Your $7.00 monthly contribution will go a long way to helping us expand the coverage and services you enjoy.
GET THE LATEST PUBDEF NEWS 24/7:
ABOUT PUB DEF
PUB
DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
City of St. Louis, Missouri. Our goal is to cast a critical eye
on lawmakers, their policies, and those that have influence upon
them, and to educate our readers about legislation and the political
processes that affect our daily lives.
CONTACT US
Do you have
a press release, news tip or rumor to share?
As expected, Michele Kratky, wife of former State Rep. Fred Kratky, has been selected as the Democratic nominee to replace her husband in February's special election.
Southside Democratic committeemen and -women met this morning to select their candidate. According to the press release, Kratky was the only candidate considered. Here's the press release:
Democrats in the 65th Legislative District chose Michele Kratky Saturday as their nominee to run for State Representative. Michele Kratky hopes to succeed her husband, former State Representative Fred Kratky, who resigned the seat in June.
Last week, the Governor called a Special Election for February 5, 2008, to fill the seat, triggering the process held Saturday that decided the nominee for the Democrat Party.
"I am delighted to be able to finally choose our nominee, and hopefully, our next State Representative," said Jack Stelzer, chairman of the 65th Legislative District Democrats. "I know Michele will work hard in her campaign, and our committee people will work hard to ensure her successful election."
According to Missouri Constitution and Statute, Democratic committeemen and committeewomen from the city wards that make up the 65th Legislative District decide the Democratic Party’s nominee for a Special Election. Michele Kratky was the only candidate considered during the group’s meeting.
"I am honored to be the nominee," Michele Kratky said, "and I am looking forward to running an aggressive campaign."
Officers also were elected during the meeting. Jack Stelzer will serve as chair; Antoinette Poole, vice chair; Louise Tonkovich, secretary; and Chuck Miller, treasurer.
State Representative Margaret Donnelly is receiving support from some pretty well-known women in her fight for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General.
ST. LOUIS – The Donnelly Campaign today announced the endorsement of several prominent women in the Missouri Democratic Party. Former State Treasurer Nancy Farmer, Former Secretary of State Bekki Cook, Former Democratic Party State Chair May Scheve and Former St. Louis City Prosecuting Attorney Dee Joyce Hayes jointly declared their support of Donnelly for Attorney General.
“Margaret has had an incredible and distinguished career as a lawyer and public servant," said Bekki Cook. “She is the most qualified and best prepared to be the ‘People’s Lawyer’.”
"Margaret will make a great Attorney General and is in the best position to win,” added Nancy Farmer. Farmer won the 2000 Democratic primary for state treasurer in a three way race and went on to win the general election.
"Margaret Donnelly and her over 20 years of experience in family law dealing with tough and gut wrenching juvenile cases have prepared her to be the state’s lawyer,” said Dee Joyce Hayes. “Margaret is a tough no nonsense lawyer who is ready to step in to the job of Attorney General on day one.”
“Nancy Farmer, Bekki Cook, May Scheve and Dee Joyce Hayes are some of the most influential women in the Democratic Party. Their knowledge and ability to win races across the state down to the local level will be an instrumental part in ensuring my victory in both the primary and general election,” commented Donnelly.
So far, the only announced certain candidates for Attorney General are Democrats. State Rep. Jeff Harris and new Democrat State Senator Chris Koster* are the other two. On the Republican side, U.S. Attorney and former Speaker of the Missouri House Catherine Hanaway is expected to run, as may Senate Pro Tem Michael Gibbons.
*Client of A D French & Associates (website design)
The Missouri Women for Obama will hold two simultaneous community organizing meetings on Monday, September 10th from 6 to 8 PM.
The meetings will be at the Mad Art Gallery (2727 S. Broadway, St. Louis) and the Jefferson County Library (5678 State Road PP, High Ridge).
"We look to empower women to participate in the presidential election and support Barack Obama," says Anna Jinkerson who is volunteering as the coordinator for Missouri Women for Obama.
Women for Obama is an official grassroots organization, sponsored by the Obama presidential campaign. The Missouri chapter is organized on a local level and plans on sponsoring house parties, voter registration drives and book clubs, all in support of Barack Obama.
Jinkerson acknowledged Hilary Clinton’s campaign, but said that her organization’s vote goes beyond gender.
“Women in Missouri need a candidate who’s electable in the general election,” she says. “We feel that Barack Obama brings the right type of experience and electability to the presidential elections.”
The meetings on Monday will establish community groups of women to support the organization. More meetings locally and in Kansas City and central Missouri are in the works.
