The scene in the courtroom Friday was, at times, surreal.

At one point, State Rep. Robin Wright-Jones, who is suing State Rep. Connie Johnson for misrepresenting that she does live in the 5th Senatorial District, which they are both seeking to represent in the August 5th primary, took the stand to “play the part” (meaning she was reading the testimony of another witness taken during a previous deposition) of the man who rented the home Johnson claims is her residence.

Johnson listened as Wright-Jones read in the first-person allegations that she slashed the car tires of one of her tenants, then stole a pair of boots, allegedly saying “I am going to have to get gangsta on this girl. She doesn’t know who I am.”

Johnson denies the allegations of William Keys, a firefighter who claims that he rented Johnson’s northside house with an agreement to purchase it with his girlfriend, who also lived there. Johnson has said that the arrangement was actually more of a roommate agreement, with her being able to come and go when not in Jefferson City fulfilling her duties or at another home she owned in Central West End taking care of her ailing mother.

In his deposition, read in court by Wright-Jones, Keys denied that description of the arrangement. “Where would she sleep? There were only two mattresses.” he said.

Further damaging is the fact that the house has been condemned by the city since December or January. According to Susan Block, attorney for Robin Wright-Jones, Representative Johnson just applied for an occupancy permit this month.

Johnson has called Wright-Jones lawsuit a desperate political move. She also points out that Wright-Jones entire case almost completely mirrors the evidence anonymously sent to election officials and several media outlets weeks before she filed her suit.

Wright-Jones denied on the stand that she had any knowledge of that anonymous packet.

More may be at stake for Connie Johnson than just being allowed to stay on the ballot or not. Wright-Jones is also seeking attorney fees and costs, which already total to more than $17,000. The U.S. Attorney’s office also requested a copy of the St. Louis Board of Elections findings and a representative from the Missouri Attorney General’s office was in court Friday monitoring the case.

Friday’s proceedings, which started at 9:30 AM, lasted until 7:30 PM.

Judge Douglas Long of Pulaksi County, the third judge in the case following the recusal of two others because of possible conflicts of interest, has requested additional documents from Wright-Jones’ attorney by midweek. A verdict may be announced by Thursday or Friday.

Committeeman and state rep candidate Joe Palm is rapidly finding himself alone on a political island.

First, his committeewoman and ally, Pat Moss, withdrew her name from seeking re-election. Then he found himself with a serious opponent (Khatib Waheed) to his 26th Ward Committeeman post while at the same time trying to unseat State Rep. Talibdin “T.D.” El-Amin. And now, his ward’s alderman is publicly endorsing El-Amin for re-election.

The following press release from El-Amin’s campaign reports the endorsement of both Alderman Frank Williamson and Congressman Lacy Clay:

State Representative Talibdin “TD” El-Amin received yet another boost in his re-election bid. Congressman William “Lacy” Clay, 1st District and 26th Ward Alderman Frank Williamson announced the endorsement of Representative “TD” El-Amin.

“Congressman Clay and the Clay family have a long, and rich tradition in national, state and local politics and have been instrumental in shaping the political, social and economic landscape of St. Louis, and it’s a tremendous honor to have the Congressman’s support.”

Joining Congressman Clay in his support of El-Amin is Alderman Frank Williamson, 26th Ward.

“Representative El-Amin has demonstrated a strong ability to lead, his “hands-on, style of people-politics,” and his ability to build bridges makes him best suited to lead the 57th district,” stated Williamson.

“El-Amin has shown he’s not afraid to take on tough issues, his accessibility and commitment to engage the community and take a forward role in its stewardship makes him worthy of my support. I look forward to continuing to work with Representative El-Amin in his efforts to continue progress in the 57th District”, stated Congressman Clay.

El-Amin has garnered the support of other political heavyweights. Former Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr., St. Louis’s first African-American mayor has also thrown his support behind El-Amin’s candidacy, as well as Pearlie Evans, long-time community activist and former top aide to former Congressman Bill Clay.

Supporters of an effort to get on the November ballot a measure to eliminate affirmative action in Missouri missed their midnight deadline last night. In all likelihood, it was not a strategic blunder, but probably due to the group not having collected enough signatures to get it on the ballot.

