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Blunt Calls Special Election
By Antonio D. French
Gov. Matt Blunt today called for a special election to fill the vacancy in the 23rd Senate District. The special election will be held on Sept. 4, 2007.
Republican Sen. Chuck Gross resigned from the Missouri State Senate effective May 31, creating an open Senate seat in the 23rd Senate District.
Candidates must be selected by party committeepeople and filed with the Secretary of State's Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 31.
There remains speculation that the special election provides opportunity for soon-to-be-term-limited St. Louis Democrat Maida Coleman to also leave the Senate early and accept a gubernatorial appointment.
Coleman's seat is currently the target of three announced candidates (State Reps. Rodney Hubbard, Tom Villa, and Robin Wright-Jones).
It is said that Blunt might give Coleman an early appointment to pave the way for Hubbard, a St. Louis Democrat with strong relationships with the state's Republican leadership.
Coleman has denied any rumors of plans for an early exit.Labels: Governor, Rumors, State_Senate
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Justice White to Retire?
By Antonio D. French
A new blog on the scene, the Missouri Political News Service, is reporting a rumor from what it says are "credible sources" that Missouri Supreme Court Judge Ronnie White will announce his retirement in the coming weeks.
"Our tipster also tells us that Judge White will join the Halloran Law Firm in St. Louis," says the blog. According to the MPNS source, White's retirement will be effective July 1st.Labels: Courts, Rumors
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Coleman Denies Rumors
By Antonio D. French
Minority Floor Leader Maida Coleman (D-St. Louis) denied rumors that she is planning to make an early departure from the State Senate.
 Talk has spread around the Capitol that Coleman, who because of term limits is in the last year of her career as a legislator, may soon be appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Probation and Parole.
But Coleman tells PubDef that she has no plans at this time to leave her seat early. "I love my job and no one has offered me an appointment," she said.
If Governor Matt Blunt was to appoint Coleman to the post, which pays more than $80,000 a year, that would greatly change the dynamics of the race to succeed Coleman.
Currently, State Representatives Rodney Hubbard, Connie Johnson, Robin Wright Jones, and Tom Villa are the names most often mentioned as possible successors. In the African-American community, there is a worry that infighting could leave St. Louis without any black representation in the state senate for the first time in decades.
If Coleman were to resign early, the Democratic committeepeople of her district would vote decide the Democratic nominee for the special election. That means that instead of having to win close to 10,000 votes, a candidate will need to only earn about 7 votes to win the nomination. And that's a whole 'nother ball game.
In other Maida news... The Republican blog, The Source, attacked Coleman this week for her support of Michael Ocello for a seat on the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board. Ocello is the strip club owner who was recently elected to the Mehlville School Board.
Coleman reminded PubDef that Ocello's was actually a re-appointment to the SBRF Board and that the board's chairman, J. Scott George, a Blunt appointee, sent her a letter requesting that she support Ocello for another term.
Here's an interesting quote from Ocello from a Woodhull Foundation paper titled "The Erotic Economy":
"You need a minimum of $2-3 million to even open a decent club," explains VCG holding company president Michael Ocello whose company owns almost 20 clubs worldwide. He trains ladies in current affairs, dress and wine tasting to boost his profit margins as well as the woman's earning potential.
"A lady from a rural community and limited background can come to work for me and someday leave our establishments with some sophistication and networking under her garter. It isn't a negative exchange, that's for sure."Labels: Rumors, State_Senate
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Did Carter Want to Run Too?
By Antonio D. French
Rumors breed rumors. In the days since the local blogosphere has been discussing a possible challenge to Aldermanic Pres. Jim Shrewsbury from 6th Ward Ald. Lewis Reed, another rumor has been circulating about a second alderman who was considering entering the race.
 Two separate sources told PUB DEF that 27th Ward Ald. Greg Carter wanted to be the African-American candidate to run for President of the Board. When Reed became the choice of some influential politicos, they say Carter became upset and soon cut a deal with Shrewsbury involving committee assignments and a possible chairmanship.
Carter told PUB DEF tonight that those rumors are ridiculous.
"I haven't done anything with Shrewsbury," said Carter. He said that it wouldn't even be possible for him to run for any other office at this time because of the demands of his full-time job and the risk to his retirement benefits. "I've got 23 years here. If I do anything, it'll be after my 25th year."
Carter said his ward organization, which includes committeewoman and State Rep. Connie Johnson and committeeman Curtis Royston, decides as a group which candidates they are going to support.
"We don't do it like other communities do it," he said. "We invite all the candidates and ask them questions. Then we decide who to support." He said the President's race will be no different.
Any good rumor has some truth to it and Carter admits that he does have his eyes on a higher position.
"I've got something in mind, but not for at least another three years," he said cryptically.Labels: BOA_President_Race, Rumors
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RUMOR: Reed to Challenge Shrewsbury
By Antonio D. French
The Arch City Chronicle beat us to reporting (doesn't happen very often) the latest rumor which is making its way around city political circles: 6th Ward Alderman Lewis Reed will be challenging Jim Shrewsbury in next year's President of the Board race.
 We all know race and races go together like peas and carrots in this town, so of course the chief concern among many black politicos is who would fill Reed's seat on the board. Win or lose, if he was to run for President he couldn't keep his aldermanic seat since both races occur on the same day.
The name that most often comes up as Reed's likely successor is Democratic Committeeman Patrick Cacchione (who curiously is on record as giving $1,000 to Republican Sen. Jim Talent less than two years ago). Cacchione is white. Reed is black. While whites only make up 44% of the city's population, they hold the vast majority of elected offices -- including almost 60% of the aldermanic seats.
Some northsiders may withhold supporting Reed's longshot campaign for Board President if he doesn't make a clear effort to keep the 6th Ward seat filled by an African-American.
PUB DEF will be at today's meeting of the Board of Aldermen. Check back later for comments and reactions from colleagues of both Reed and Shrewsbury to this rumored Battle Royale.
UPDATE: Reed tells PUB DEF that he is indeed contemplating a run against Shrewsbury. He said he will be making a final decision sometime within the next 3-4 weeks.
But judging by the presence and close proximity to Reed of political consultant David Poger (fresh off of Jeff Smith's state senate victory) at today's aldermanic meeting, it appears Reed might already be picking up some talent.
Labels: BOA_President_Race, Props, Rumors
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