and Apportionment has scheduled a special meeting on Friday, Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. in the mayor’s office to take up the lease issue. The meeting is open to the public.
Smith's Bill Would Let Mayor Sponsor New Charter Schools in the City
By Antonio D. French
READ IT HERE FIRST
State Senator Jeff Smith today introduced a bill (Senate Bill 564) to allow St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay to sponsor new charter schools.
More later...
To learn more about the relationship between charter schools and their sponsors, see Section 160.400 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.
Currently charter schools can only be sponsored by:
the school board (or perhaps the "transitional" board) of the district;
a public four-year college or university with its primary campus in the school district or in a county adjacent to the county in which the district is located, with an approved teacher education program that meets regional or national standards of accreditation;
a community college located in the district;
or any private four-year college or university located in a city not within a county with an enrollment of at least one thousand students, and with an approved teacher preparation program.
Under existing law, the Mayor may request a sponsor to consider sponsoring a workplace charter school, which is defined as a charter school "with the ability to target prospective students whose parent or parents are employed in a business district".
Smith's bill, if passed, will apparently (the full text is not yet available online) simply allow the mayor to sponsor charter schools directly, effective August 28, 2007.
Despite appearances on his website, a spokesperson for Comptroller Darlene Green has made it clear that Green has not endorsed Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury's re-election bid.
"Comptroller Green believes both men are fine candidates and looks forward to working with whomever the voters choose to continue moving the city forward," said spokesman John Farrell.
Green's photo has been prominently added to the top of Shrewsbury's website this week.
The Comptroller appeared to side with Shrewsbury in opposing the expansion plan of BJC Hospital, the City's largest employer, when she joined with him in denying a second to the mayor's motion to approve the plan at a recent meeting of the powerful Board of Estimate & Apportionment. But now it appears that Green is moving closer to voting in favor of the plan, possibly as soon as Friday.
Less than a month after pledging to keep race out of the campaign for Aldermanic President, it appears that incumbent Jim Shrewsbury is once again using a push poll to "inform" voters about the race of his opponent and his wife.
Pub Def has received several calls from elected officials and voters around the city identifying a poll being conducted in which the callers asked if the voter was aware that Lewis Reed is black and that his wife is white.
A similar poll was conducted months ago by the Shrewsbury campaign that also pointed out Reed's race.
Last month, at a meeting of the 24th Ward Democrats, Reed directly requested Shrewsbury to stop using race as an issue in the campaign. He also asked him to end the whisper campaign regarding his marriage being conducted in several wards.
"Cheap shot!," shouted 24th Ward Alderman Bill Waterhouse, a Shrewsbury supporter, at the all-white meeting of southside Democrats.
Shrewsbury denied conducting the first push poll, saying "I have not done that, I've never done it, and I never will do it."
The Carpenters’ District Council has endorsed Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury.
"As the group that represents the lion’s share of union-organized City employees, the Carpenters understand the issues affecting city government better than anyone. I have always valued their support in the past and once again I am grateful to have the Carpenters in my corner," said Shrewsbury in a press release.
Shrewsbury is running against Alderman Lewis Reed in the March 6th primary election, just 13 days away.
In the matter of whether the name of a candidate for alderman should be removed from the ballot less than two weeks before the election, the Election Board today opted to leave it up to to the courts.
As we reported yesterday, supporters of Alderman Frank Williamson (D-26th Ward) sent at letter to the Election Board claiming that his opponent in the March 6th primary, H. Lee Willis, was in violation of a state law which says no person's name can appear on the ballot if he or she is in arrears for any unpaid city taxes on the last day of filing for the office. Willis confirmed to Pub Def that he did owe $786.41 in real estate taxes and $59.49 in personal property taxes to the City.
Mary Wheeler-Jones, the Democratic Director of Elections for the City, said that since it is so close to Election Day — and if the Board did remove Willis' name from the ballot there would likely be a lawsuit filed and ultimately decided by the courts anyway — the Election Commissioners today decided to leave it up to Williamson to file a lawsuit to have a judge find that Willis does not meet the qualifications for the office.
When Pub Def reached Williamson by phone, he had not yet heard of the Commissioners' decision. After we told him what happened he said he would have to discuss with his legal team his next course of action.
COLEMAN INTRODUCES BILL TO ELIMINATE NEW "TRANSITIONAL" SCHOOL BOARD
By Antonio D. French
BREAKING NEWS-- READ IT HERE FIRST!
