Category: St. Louis Board of Alders

City Election Candidate Filing Opens Nov 28

Candidates for Board of Alder President and all 14 Ward Alder seats begin filing 8 am Monday, November 28. Filing ends 5 pm January 6. The Primary is March 7 and General Election is April 4.

For those of you interested in running and not part of a slate, or running on your own, and already collecting nominating signatures, here are the qualifications and requirements.

A candidate for Board of Alder President must be at least 30 years of age, a U.S. citizen for at least 5 years, St. Louis City resident for at least 5 years, an assessed City taxpayer for at least 2 years, and must not have been convicted of malfeasance in office, bribery or other corrupt practice or crime.

A candidate for Alder must be at least 25 years of age, a U.S. citizen for at least 5 years, St. Louis City resident for at least 3  years, a resident of the ward from which elected for at least one year, an assessed City taxpayer for at least 2 years, and must not have been convicted of malfeasance in office, bribery or other corrupt practice or crime.

✔️ All candidates for City office will need petition signatures for Certificate of Nomination.

✔️ All candidates must obtain a receipt from City Treasurer for payment of a filing fee  equal to 1% of the salary of the office sought.

✔️ All candidates must obtain a Statement of Tax Clearance– confirmation the candidate  is not delinquent in the payment of city taxes and water and refuse bills- from City Collector of Revenue.

Candidates must take their Certificate of Nomination, receipt for payment of filing fee, and Statement of Tax Clearance to the Board of Election to file by the deadline.

✔️ Candidates must also file campaign finance reports with Missouri Ethics Commission.

Also see Board of Election Candidate Filing Information.

 

 

Ward Consolidation Wars

The Bosley Family’s matriarch has laid political claim to St. Louis City’s new 14th Ward, the combined 3rd Ward and 5th Ward under ward reduction and redistricting. This month, 3rd Ward Committeewoman Lucinda Frazier and three others incorporated 14th Ward Regular Democratic Organization as a nonprofit.

The club has not yet filed as a political action committee (all ward committees are pacs not party committees under Missouri law). No one residing in the current 5th Ward is an incorporator. It does not look like 5th Ward Committeeman and State Representative Rasheen Aldridge and 5th Ward Committeewoman and former State Representative Penny Hubbard are involved.

Frazier is the wife of former 3rd Ward Alder Freeman Bosley, mother to current 3rd Ward Alder Brandon Bosley and State Representative LaKeysha Bosley, and Chief of Staff for part-time Recorder of Deeds, bar owner, and Missouri State Party Chair Michael Butler.

Registered agent for the new 14th Ward registration is Limda Primer, who is also Treasurer for MEC registered 3rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization and Civil PAC, and Deputy Treasurer for Citizens for Brandon Bosley (3rd Ward Alder) and Citizens for LaKeysha Bosley (State Representative and sometimes employee of the Recorder of Deed’s bar).

Then there’s the new 4th Ward, the combined 23rd and 24th Wards.

In March of this year, Kate Lovelady filed a Fictitious Name Registration for 24WPD to own 4th Ward Democrats. Lovelady is Treasurer for 4th Ward Democrats registered (previously known as 24th Ward Progressive Democrats) with MEC.

In September, Greg Meyer incorporated 4th Ward Regular Democratic Organization as a non profit with the help of attorney Ted Dearing. Meyer is also Treasurer for MEC registered 23rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization (aligned with 23rd Ward Alder Joe Vaccaro) and St. Louis Labor Legislature Club. The October 2022 Report for 23rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization shows the club paid Ted Dearing $300 in August for legal services.

In St. Louis County, you can visit the St. Louis County Democratic Central Committee website to find your township political club.

There are two online sources for anyone (a lot of us do not have book of faces) to look for St. Louis City ward organization information and neither are the St. Louis Democratic City Central Committee website. Instead, you have to search Missouri Ethics Commission and/or Missouri Secretary of State’s Business Entity database for ward committees.