Democratic Attorney General candidate Jeff Harris announced the support of another labor union today. Here's the press release:
Columbia -- House Democratic Leader and Democratic candidate for Attorney General Jeff Harris continues to gain support with organized labor picking up the endorsement of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 148.
Don Giljum, Business Manager for Local 148, said today that, “Jeff Harris is our choice for Attorney General because he has been there on the issues important to labor and the working families of this state. In the legislature, Jeff has consistently stood up in opposition to the Republican majority, fighting for health care, education access and funding, and for an increase in the minimum wage. Working families in Missouri will be well-served by Jeff Harris as Attorney General.”
"It has been my privilege to stand with organized labor on behalf of the working men and women of this state,” Harris said. “I am proud to have the members of Operating Engineers Local 148 standing with me and supporting my candidacy for Attorney General.”
As Attorney General, Harris has vowed to aggressively enforce minimum wage and prevailing wage laws to ensure that hard-working Missourians are fairly compensated for the work they do.
Local 148 represents an estimated 3,000 skilled plant personnel at Ameren UE, other industrial power plants, mechanical service contractors, and in the public sector, which includes MODOT.
Mayor Francis Slay and his public safety director, Sam Simon, have issued another — much stronger — ultimatum to Fire Chief Sherman George: promote by next Friday or face disciplinary action. Click here to read Simon's letter (via KSDK).
At an unrelated press conference this morning, PubDef reporter Gabe Bullard asked Governor Matt Blunt about the status of his two controversial education appointees, Rick Sullivan and Derio Gambaro. The governor said he remains hopeful that Democratic Senators Jeff Smith (Gambaro's senator) and Joan Bray (Sullivan's senator) will come around and support the men.
"Fight, fight!," as we used to say on the school yard.
The Political Eye column of the St. Louis American newspaper and MayorSlay.com, a creation of Public Eye, Inc., the PR firm of Richard Callow, have gone to the mattresses.
Last week, the American reported that actions by the city's public safety director, Sam Simon, had possibly left city firefighters in a dangerous position by ordering that all Fire Department airmasks be removed by Aug. 1 without notifying Fire Chief Sherman George.
A few days after the report was published, Mayor Francis Slay's anonymously-written blog, MayorSlay.com, called the story "bad reporting" and outlined its own version of events:
Five years ago, two St. Louis firefighters died tragically. Their widows filed suit against the manufacturer and distributor of some of the Department’s equipment. In the course of the first trial, testimony suggested that equipment might be defective. Both widows are convinced the equipment contributed to the deaths of their husbands.
Armed with that information, Simon wrote to the distributor asking for a $1.2 million refund. The distributor responded by offering to remove the equipment, but without refunding any cash. Simon declined. At no point did Simon ever order the equipment removed.
That’s the simple chronology that "supports" the baseless assertion by some partisans that Simon’s actions were improper.
Bad reporting? "Surely it is not 'bad' reporting to report a 'demand' as a demand. That is simply letting grammar be one's guide in interpreting the English language," answered today's anonymously-written Political Eye column.
In another post on mayorslay.com, using the same pompous tone, Slay-Rainford-Callow-Rhode write, “One of the challenging things about the current state of news reporting is the mix of rumor and fact that gets churned around in blogs, talk shows and boards - and then re-reported on mainstream TV and radio.”
It should be evident from Simon’s signed letter and the statement of the "facts" on mayorslay.com that the mayor’s own blog is guilty of mixing rumor and outright lies with whatever facts it churns around - and, unfortunately, the mayor’s version of events too often gets "re-reported on mainstream TV and radio," whether or not it is based in fact.
St. Louis Public School's Virtual Schools are underway and district officials say so far, so good for the Internet-based learning program.
At a press event this afternoon at the Downtown Academy (formerly Patrick Henry School), Superintendent Diana Bourisaw discussed the program, which started just this year for grades K-3 and 9-12, with more grades to follow next year.
Students in the program take most of their classes online. The students also go to learning centers throughout the week for additional education.
The program costs students and parents nothing. As for how much it costs the district, Bourisaw didn't have an exact price, but she said she believes it will "pay for itself."
SLPS' virtual schools are made possible through a partnership with Virginia-based K12 Inc. Learn more on the district's website.
There is a bit of Constitutional confusion in Jefferson City today.
As readers of PubDef had expected for weeks (and readers of the Postjust found out today), Governor Matt Blunt withdrew the names of two of his controversial education appointees during last week's special session of the State Legislature. Both State Board of Education appointee Derio Gambaro and St. Louis Public Schools CEO Rick Sullivan were withdrawn from Senate confirmation because of lack of support from their home senators — a customary requirement for successful confirmation.
