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DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
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When presidential candidate Hillary Clinton comes to St. Louis on Sunday she was scheduled to be introduced by one of her best known supporters, St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. But a threat to picket the event by the coalition seeking the mayor's removal from office may have put an end to that.
It was former U.S. House Speaker Tip O'Neal who was best known for saying "All politics is local." Well, the prospect of stepping into a big steaming pile of Slay's local political woes seems to have forced the Clinton campaign to distance themselves from the beleaguered mayor.
State Representative Jamilah Nasheed and others supporting the recall effort contacted the Clinton campaign this week to inform them that they planned to picket Clinton's event at the Pageant theater if Slay would be introducing the New York senator.
According to Nasheed, a representative from the campaign notified her Wednesday evening that Slay suddenly had a "scheduling conflict" which will prevent him from introducing Senator Clinton.
In the past, Clinton has offered praise for Slay.
"Francis Slay is one of a new breed of mayors who are revitalizing their cities and setting an example for the rest of the country," Clinton said back in April. "I'm honored to have his support."
Still concerned by Slay's role in the Clinton campaign, the recallers have not yet decided whether to call off their protest entirely.
Clinton will be speaking at the Pageant, 6161 Delmar, this Sunday at 5:00 PM. This is Clinton's last trip here before the important Iowa primaries.
FIRE: Slay Ignoring Our Issues, Demand Independent Investigation of Cheating
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 9:57 PM
The group representing African-Americans in the St. Louis Fire Department today called on Mayor Francis Slay to address the issues of their members — which account for 44% of the department — and no longer deal exclusively with the so-called "white firefighters union," Local 73.
Addington Stewart, the chairman of the Firefighters Institute on Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), also said that only this week was he informed by St. Louis police that they were about to begin an investigation into allegations of cheating by white firefighters on the 2004 promotions exam — three years after the alleged cheating occurred and after promotions have been made off a possibly tainted list.
Stewart said F.I.R.E. wants to see an independent investigation performed by a federal agency, not local police.
F.I.R.E. Rejects Creation of Asst. Chief Position, Demands 50/50 Hiring
By Antonio D. French
The association of black city firefighters is holding a press conference today to once again demand Mayor Francis Slay address the group's concerns.
The Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.), which almost all of the city's African-American fire fighters belong to — representing 44% of the fire department — is upset with Slay for removing Fire Chief Sherman George from his position and for dealing exclusively with the so-called white firefighters union, Local 73.
UPDATE: The group is also calling on a return the 50/50 hiring (one white for every black) policy which the fire department operated under for many years under a federal consent decree.
From F.I.R.E.:
Members of F.I.R.E. will uphold our oath to the citizens of the city of St. Louis to protect property and save lives. We will fight fires aggressively; respond to emergency medical and special calls with integrity and professionalism. Yet we will not stand for our issues to be ignored by the mayor; members of F.I.R.E. is comprised of 98% of the Black firefighters in the department and represent 44% of the members in the St. Louis Fire Department. Our issues with testing are still pending in the federal court of appeals. Racial tensions are present in firehouses and must be addressed. We have witnessed the mayor addressing all of the issues (transfers, civil service hearings, non-establishment of an Advanced Life Support Pumper Program, etc.) of local 73 during Chief George’s tenure. He has affirmed actions for the local in reference to promotions and the demotion of Fire Chief George. His most recent affirmed action was to promote Battalion Chief Dennis Jenkerson to Fire chief over the most qualified officer in the department Deputy Chief Charles Coyle. Yet he has not addressed our chief complaint cheating during the 2004 exam administered by EBJacobs. To add insult to injury they want to create a position and give it to a Black officer to appease Black firefighters we reject that offer. REINSTATE THE FIRE CHIEF SHERMAN GEORGE! The Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.) will not be able to move forward if our issues are not addressed.
Conduct an INDEPENDENT investigation into the allegations of cheating on the 2004 test.
No testing processes should be administered until an agreement on what the system should be and how it should be administered.
An affirmed action in the form of an executive order from the mayor to institute a 50/50 hiring and promotions diversity plan.
F.I.R.E. is against the creation of an Assistant Chief’s position.
Expedite the Civil Service Hearing of Fire Chief Sherman George.
Fire Chief Sherman George earned his pension as fire chief because of his demotion to deputy chief they deliberately cost him 10’s of thousands of dollars in retirement benefits. Reinstate Sherman George back to Fire Chief.
Today's press conference is at 3:30 PM at F.I.R.E.'s headquarters, 1020N. Taylor Ave.
Here's State Rep. Robin Wright-Jones' full 30-minute speech from her campaign announcement Tuesday.
Among her supporters in attendance: state rep candidate Rev. James Morris, Slay recall leader Rev. Douglas Parham, radio personality Hank Thompson, and political operative Harold Brown.
The Appellate Judicial Commission has submitted to Gov. Matt Blunt its panel of nominees to fill a vacancy on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. The vacancy exists due to the Sept. 11, 2007, retirement of Judge Phillip R. Garrison, who had served on the Southern District since 1992.
There were 20 applicants for the vacancy. Of these, there was 1 women and 19 men; they were all non-minorities; and there were 9 who work in the private sector and 11 who work in the public sector. The applicants' median age was 51.