St. Louis City political clubs often incorporate as nonprofits or file fictious name registrations (d.b.a.). It was thought that by incorporating, the name was owned and could not be used by a rival. They’ve been doing it for over a century. Some of the earliest ones were recorded in the Corporation Books of the City’s Recorder of Deeds. Campaign finance records began in St. Louis City in the late 20th Century via Missouri’s Corrupt Practices Act and were also recorded with the Recorder of Deeds. I did a lot of research and preservation work with these records when I worked as an archivist under the two previous Recorder of Deeds.

It’s been a long tradition for status quo ward clubs to use “Regular Democratic” or “Original” in the name to distinguish themselves from rump organizations who use “Independent.” The Independent organizations were often started by a noncommitteeperson, election competitor, or a committeeperson who did not see eye to eye with their ward colleague. Unfortunately, I was overruled by ward members when I was a committeewoman and had to file 7th Ward Independent Democrats instead of 7th Ward Irregular Democrats with MEC.

St. Louis City Alders to Become $72,000 Part-Time Jobs

This week, Alder Carol Howard introduces Board Bill 119 to increase Board of Alders salaries to $72,000 and increase expense accounts to $5,000. Howard has terminated her candidate committee and does not plan on running in 2023 for the new 2nd Ward that she was redistricted into with 16th Ward Alder Tom Oldenburg.

The proposed ordinance does not require Alders to serve full-time. Among the current Alders, there are five attorneys- including one at a firm involved in developments, two bankers involved in developments, two business owners, numerous landlords, other occupations, and conflicts of interest galore easily remedied with requiring the position to be full-time. Conflicts of interest from Alder Jack Coatar’s employment with Spencer Fane were an issue in Tuesday’s Board President election.

The City Charter requires the Mayor to be full time: “The mayor shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office.” Similar language needs to be added for the Board President and Alders. But that requires a Charter Amendment and public vote. That takes time.

The Board of Alders is about to have a monumental transformation next year: 28 wards reduced to 14 wards. Voters will elect alders to serve a double number of constituents and double the geography in March-April. The potential increase in workload- and I say potential because I have had personal experience with lazy Alders- without commensurate pay could be a deterrent to running for office and reducing choices for voters. The time to increase salaries and require full time service is now.

Inserting “devote their entire time to the duties of their office” should be inserted into Board Bill 119. Alders cannot require the job to be full time except by Charter Amendment, but they can create a two tier salary system. Higher salary for those who make it full time and the lower, current salary for those who wish to be part-time. Stands to reason that it would make a good election issue- full-time v. part-time.

I am not saying that all Alders with jobs and businesses right now (or in the past) are not working hard for constituents. I am saying that making the job full-time with a decent salary reduces some opportunities for conflicts of interest at the same time it may increase the pool of potential candidates by making it more affordable to do so.

Results of my quick searches for occupations other than Alder for current Board of Alders. Let me know of any additions or corrections.

New 1st Ward
Current 12th Ward Alder William ‘Bill’ Stephens: former librarian
Current 13th Ward Alder Anne Schweitzer: political campaign consultant

New 2nd Ward
Current 14th Ward Alder Carol Howard- former school principal
Current 16th Ward Alder Tom Oldenburg: Vice President for Community Development |at US Bancorp Community Development Corp

New 3rd Ward
Current 11th Ward Alder Jimmy Lappe: Director of Data & Research at Missouri Jobs With Justice
Current 25th Ward Alder Shane Cohn:

New 4th Ward
Current 23rd Ward Alder Joe Vaccaro: former car wash owner
Current 24th Ward Alder Bret Narayan: attorney, private practice

New 5th Ward
Current 10th Ward Alder & Acting Board President Joseph Vollmer: owner of Milo’s, landlord

New 6th Ward
Current 8th Ward Alder Annie Rice: attorney at Khazaeli Wyrsch Stock until 2021
Current 15th Ward Alder Megan Ellyia Green: Adjunct Professor at Washington University

