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Ball in Williamson's Court
By Antonio D. French
PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE
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.Labels: 26th_Ward, Election_Board, Exclusive
Link to this story
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 Eklectic Designz 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."Labels: 26th_Ward, Election_Board, Exclusive
Link to this story
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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.
