On Monday, the Missouri Senate Financial, Governmental Organizations, and Elections Committee heard testimony on several measures. Senate Bill 1245, sponsored by Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, would bar a felon from holding public office in the state.
The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 1310, sponsored by Rep. Theodore Hoskins (D-Berkeley). The legislation would require independent candidates to file declarations of candidacy and petitions for nomination by the same deadlines established for other candidates.
Committee chairman Sen. Delbert Scott (R-Lowry City) said the bill would help make the playing field more level and help prevent political “games” commonly played by both Democrats and Republicans.
The committee also heard testimony on Senate Bill 1231, a proposal to implement instant runoff voting in Missouri, a system where voters rank the candidates in order of preference using one ballot.
Sen. Jeff Smith (D-St. Louis) presented the bill on behalf of sponsor Sen. John Loudon (R-Chesterfield).
Under the system, if no candidate has a majority, the lowest ranked candidate drops out and the next highest rankings on the ballots are attributed to the other candidates accordingly, until a candidate achieves a majority.
Candidates seeking their party’s nomination for the office of Circuit Attorney, Sheriff, Treasurer, Public Administrator and Ward Committeeman/woman in the City of St. Louis may begin filing Declarations of Nomination at 8:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 26, at the office of the Board of Election Commissioners for the City of St. Louis, 300 North Tucker Blvd. These offices will be voted on at the Primary Election to be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2008.
Candidates who have had representatives holding a place for them in line at the Election Board, or who stood in line themselves today, include:
Jennifer Joyce, Circuit Attorney James Murphy, Sheriff Larry Williams, Treasurer Claude Brown, Committeeman, Ward 2 Cara Jensen, Committeewoman, Ward 8 Greg Christian, Committeeman, Ward 15 Jan Clinite, Committeewoman, Ward 15 Thomas Hayes, Committeeman, Ward 16 Louise Tonkovich, Committeewoman, Ward 16 Jesse Todd, Committeeman, Ward 18 Ellen Todd, Committeewoman, Ward 18
Filing for these offices closes at 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, March 25, 2008.
As America prepares to elect another president this year, Missourians for Honest Elections is sponsoring a viewing of the documentary “UnCounted” next week to highlight what can — and has — gone wrong when Americans try to cast their ballots.
“UnCounted,” a documentary about how many Americans’ votes were not counted in the 2004 and 2006 elections — and what could happen in 2008 — will be shown next Thursday, January 10, at 7:00 PM at Epiphany United Church of Christ, 2911 McNair Ave.
Before this year, there was one thing a white citywide elected official could always count on in St. Louis: they would probably never be knocked off by a black challenger.
But on March 6, underdog Lewis Reed defeated Jim Shrewsbury becoming both the first African-American to be elected President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen and, much more significantly, the first black to ever beat a white incumbent in a two-person citywide election in St. Louis history.
Reed was a client of A D French & Associates and here is a commercial that I produced for the campaign.
Democrat Mike Garman made his bid for the 2nd District Congressional seat official today. The office is currently held by Republican Todd Akin. Garman is the Vice Chairman of the St. Charles County Ambulance District, and he says his campaign will focus heavily on health care issues.
From the press release:
Mike currently holds elected office as Vice Chairman of the Saint Charles County Ambulance District and is the 6th District Director. The 6th District covers parts of Saint Peters and O’Fallon, as well as Lake Saint Louis, Wentzville and Foristell.
Healthcare will be a major issue for Garman’s campaign. With 19 years of experience in the field, Mike is acutely aware of the medical needs facing residents of his district and is an impressive advocate for patients. He noted recent changes in medical insurance that have placed an ever-increasing burden on the elderly and their families.
“Access to the prevention, treatment, and management of disease must be a right, not a privilege,†Garman said. “When I’m elected, I’ll make sure affordable healthcare is available to the good people of the 2nd Congressional District and everyone living in our nation.â€
Mike is currently a Radiologic Technologist for Saint John’s Mercy and specializes in Urgent Care Diagnostic Imaging.
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.
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.
In this report, iconic journalist Dan Rather reports on the controversy and illusion that surround the same kind of electronic voting machines used in St. Louis County.
On Thursday, Missourians for Honest Elections will host a screening of the film “Stealing America Vote by Vote” and a conversation with Brad Friedman of www.BradBlog.com.
Friedman is an online journalist who has persistently covered the story of computerized voting machines since the Help America Vote Act was passed in 2002. He is a champion of the cause of a paper ballot for every voter. He is also a former resident of St. Louis, and his father, who currently resides in West County, has written on St. Louis elections on BradBlog.
The event starts at 6:30 p.m. at Eliot Chapel, 216 East Argonne. Admission is free.