New 7th Ward
Current 6th Ward Alder Christine Ingrassia: paddle guide for Big Muddy Adventures (obviously not a full time gig)

New 8th Ward
Current 7th Ward Alder Jack Coatar: attorney at Spencer Fane’s Litigation, Governmental Affairs, and Real Estate Practice 
Current 9th Ward Alder Dan Guenther: former Monarch Community Liaison at Office of Sustainability
Current 20th Ward Alder Cara Spencer: Senior Vice President for Community and Economic Development at St. Louis Bank

New 9th Ward
Current 17th Ward Alder Tina Pihl: landlord
Current 28th Ward Alder Michael Gras: attorney at Davis & Gras

New 10th Ward
Current 26th Ward Alder Shameem Clark Hubbard:

New 11th Ward
Current 19th Ward Alder Marlene Davis:
Current 21st Ward Alder Laura Keys: landlord Clinical Data Coordinator at Biomedical Systems

New 12th Ward
Current 1st Ward Alder Sharon Tyus: attorney, landlord
Current 4th Ward Alder Dwinderlin Evans: landlord
Current 18th Ward Alder Jesse Todd:

New 13th Ward
Current 2nd Ward Alder Lisa Middlebrook: home healthcare
Current 22nd Ward Alder Norma Walker: owner of Belt Loop Trucking, landlord
Current 27th Ward Alder Pam Boyd: Certified Dietary Manager at The Valley Stonebridge Community skilled nursing facility

New 14th Ward
Current 3rd Ward Alder Brandon Bosley:
Current 5th Ward Alder James Page:

Lawyers of TIF Donations to Alders

This survey includes campaign contributions reported to Missouri Ethics Commission, for report years 2019 to 2022 to date, to current members of the St. Louis City Board of Alders and interim Board President, regardless of what office, if any, is identified as their office sought.

This survey includes only campaign contributions by the major law firms engaged in development incentives, tax abatement, and tax increment financing, that I am aware of, and attorneys at those firms, regardless of whether their practice includes corporate welfare. Contributions are reported here regardless of whether the attorney today practices at the firm identified in MEC records.

There are links to law firm bios when the contributor is known to work for corporate welfare. When an attorney is also a lobbyist, there is also a link to their MEC lobbyist registration.

Contributions to Alders and the Board President who have vacated office over past four years- and there were a lot- are not included.

Contributions to ward organization- and there were some- are not included.

Contributions of amounts lower than $100 and not itemized by the candidate are not included, obviously.

Husch Blackwell (law firm)
2022 Jack Coatar $2,600 + Jack PAC $10,000
2021 Jack Coatar $2,600, Tom Oldenburg $2,600
2020 Jack Coatar $1,000
2019 Christine Ingrassia $500

Husch Blackwell (attorneys)
David Richardson
2022 Jack Coatar $1,000
2021 Jack Coatar $1,000
2019 Christine Ingrassia $250
Scott Hammell
2022 Tom Oldenburg $1,000
Steven McCandless
2021 Tom Oldenburg $500
Patrick Eckelkamp
2021 Tom Oldenburg $500

Lewis Rice (attorneys)
Bri Hoy
2019 Anne Schweitzer $250
Lucas Jackson
2022 Jack Coatar $250
Alfred Ludwig
2021 Cara Spencer $200
Jerina Phillips
2022 Megan Green $500
David Sweeney (lobbyist)
2022 Pam Boyd $500, Shameem Clark Hubbard $100 + $100, Jack Coatar $250 + $1,500 + $100, Michael Gras $250, Megan Green $500 + $500, Anne Schweitzer $100 + $200, Joe Vaccaro $500
2021 Jack Coatar $250, Tom Oldenburg $500
2020 Jack Coatar $200
2019 Dan Guenther $100, Bret Narayan $150, Joe Vaccaro $100, Joe Vollmer $250