State Sen. Maida Coleman today introduced a bill (Senate Bill 551) to eliminate the "transitional" three-person, politically-appointed board approved last week to run St. Louis Public Schools. Here is a statement from her office:
"Today, I introduced a bill that would abolish the Transition Board, an entity poised to administrate the St. Louis Public Schools. I cannot in good conscious allow the State Board of Education to install a Transition Board that would effectively eliminate the representative democracy enjoyed by other school districts around Missouri.
"Furthermore, I am alarmed at the apparent moving target the State Board of Education has been using to determine if the St. Louis Public Schools should lose its provisional accreditation. It appears the State Board is predisposed to installing a Transition Board. It also seems that when the school district’s data would support continued provisional accreditation, the State Board is seeking additional data that would jeopardize the district’s status.
"Finally, the State Board’s remedy will be no panacea for the ills of the St. Louis Public Schools. In fact, the installment of the Transition Board is a dangerous precedent that could result in the degrading of our schools in St. Louis and around the state."
The 17th Ward Democratic Organization has endorsed Lewis Reed for President of the Board of Aldermen, bringing the total number of aldermen and wards supporting the challenger to 16 of 28.
Reed is running against incumbent Jim Shrewsbury in the March 6th primary election, which is just 13 days away. *Lewis Reed is a client of A D French & Associates
Following meetings with representatives from BJC, Citizens to Protect Forest Park, the Aldermanic Black Caucus, and other interested parties, Comptroller Darlene Green believes that a deal on the proposed BJC expansion plan may be reached as soon as Friday. That's according to a source in the Comptroller's office and someone who attended a meeting last night at which Green defended her position.
The meeting, which took place at the Gateway Classic Foundation, was hosted by former Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr. and political consultant Walle Amusa. The topic was the BJC expansion plan. Most in attendance — including St. Louis American publisher Donald Suggs and St. Louis Argus publisher and MOKAN executive Eddie Hasan — blamed Green and Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury for killing a deal that would have meant hundreds of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new construction.
We're told that many were surprised when the Comptroller herself arrived at the meeting. She was not an invited guest, but she took the opportunity to defend her position and reveal details of her ongoing negotiations which, she says, will lead to a better deal.
UPDATE 1: The Board of Estimate & Apportionment will be meeting today, but the BJC deal is not on the agenda. However, Pub Def has learned that a special meeting has been scheduled for Friday as well. At that time, it is likely that an agreement will be passed by the three-person body.
UPDATE 2: Walle Amusa, the longtime political activist and professional consultant who organized last night's meeting of African-American leaders, tells Pub Def that he accepts full responsibility for not inviting Green to the meeting.
He says the plan was for the participants to meet first to come to a consensus on what benefits to the black community they wanted to see from the BJC lease agreement. Then representatives from the group were to present those things to Green today.
Amusa said that when Green arrived unexpectedly she was still warmly greeted with applause.
"I want to thank Darlene Green for showing up and participating," said Amusa. He said he also wanted to thank the many other people that attended the meeting with less than 24 hours notice, including (in addition to those mentioned above) License Collector Mike McMillan, soon-to-be-alderman Marlene Davis, former Comptroller Virvus Jones, and others.
Amusa also added that the consensus he wished for was not difficult to reach. He said that on the first vote, there was unanimous support from the group for the BJC expansion deal as negotiated with the Aldermanic Black Caucus.
Mayor Francis Slay is once again using his blog to call out our city's daily underachiever.
"Based on an interview with one person," wrote Slay (or his regular ghost writer, Richard Callow) on MayorSlay.com, "the St. Louis Post Dispatch ran a headline that asserted that the Mardi Gras celebration this past weekend in Soulard was 'the worst year yet.'"
"Aside from the fact that the one person who believed it was a bad event also suggested that the Christian calendar be re-worked so he could sell more beads, what about the thousands and thousands of people who had great times in Soulard and other nearby neighborhoods despite the winter weather?"
"Mardi Gras is a fun event," concluded the mayor. "There is no such thing as a 'worst' year."
Comptroller Presses Forward, Seeks Clarification on Caucus Deal [Updated]
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at 12:17 PM
PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE
Still suffering the calls of "obstructionist" from critics of her decision not to support BJC's proposed expansion plan two weeks ago, Comptroller Darlene Green is continuing with meetings to create a better deal which all sides can agree to.
This afternoon Green will be hosting the third meeting between her office and representatives of BJC HealthCare and Citizens to Protect Forest Park. This follows an earlier meeting Green had with members of the Aldermanic Black Caucus meant to clear up confusion about a deal brokered by the Caucus to ensure north St. Louis would benefit from the proposed lease extension as well. That deal has been threatened by Green and Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury's refusal so far to support BJC's expansion.
