I made a Sunshine request for records relating to communications among members of the St. Louis Community Mobility Committee created by Resolution 233 in 2020. It appears that one or more voting members believe the Committee is not subject to Sunshine Laws and desire the Committee to detach itself from the City of St. Louis in order to not be subject to Sunshine Laws.
The request was made for emails over the last weekend and specific to one nonvoting member of the Community Mobility Committee. That was necessary because of the City’s not helpful by design Sunshine Portal. The Portal only acknowledges certain departments and agencies for document requests and one at a time. The Portal does not acknowledge the Committee.
The Community Mobility Committee uses a Google Group for communication between members, both voting and nonvoting members. A number of City employees are nonvoting members of the Committee or otherwise included in the Google Group, including but not limited to former Alder Christine Ingrassia, now Director or Operations, Board of Alders President Megan Green; John P. Kohler, P.E., Planning and Programming Manager; Grace Kyung, Senior Strategic Initiatives Manager for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones; Andrew Lackey, Deputy Commissioner, Office of the Disabled; former Alder Scott Ogilivie, now the Program Manager for Complete Streets at City’s Planning and Urban Development Agency; Betherny Williams, Director, Department of Streets; Jamie Wilson, P.E., Traffic Commissioner.
I chose to make a request for records received by Ogilivie. Random choice.
Pleased to share that there has been a Transparency Win regarding St. Louis City’s Board of Estimate & Apportionment– Mayor, Comptroller, Board of Alders President.
The hearing began with Mayor Tishaura Jones presenting on her office’s budget. Then it was time for public testimony. But Budget Chair Cara Spencer announced a recess. People who had taken time off from work to make their voice heard were told they would have to wait 39 minutes.
When the Budget Committee reconvened, Alders heard in person public testimony. Then it was time for testimony by Zoom. It was Gerry’s turn. I’m not sure how many others had planned to testify via Zoom.
But Gerry was not allowed to speak. No Zoom testimony was taken. No explanation was given. It was yet another Sunshine Fail, Transparency Fail at City Hall.
Gerry was told he could submit comments by email. He was angry, and rightfully so, but he hurridly transformed his notes for three minutes of testimony into written, expanded comments.
Since Gerry’s testimony is not available as a part of the online public record, and while the Budget Committee Chair may not be interested in what he has to say, others may be interested. I asked him if I could publish his testimony on my blog and he agreed. I have made a few edits for formatting purposes and add links.
Below is Gerry’s testimony on 2025 Budget for City of St. Louis which he submitted by email.
———-
Gerry Connolly. 6th Ward resident 38xx Botanical Ave St. Louis, MO 63110
June 5, 2024
Honorable members of the Budget and Public Employees Committee,
I had planned to provide this testimony via Zoom at today’s Budget Committee meeting. However, due to the fact the committee failed to take any public testimony today via Zoom, I am submitting my comments in writing.
Public Testimony in opposition to Board Bill 1
I am testifying against Board Bill 1. The City should allocate financial resources from within the budget as recommended by the Board of E and A necessary to implement the policy recommendations described in items 1 through 7 below.
1) Fix the City’s “Sunshine portal, The Public Records Center, which hasn’t been consistently functional for 6 months. Make the responsive records of all city government bodies available in the Public Records Archive. The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) currently do not make records available to the general public in the Public Records Archive. Only requesters may view responsive records via their portal user accounts.There may be additional City entities that do not make records available to the general public.
2) Open government and transparency must be consistent across city government. The Board of Aldermen (BOA) must update the decade old transparency ordinance:
Post meeting recordings to Youtube for government entities currently missing. These include the Airport Commission, Affordable Housing Commission, Mental Health Board and Senior Fund.
Standardization of meeting notices, both physical and online. The official agenda (not just the text) must include the resolutions to be voted upon. The meeting packet must include the draft minutes of prior meetings, if applicable. All other documents utilized during a meeting should be posted online. The BOA’s posting of many budget presentations on the BB 1 webpage should serve as a model for all departments.
The following city bodies do not operate consistently in a transparent manner: Board of Estimate and Apportionment (E and A); Charter Commission, Reparations Commission and Detention Facilities Oversight Board. The persistent violation of Missouri Sunshine Law by the Board of E and A is cause for alarm. The Board of Aldermen’s silence on the Sunshine violations by the Board of E and A has been noted.