Thompson Coburn (law firm)
2022 Jack Coatar $2,600

Thompson Coburn (attorneys)
Elizabeth Feldmeir
2021 Tom Oldenburg $1,000
Chris Hohn
2021 Tom Oldenburg $1,000
Jarrod Sharp
2021 Tom Oldenburg $1,000
Celeste Vossmeyer
2021 Cara Spencer $250 + $1,000
2020 Megan Green $500
William Kuehling (lobbyist) now private practice, previously at Thompson Coburn
2021 Cara Spencer $2,000 + $250
2020 Jack Coatar $100 + $100
2019 Carol Howard $250, Cara Spencer $250

Spencer Fane (attorneys)
Jack Coatar
2021 Cara Spencer $250
Bradford Cytron
2022 Jack Coatar $1000
James Dankenbring
2022 Jack Coatar $1,000 + $1,000
Robert Epstein
2022 Jack Coatar $200
Elizabeth Felker
2022 Jack Coatar $100
Jason Flower
2022 Jack Coatar $250
Arthur Gregg
2022 Jack Coatar $150
Gerald Greiman
2022 Jack Coatar $1,000 + $1,000 +$1,000
2021 Jack Coatar $250 + $500
2020 Jack Coatar $1,000 + $500
Thomas Jerry
2022 Jack Coatar $250
2021 Jack Coater $200
James Loranger
2022 Jack Coatar $150
Jessica Merrigan
2022 Anne Schweitzer $250
2020 Anne Schweitzer $50 + $250
2019 Anne Schweitzer $250
Robert Preston
2022 Jack Coatar $250 + $250
Francis Slay (former lobbyist)
2020 Jack Coatar $125
2020 Anne Schweitzer $200
Erik Solverud
2022 Jack Coatar $250

Also see Aldergeddon: October MEC Reports

Aldergeddon: October MEC Reports

October campaign finance reports were due October 17th. Where “None” is shown for this report, it means none filed to date. Where Limited Activity for October was filed, the next report showing activity is also used. Where the last report showing activity is older than 2022, only on hand and debt amounts are shown. Links are to the candidate’s campaign finance or political action committee page at Missouri Ethics Commission.

New 1st Ward
Current 12th Ward Alder William ‘Bill’ Stephens, October 2022 Report- Limited Activity (late). September 2022 Report, State Rep 81st District- $500 raised, $2,515.84 spent, $2,686.15 on hand, $5,108.16 debt. Note: now says it is a State Rep 81st District 2024 account
Current 13th Ward Alder Anne Schweitzer, October 2022 Report, Alder- $2335 raised, $84.43 spent, $35,967.89 on hand, $0 debt

New 2nd Ward
Current 14th Ward Alder Carol Howard– Termination Report: $0 raised, $1,312.60 spent (mostly to her treasurer), $0 on hand, $0 debt. October 2022 Report, Alder- $0 raised, $333.20 spent, $1,312.60 on hand, $0 debt
Current 16th Ward Alder Thomas R Oldenburg, October 2022 Report, Alder- $0 raised, $10,911.54 spent (mostly to Kelley Group), $31,787.12 on hand, $0 debt

New 3rd Ward
Current 11th Ward Alder James ‘Jimmy’ P Lappe, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. July 2022 Report, Alder- $1,575 raised, $1,096.21 spent, $1478.79 on hand, $0 debt
Current 25th Ward Alder Shane Cohn, October 2022 Report, Alder- $1,525 raised, $787.85 spent, $3,483.09 on hand, $0 debt

New 4th Ward
Current 23rd Ward Alder Joseph A Vaccaro Jr, October 2022 Report, Alder- $8,035 raised, $1,404.60 spent, $13,566.65 on hand, $540.309 debt
Current 24th Ward Alder Bret Narayan, October 2022 Report, Alder- $3,952.84 raised, $0 spent, $5,857.89 on hand, $0 debt

New 5th Ward
Current 10th Ward Alder & Acting Board President Joseph Vollmer, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. July 2022 Report, Alder- $0 raised, $600 spent, $19,560.85 on hand, $0 debt