In meetings with Black Caucus members before the vote of the Board of Aldermen, BJC and Mayor Francis Slay privately agreed to dole up the annual $1.6 million in general revenue freed up by the new terms of BJC's lease of a portion of city park land in the following manner:
$1.2 million for capital improvements in city parks, with half going to northside parks;
$300,000 for recreational programs for children; and
$100,000 to cover low-income kids' access to fee-based recreational programs.
BJC also agreed to work with the Black Caucus to open a 24-hour emergency/trauma center located in north St. Louis.
The aide said Green supports all of those things, but she would like to see them specifically written into the lease agreement; not just as a non-binding attached letter.
An amendment passed by the Board of Aldermen did include the $400,000 for recreation programs and $1.2 million for park improvements, but it did not specifically say that 50% of the improvement funds were to be spent in northside parks -- a point vital to the agreement.
Green's office has proposed the following language be added to that amendment: "...with at least 50% of the One Million Two Hundred Dollars ($1,200,000) to be spent on parks that are located north of Delmar Boulevard in the City".
Green's continued action on this matter suggests that the deal is not dead yet and, with certain amendments and concessions, may soon come again before the Boards of Aldermen and Estimate & Apportionment.
Click here to view the amendment with Green's new addition.
Click here to read a memo obtained by Pub Def from the mayor's chief staff outlining the agreement between the Black Caucus and BJC.
Click here to view a letter from BJC to the Black Caucus agreeing to develop a 24-hour emergency/trauma center in north St. Louis.
UPDATE @ 6:45 p.m.: According to sources in the Comptroller's office, today's meeting was positive and "there is now light at the end of the tunnel."
"We are closer today than we were a week ago and the Comptroller expects a positive outcome by Friday."
Getting Nasty in the 26th, Election Board May Remove Candidate from Ballot
By Antonio D. French
PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE
With Election Day just two weeks away, things are starting to get heated in the race for 26th Ward alderman. Allegations of criminal records, unpaid taxes, and dirty politics are being thrown around as the two candidates engage in a repeat of their 2003 contest.
It was in their last race that supporters of now-incumbent Frank Williamson first alleged that his opponent, H. Lee Willis, was a convicted felon who has pleaded guilty to passing bad checks, assaulting a police officer, and burglary. Just days before the 2003 primary election, a flier saying as much was distributed throughout the ward, and Williamson went on to defeat Willis by a 32-point margin.
And now, "they're at it again," said Willis.
The same allegations — plus a potentially damaging new one — are again being thrown around in the last few weeks before E-Day. Willis' past run-ins with the law have once again become issues, as well as an issue with taxes that may threaten the validity of Willis' candidacy.
Records provided to Pub Def outline a series of arrests and charges (many of which were quickly dismissed) between 1999 and 2002 and all of which Willis sat down with Pub Def to explain.
The most serious of the charges came from an April 3, 2000 incident in which, as Willis explains, involved a bad check written months before, without his knowledge, by his then-wife.
Willis said a plain-clothed officer came to his door and began questioning his young son without identifying himself. Seeing his son outside talking with a strange man, Willis said he reacted quickly and pulled his son inside. The officer, who still had not identified himself, according to Willis, tried to push his way inside the home. Willis said he pushed back and the next thing he knew the man was telling him he was under arrest for Assaulting a Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Arrest.
Willis maintains that he was never convicted and never pleaded guilty to a felony. But records obtained by Pub Def show that he did plead guilty to that bad check-writing incident, a felony, and misdemeanor Assaulting an Officer.
Regardless, Willis says it is in the past and in no way a reflection of his character. He accused his opponent of trying to distract voters from the issues.
"I think that's how they operate," said Willis. "It's just a continuation of the strong-arming [Alderman Williamson] started back in December."
Back in December, Willis alleged that Williamson had contacted several of the business owners in the ward who are supporting the challenger and threatened them. Willis alleges that following his campaign kickoff event at Marion’s St. Louis Rib Co., Williamson "harassed and threatened" proprietor Marion Waters.
Weeks later, before an event scheduled at EklecticDesignz on Delmar, owner Bonita Richardson was quoted in a Willis press release as saying Williamson "both telephoned and came to the salon. Frank was quite forceful in his view that I shouldn't allow Lee Willis to hold his event at my salon."
Williamson denies that ever happened. He also denies having anything to do with putting out the information about Willis' criminal record.
"I think it's just a group of concerned citizens that feel that the voters should know about who they may be voting on," said Williamson.
But Willis isn't buying that. "He's trying to tear down my character and my integrity," he said.
Williamson's supporters are also trying to make Willis' candidacy invalid.
A letter was sent last week to the St. Louis City Election Board claiming that Willis is delinquent in paying his real estate and personal property taxes. That is relevant because a state law says no person's name can appear on the ballot if he or she is in arrears for any unpaid city taxes on the last day to file a declaration of candidacy for the office.