3) Continue to reform of how development incentives are awarded. Ordinance 71620 was a step forward in the system for awarding tax breaks to development projects. However Ordinance 71620 (BB 64 in the 2022-23 BOA session) had major flaws that subsequent legislation has only addressed in part (See BB 98 and BB 236 in the 2023-24 BOA session). More changes to the ordinance are needed. All provisions in Ordinance 71620 must be enforced by the BOA. SLDC did not follow the mandated procedures for the 15 projects, with development costs over $10 Million, that were approved in the 2023-24 BOA session. The non-compliance included a failure to consult St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) and affected tax districts. Every effort must be made to shield SLPS from the impact of tax breaks.
4) All development incentives must be authorized by an ordinance approved by the BOA. Incentives that presently do not require approval by ordinance include, but are not limited to:
1. Bond issuances authorized by the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA), Planned Industrial Expansion Authority (PIEA), Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and Port Authority.
2. Certain tax abatements authorized by the Port Authority Commission (PA) and Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board (EEZB).
3. New Markets Tax Credit (NTMC) program, currently authorized by the SLDC board of directors.
5) The Land Reutilization Authority’s lot sales policy must be modified. In 2023, the Land Reutilization Authority adopted new sales policies for LRA-owned property, per the recommendation of SLDC staff. In the category of sale of lots for the purpose of building one home, a lot whose area is less than 4,000 sq. ft. is ineligible for sale under the new policy. LRA eliminated the opportunity to provide housing, strengthen the fabric of a neighborhood and grow the city’s tax base.
The LRA sales policy must be modified in order to restore the ability of homebuilders to purchase lots under 4,000 sq. ft. and construct much-needed housing.
The Jones administration, SLDC and the Community Development Agency (CDA) frequently cite the Economic Justice Action Plan (EJAP) as a guide for City policy and program spending. SLDC included citations from the Economic Justice Action Plan (EJAP) in the LRA board resolution adopting the new sales policies.
It is noteworthy that the EJAP planning process, conducted by consultants to SLDC, did not include the participation of the general public or Board of Aldermen. Only narrowly focussed public outreach was performed.
I have not heard an explanation of the rationale behind the new sales policy in any setting- SLDC website, development board meetings or at BOA committee meetings. The BOA should investigate this matter.
6) All fee revenues from SLDC’s Sales Tax Exemption Fund should be transferred to the City’s General Fund and included in the annual appropriation to the Affordable Housing Commission
7) Eight reforms for the BOA to enactfor Local Taxing Districts (LTDs). It is possible thatchanges to Missouri law will be necessary in order to accomplish some of the recommendations.
1. The budgets of the 100 plus LTDs in the City likely exceed $50 Million with taxes and/or special assessments imposed on the public. The vast majority of LTDs operate routinely in violation of Missouri Sunshine law. Enact all recommendations of the 2019 Missouri Auditor’s report on LTDs. Read the audit report here (See pages 9 – 18 for recommendations)
2. Place all policing duties funded by LTDs under the command of SLMPD.
3. Extend community oversight of surveillance technology to all LTDs.
4. A representative of the following must be appointed to the board of all single site LTDs: Mayor, Board of Aldermen and Comptroller.
5. Prohibit developers from controlling single site districts.
6. Document all City of St. Louis resources allocated to the LTDs. Such resources include:
(i) City funds expended on projects of the LTDs. (ii) City staff attending LTD meetings. (iii) Work performed by City staff to support the activities of LTDs. (Examples of City staff: SLMPD personnel when working for the City; Neighborhood Improvement Specialists).
7. Establish robust Conflicts of Interest regulations for people serving on the boards and committees of LTDs.
8. Establish a limit on the number of LTD boards on which one person can serve. (Some individuals serve at least five LTD boards).
I would be happy to discuss the above recommendations by phone, in-person or at a committee meeting. My contact information is below.
Thank you for your consideration.