New 6th Ward
Current 8th Ward Alder Annie Rice, October 2022 Report, Alder- $0 raised, $117 spent, $1,908 on hand, $0 debt
Current 15th Ward Alder Megan Ellyia Green, October #2 2022 Report, Board President- Limited Activity. October #1 2022 Report, Board President- $68,584.95 raised, $70.458.98 spent, $40,769.25 on hand, $0 debt. Affiliated PAC Progress PAC, October 2022 Report, Board President- $3,875 raised, $153.08 spent, $3,721.92 on hand, $0 debt

New 7th Ward
Current 6th Ward Alder Christine Ingrassia, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. July 2019 Report, Alder- $2,474.33 on hand, $5,800 debt

New 8th Ward
Current 7th Ward Alder John ‘Jack’ Coatar, October #2 2022 Report, Board President- $36,225 raised, $71,884.32 spent (mostly to consultants including Kelley Group), $138,012.29 on hand, $0 debt. October #1 Report, Board President- $116,604.18 raised, $119,651.90 spent (mostly to consultants including Kelley Group), $174,171.61 on hand, $0 debt. Affiliated PAC Jack PAC, October 2022 Report, Board President- $54,134 raised, $500 spent, $96,138.34 on hand, $0 debt
Current 9th Ward Alder Dan Guenther, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. January 2022 Report, Alder- $200 raised, $798.95 spent, $8,586.50 on hand, $0 debt
Current 20th Ward Alder Cara Spencer, October 2022 Report, Alder- None. July 2022 Report, Alder- $0 raised, $566.17 spent, $8,400.82 on hand, $0 debt

New 9th Ward
Current 17th Ward Alder Tina Pihl, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. July 2022, Alder- $175 raised, $679.92 spent, $1,346.88 on hand, $86.72 debt
Current 28th Ward Alder Michael Gras, October Report, Alder- None. July 2022, Alder- $750 raised, $1,752.01 spent, $460.66 on hand, $6,779.27 debt

New 10th Ward
Current 26th Ward Alder Shameem Clark Hubbard, October 2022 Report, Alder- $8,935 raised, $9,159.84 spent (including golf cart for “events and canvassing), $3,548.49 on hand, $7,952.66 debt

New 11th Ward
Current 19th Ward Alder Marlene Davis, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity (filed late). July 2021 Report, Alder- $13,440 on hand, $0 debt
Current 21st Ward Alder Laura Keys, October 2022 Report, Alder- $0 raised, $0 spent, $229.53 on hand, $0 debt. Affiliated PAC 21st Ward Organization, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. April 2021 Report, Alder- $1,248.58 on hand, $0 debt

New 12th Ward
Current 1st Ward Alder Sharon Tyus, October 2022 Report, Alder- None. July 2021 Report, Alder- $21,257 on hand, $24,978.41 debt
Current 12th Ward Alder Dwinderlin Evans, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. January 2022 Report, Alder- $0 raised, $565 spent, $1,077 on hand, $0 debt
Current 18th Ward Alder Jesse Todd, October 2022 Report- Limited Activity. March 2019 Report, Alder- $42.57 on hand, $0 debt

New 13th Ward
Current 2nd Ward Alder Lisa Middlebrook, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. October 2021 Report, Alder- $100 on hand, $0 debt
Current 22nd Ward Alder Norma J Walker, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. September 2022 Report, Alder- $3,620 raised, $6,277.87 spent, $1,799.37 on hand, $2,000 debt
Current 27th Ward Alder Pamela Boyd, October 2022 Report, Alder- $2,956.04 raised, $340 spent, $4,002.21 on hand, $0 debt

New 14th Ward
Current 3rd Ward Alder Brandon Bosley, October 2022 Report, Alder- Limited Activity. April 2021 Report, Alder- $100 on hand, $0 debt
Current 5th Ward Alder James A Page Jr, October 2022 Report, Alder- $396.67 raised, $2,084.73 spent (mostly to Meyers Okohson Political Consulting), $2,326.65 on hand, $1,000 debt