Attached to the letter were records from the Collector of Revenue's office showing that as of February 14, Willis still owed $786.41 in real estate taxes and $59.49 in personal property taxes. Willis confirmed to Pub Def that those taxes are still owed, but he said they will be paid today.
The letter was sent by attorney Darryl Piggee, chief of staff for Congressman Lacy Clay. Clay's uncle, Irving Clay, is the former 26th Ward alderman who, upon retirement, was succeeded by Williamson. The Clays and Williamson are considered political allies.
Mary Wheeler-Jones, the Democratic Director of Elections for the City, tells Pub Def that the matter is on the agenda for tomorrow's meeting of the Election Commissioners.
Jones said she did not know what action the Commissioners might take on the issue, but it was "not as cut-and-dry as it appears."
State Representative Jamilah Nasheed has requested a legal opinion from the office of Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon regarding the State Board of Education's action last week on St. Louis Public Schools.
In a letter dated Feb 19, Nasheed asks the AG:
Can the State Board of Education terminate the authority of the St. Louis City Board of Education under section 162.1100, RSMo,
(a) even though the State Board of Education decided in 1999 that the transitional school board was no longer needed to oversee the transition from a federal court school desegregation plan,
(b) without obtaining approval by the federal court presiding over the desegregation matter; and
(c) without obligating the state to fund the city schools per the desegregation settlement?
"As a House member from the City of St. Louis," Nasheed writes, "I have 7 city schools in my House district. I am concerned that legislation may be necessary to clarify the relationship between the St. Louis school board, the transitional district board, and a potential special advisory board and to clarify how the St. Louis Public School district can regain local control in the most expeditious manner."
This issue may have special impact on Nixon, who will likely be the Democratic nominee for Governor next year.
If, as expected, a lawsuit is filed to stop the takeover of SLPS. Nixon, as Attorney General, will likely have to defend the State Board of Education's position — putting him at odds with the majority of Democratic elected officials and many of the voters of the heavily Democratic-voting City of St. Louis.
With a fundraiser planned for Thursday, 27th Ward Committeeman Curtis Royston is making it official. He will indeed be seeking term-limited State Rep. Connie Johnson's spot in 2008.
Royston will be joined Thursday by supporters, including Johnson, State Reps. Rodney Hubbard and Talibdin El-Amin, Committeepeople Yaphette El-Amin (1st Ward), Claude Brown (2nd Ward), Johnny Sadler and Lucinda Fraisier (3rd Ward), and Arthur "Chink" Washington (21st Ward) in celebrating his candidacy as well as his 38th Birthday.
Royston is expected to face young Chris Carter, aide to State Sen. Jeff Smith and nephew of 27th Ward Alderman Greg Carter, in the 2008 primary election.
The event is on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. at Charlotte's Banquet Hall, 8709 Riverview.
Thank you again for all the words of condolences, cards of sympathy, and general acts of kindness since the passing of my grandmother. My family and I are greatly appreciative — not just of your actions, but of the community we call home. Thank you.
In this week's issue of the St. Louis Business Journal, which includes a long list of the "Most Influential St. Louisans", I am for some reason listed as one of the most "influential" people in media.
"[Antonio] French, the brain and brawn behind PUB DEF Weekly, leads a never-ending town hall meeting at www.pubdef.net, telling residents what they missed while they were too busy to care — or, we hope, just too busy. The blogger has been all over the ongoing tussle involving St. Louis Board of Education President Veronica O'Brien and Superintendent Diana Bourisaw, prompting scores of comments from supporters and opponents of a proposed state takeover of schools. He keeps an eagle eye on the Board of Aldermen too. If anyone understands better than French that the devil's in the details, we have yet to be introduced."
Thank you to the writer of those flattering words. I do wish, however, that I and the thousands of people who clearly expressed their opposition to a state takeover, including nearly every state legislator from the City, did have more influence over those outside people that clearly have more power over our city than we do.
Other "influential" media people on the list were: Kevin Mowbray, the publisher of the "once-admired" (that's according to the Biz Journal) Post-Dispatch; Donald Suggs, publisher of the "once admired" (that's according to me) St. Louis American; TV station managers Lynn Beall (KSDK), Allan Cohen (KMOV), and Spencer Koch (KTVI); radio station manager Tim Dorsey (KTRS); radio host and Donnybrooker Charlie Brennan and fellow KMOXer Dave Simmons; and my fellow bloggers, John Combest and Dave Drebes. Meanwhile, our blogger buddy Steve Patterson is listed among the region's "Influential Steves".