In alphabetical order, the panel consists of M. Susan Appelquist; the Honorable Don Burrell, Jr.; and W. Edward Reeves.
Appelquist is a sole practitioner with the Appelquist Law Offices in Mt. Vernon, Mo., and Springfield, Mo. She was born July 28, 1954, in Springfield. She received a bachelor of science degree in education, magna cum laude, with a major in English, in 1976, and her law degree in 1979, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Burrell is the presiding judge on the 31st Judicial Circuit. He was born Dec. 4, 1960, in Springfield, Mo. He received his bachelor of science in finance, magna cum laude, in 1982, from Missouri State University, formerly known as Southwest Missouri State University. He received his law degree in 1991, from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Burrell lives in Strafford.
Reeves is a partner in the Caruthersville, Mo., law firm of Ward & Reeves. He was born August 1, 1960, in St. Louis. He received a bachelor of arts degree, summa cum laude, in 1983, and his law degree, cum laude, in 1986, both from the University of Missouri-Columbia. During law school he was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He lives in Caruthersville.
Blunt has 60 days to select one member of the panel to fill the vacancy. If the governor should fail to do so, the Missouri Constitution directs the commission to make the appointment.
Carpenters Endorse Steelman, Black Businessmen Throwing Fundraiser
By Antonio D. French
State Treasurer Sarah Steelman announced today that the Carpenters’ District Council of Greater St. Louis had endorsed her re-election bid.
"We don't normally endorse candidates before the filing date closes, but we decided to make an exception in this race because Sarah Steelman has demonstrated the qualities we expect from our elected officials," said Terry Nelson, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Council.
Steelman is also receiving the support of a group of St. Louis African-American businessmen.
David Stewart, of Worldwide Technology; Charles Kirkwood, of Midwestern Construction; entrepreneur and political operative Tim Person; and former state representative Sherman Parker are hosting a fundraiser for Steelman on December 12.
The event will be at the offices of Midwestern, 1415 Mullanphy, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM.
Attorney General Jay Nixon, Democratic candidate for governor, has notified the Missouri Ethics Commission that he plans to return over-limit contributions to his campaign.
Attorney General candidate Chris Koster also notified the Commission that his campaign will also begin the process.
From the Nixon campaign:
"The campaign will return contributions received in excess of the newly reinstated limits in accordance with the Court’s ruling," wrote campaign manager Ken Morley in a letter to the MEC. "We believe that if a candidate has sufficient cash on hand, then returning excess contributions in order to be compliant with the law is not a hardship. We therefore believe that circumstances do not exist under which a candidate for Governor could in good faith request, or that the Ethics Commission could conceivably grant, a hardship in this instance."
From the Koster campaign:
"Today, Missourians for Koster notified the Missouri Ethics Commission that they intend to begin the process of returning contributions from individuals in excess of current contribution limits."
Targeting Illegals: Blunt Proposes "New" Law to Deny Drivers Licenses
By Antonio D. French
Governor Matt Blunt stopped by St. Louis police headquarters Monday to announce his latest step to pull up the welcome mat for illegal immigrants in Missouri.
Blunt proposed making it illegal for "illegals" to get a drivers license. Blunt's Democratic challenger, Attorney General Jay Nixon, wasted no time in pointing out that such a law already exists.
In fact, when questioned about the need for this "new" law, Blunt admitted that of the 110 people arrested since he ordered state Highway Patrol officers to check the immigration status of everyone they pull over, only one was found to have a drivers license.
Donnelly Threatens Action Against Ethics Commission Over Closed Hearings
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Monday, November 26, 2007 at 3:48 PM
State Rep. Margaret Donnelly, a candidate for Attorney General, is threatening legal action against the Missouri Ethics Commission over its plans to hold closed hearings to determine which campaigns would face "hardships" by being forced to return large campaign contributions.
"The people of Missouri are fed up with government behind closed doors," said Donnelly. "If the Missouri Ethics Commission goes forward with its plans for closed hardship hearings, I will file suit and ask the courts to force them into compliance."
The Missouri Ethics Commission notified candidates that they must respond to the commission by November 26 if they have returned or are planning to return over-the-limit contributions. Candidates wanting to keep over-the-limit contributions must respond by December 3. Donnelly returned over-the-limit contributions last quarter, leaving her campaign with considerably less cash on-hand than her Democratic opponents.
A new Zogby Interactive poll confirms what many Democrats already believe: If Hillary Clinton wins the nomination, Democrats will lose.
The polls suggests Clinton would lose to every one of the top five Republican presidential contenders. Meanwhile, fellow Democrats Barack Obama of Illinois and John Edwards of North Carolina would defeat every one of the Republicans, this latest survey shows.
CLINTON vs. REPUBLICANS
OBAMA vs. REPUBLICANS
EDWARDS vs. REPUBLICANS
Clinton will be in St. Louis this Sunday, Dec. 2. She will be speaking at the Pageant, 6161 Delmar, at 5:00 PM. This is Sen. Clinton's last trip here before the Iowa primaries. Student tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.hillaryclinton.com/stlouis.
It was former U.S. House Speaker Tip O'Neal who was best known for saying "All politics is local." Well, the prospect of stepping into a big steaming pile of Slay's local political woes seems to have forced the Clinton campaign to distance themselves from the beleaguered mayor.