PubDef has reported than both men are expected to be resubmitted to the Senate soon and would remain in power until at least January, when the Senate reconvenes and again takes up gubernatorial appointments. However, the Governor's office believes it is not necessary to resubmit their names to the senate before next year.
According to a source close to the situation, the Governor believes that simply having the nominees on file with the Secretary of State's office is sufficient enough for the two men to continue to serve on a interim basis. The well-placed source says the Governor is considering not resubmitting the names to the senate until next year.
However, the Missouri Constitution clearly states, in the case of Gambaro, that appointments to the Board of Education must be made with the "advice and consent of the Senate." The law creating Sullivan's positions says the same thing. And apparently, the Senate's Republican leadership agrees.
State Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons (R-Kirkwood) told the Post-Dispatch the decision to pull the names was mutual to avoid a Senate vote. He also said he agrees with Blunt's staff that Sullivan and Gambaro still hold their posts for now. But Gibbons also said he believes the state constitution requires that the governor renew their interim appointments by September 19 if he wants them to stay on until the Senate reconvenes in January.
If these men serve for three months without being submitted to the Senate, it may put every action, vote and decision under close legal scrutiny. And in the case of Sullivan, who serves on a three-person board, if any important decisions are made by a vote of 2-1, a judge may later rule the vote was in fact 1-1 since Sullivan could not legally cast a vote — especially if he is ultimately not confirmed by the Senate.
How about local control of our police department first? After all, that is where about a third of our city's annual budget goes. But then, why should city folks have any say over how one out of every three of our dollars is spent?
Perhaps Mayor Slay could be calling for local control of our schools — even mayoral control. No, wait. That's right, he was the one pushing for the state's Republican governor to take control of our $450 million-per-year school system.
Well, it's not like crime or schools have anything to do with the quality of life here in the city — at least not like the Arch grounds anyway!
As a matter of fact, we're so out of practice with controlling our own destinies around here, if the U.S. government did give up control of the Arch grounds, they should probably just turn it over to the State of Missouri.
At least that'll keep Hizzoner from building a parking garage or a Walgreens on it.
The people of St. Charles have spoken. Republican Tom Dempsey has defeated Democrat Ed Appelbaum tonight to become Missouri's newest state senator.
The final unofficial results are:
Dempsey — 6,671 (56.2%) Appelbaum — 5,199 (43.8%)
Here's a statement from the Missouri Republican Party:
"Tom Dempsey’s hard-fought victory is great news for the residents of the 23rd Senatorial District who will benefit from his strong work ethic and his dedication to improving the lives of Missourians. Tom’s strong support of Gov. Matt Blunt’s agenda including funding increases for public education, enhanced job creation, significant health care reform and disdain for tax increases played an important role in his successful campaign. Missouri Republicans congratulate Tom on his impressive victory and look forward to his continued success as a member of the Missouri Senate."
Dempsey replaces Republican Senator Chuck Gross, who resigned to take another job.
Residents of Lafayette Square got a first look tonight at plans for a new development on the site of the old Praxair chemical plant.
Located on the corner of Missouri and Chouteau Avenues in south St. Louis, the vacant three-block area was home to Praxair, which was leveled by explosions and fire in 2005.
The exact specifications have yet to be worked out, but developers Jeff Winzerling and Pete Rothschild have come up with a $41 million plan that would incorporate condos, town homes, parking lots, a community park and retail and office space into the now vacant area.
Click here to see the Lafayette Square neighborhood's current urban plan.
Governor Matt Blunt today signed the Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit Act into law as part of his larger economic development package.
Other provisions of the new law include expanding the Quality Jobs Tax Credit for businesses that add jobs with above average wages and health benefits, expanding tax credits for filmmakers, and legalizing ticket scalping in Missouri. Click here to download House Bill 1.
Republican Bob Tullock, the 1st Ward Alderman in the City of Manchester, today formally announced his intention to run for state representative.
From his press release:
Bob is currently serving as an Alderman of Ward #1 in the City of Manchester and is currently serving his second term. He has worked hard to protect the rights of his constituents by protecting their interests on the board. As an example, Bob introduced legislation against the Use of Eminent Domain for private Development in Manchester and supported legislation that prohibited a convicted felon from serving as a public official in Manchester.
Bob has a history of hosting monthly neighborhood meetings with those he represents in Manchester. Bob firmly believes that our government is a representative form of government and he believes that every decision that he makes as an elected official must reflect the will of his constituents. He has pledged to do the same thing as the Missouri State Representative of District 92.
Tullock, who calls himself a proponent of "good old-fashioned family values," is running for the seat currently occupied by the term-limited State Rep. Charles Portwood (R-Ballwin).
Robert Levine from the 92nd District Democrats says they are currently recruiting a candidate to run in the heavily-Republican district.