The main figure behind the controversial initiative, California business Ward Connerly, who is African-American, had targeted five states, including Missouri. Connerly was successful at getting a similar measure passed in California in 1996.

Perhaps the most significant affect of the measure dying early is that such a racially inflammatory proposal will now have no chance of appearing on the same ballot which could possibly elect the nation’s first African-American president.
 

With the Obama-Clinton fight heading into yet another round on Tuesday, what do you think will happen when the final vote is counted.

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Congressman Lacy Clay has endorsed Don Calloway for state representative in the north St. Louis County district currently represented by Esther Haywood, who is term-limited out.

PubDef.net has learned that State Rep candidate Tishaura Jones will be challenging the residency of her opponent, April Harris. But unlike the ongoing residency fight in the 5th Senate District race, Jones will be filing her complaint with election authorities, not with the courts.

Facing a lawsuit that could have her name removed from the ballot, state Senate candidate Connie Johnson held a press conference this morning which she used to attack her two opponents and pledge that her name would be cleared of charges that she has not lived in the district she is seeking to represent.

UPDATED: Reporters from the Post-Dispatch, KMOX, and KTVI Channel 2 probed Johnson about why she believes she did nothing wrong by moving out of her legislative district and renting out her home.

Here is Johnson’s complete statement:

Thank you all for coming out this morning.

I have called this press conference because I, like most Americans, am tired of the politics of hit and run. I like most Americans am weary of the politics of distraction and dishonesty. And I like most Americans, believe that elected officials have a responsibility to serve their constituents—not themselves.

From the moment I entered this race my opponents have in one fashion or another panicked. Rodney Hubbard panicked and was able to convince his Right wing Republican Billionaire to kick in 50 more contributions—-1/3 of his total and Robin Wright Jones panicked and filed a frivolous lawsuit in order to bring some light and attention to her struggling year old campaign for this Senate Seat.

For the record I am flattered by their fear and I appreciate their recognition of the impact of my candidacy. However, for the record, I am deeply concerned about their tactics and where these tactics take us as a community and as members of the Democratic Party.

Ten months ago I told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that I would not be part of events that would facilitate the elimination of an African American Senate Seat. Ten months ago I said: “As a statesman I have to look at the big picture and the big picture is the importance of preserving history and having African American representation in the 5th Senatorial district.”

As fate or providence would have it, four days before filing closed, the only white Candidate in contention decided not to run. There was now no danger of our community losing representation. So, I had a decision to make—do I now run for this Senate Seat? Do I run for a seat that has been historically, from Jet Banks to Paula Carter, located in the heart of North Saint Louis?

My decision was an easy one—-of course I would run.

I would run because now I would be able to lay my head down at night knowing that not only would my Community be able to ensure African American Representation, but they would now have the choice of the most qualified, principled and credentialed African American Representation.

My decision to run was founded upon a love of community and a passion to ensure equal representation for all. These belief sets are also shared by the Democratic Party.

My opponents however have pounced upon my filing and attempted to use it as a means of distraction from the serious issues that confront our communities.

Downtown St Louis for the past 6 years under the direction and leadership of realtor Robin Wright Jones and the 63rd district, is in the middle of a real estate crisis—unfilled lofts, bankrupt developers, and a huge muddy empty hole in the middle of Ball park village. I have often wondered as Minority Whip, why Ms Wright Jones was missing so many important votes. I now see that she was quite busy—manufacturing stories and crafting frivolous lawsuits.

My other opponent is busy as well—missing votes, currying favor for the opposition and gathering right wing Republican cash.

Unfortunately, in the world of politics from Baraak Obama to Hillary Clinton, money does represent the bulk of the fuel that goes in to a political campaign. Operating on this political theory, my opponents hope that you will be so distracted by their lies and complaints about when I filed or where I live that their actions will hurt my fundraising efforts.

Well, I am here this morning to say enough. We as Democrats have a responsibility to address our serious issues—-not manufacture, because we need money, political opportunities at the expense of the truth and at the expense of our constituents.

To this end I will have had my Attorney file the necessary motions that will put an end to this frivolous lawsuit filed by my desperate opponent.

Mark my words—I will be vindicated—these lies will not stand and I will be on the ballot in August.