Gerry Connolly
cc Honorable members of the Board of Aldermen President Megan Green Clerk Terry Kennedy Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Comptroller Darlene Green Budget Director Paul Payne
The Charter Commission has failed to be transparent at the level needed for Charter reform. It posts meeting materials long after meetings, sits on Minutes until City Counselor edits, the Minutes often are at odds with what actually happened, there are no Minutes for the three Workgroups’ meetings, meetings have gone into Closed Session for sketchy reasons, and other issues.
I personally like a number of people involved with the Commission. They are well-meaning but it’s a rigged process, a hot mess. The spreadsheet may give you an idea of the agenda, which must go before voters to be adopted but the devil is in the details. In this case, the details will be written by City Counselor Sheena Hamilton, who works for Mayor Tishaura Jones.
The Commission is composed of voting members and nonvoting members.Voting: Briana Bobo, Anna Crosslin, David Dwight IV, Chris Grant, Scott Intagliata, Dr. Jazzmine Nolan-Echols, Travis Sheridan. Non-Voting: Director of Personnel Sonja Gray (Mayor Jones appointee), City Counselor Sheena Hamilton, former State Senator Jake Hummel (Missouri AFL-CIO President)Christine Ingrassia (Board President Megan Green’s Director of Operations), Casey Millburg (Mayor Jones’ Policy Director), 5th Ward Alder Joe Vollmer.
I am chopping up the spreadsheet and adding pape by page as images, instead of importing the word salad, hard on the eyes spreadsheet, because I am not paying to upgrade this site for spreadsheets and videos.
Note1: Many people confuse the Charter with the City Code: Ordinances, Laws. The Charter is the City’s constitution. The Code is City’s version of Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo).
Note2: St. Louis City has a Strong Mayor system of government. Many people are confused about this because of propaganda by past charter reform efforts. Could the position be made stronger? Sure. A Weak Mayor system is usually associated with City Managers and ribbon cutting mayors. St. Louis City has had many weak mayors but that’s not the same as a Weak Mayor system.
An interesting development in enforcement of Missouri’s Sunshine Law happened last week in a city of 6,344 in southwest Missouri. It could impact government entities in St. Louis City, including the powerful Board of Estimate and Apportionment (E&A: Mayor, Comptroller, Board of Alders President).
That’s potentially huge because many St. Louis City special tax districts, agencies, and even the Board of E&A routinely use generic categories for Agendas.
As examples, Soulard Special Business District, a taxing district to fund private police and surveillance, and Soulard Community Improvement District, a taxing district to fund improvements with $1.8 Million dollars banked, both use skeleton agendas. They also have an atrocious record of posting late notices or wrong meeting location to the City’s online public meetings calendar.
The significance of E&A failing to provide specifics in their Agendas was highlighted recently when E&A approved more funding for the controversial ShotSpotter contract without public notice.
For twenty years, it has been standard practice of E&A to post meeting notices and agendas to the City’s Public Meetings Calendar. The Agenda for the December 20, 2023 E&A Meeting, like most meetings, included:
“Request from the Comptroller’s Office for approval of contracts and leases for various City departments as listed on Exhibit A.”
“Request from the Comptroller’s Office for approval of intradepartmental and interdepartmental transfers from various City departments as listed on Exhibit B.”
“Request from the Comptroller’s Office for approval of transfers between projects for Capital Improvement Funds listed on Exhibit C.”
But no Exhibits, the meat and potatoes of what they’re voting on, is available online for public inspection.
In the case of the December 20 Agenda, ShotSpotter was in Exhibit A, Item 17, hidden from the public. There was no opportunity for the public to contact E&A with concerns.
There was no debate on the ShotSpotter amendment. It was adopted on a 2-1 vote. Mayor Tishaura Jones and Comptroller Darlene Green voted yes; Board President Megan Green voted no.
We can see from the YouTube video that Board President Green made a motion to separate ShotSpotter from the rest of the Agenda for the vote. She gave no reason why at the meeting. But, as the meeting ended, 7 minutes after starting, Green Tweeted about her vote against ShotSpotter. A graphic had been prepared in advance.
Why didn’t Green share the ShotSpotter Exhibit item with the public, Privacy Watch STL coalition, etc. before the meeting? That’s a good question.
Public access to the Portal’s Public Records Archives is limited to when it is functioning, which is often not the case. It’s been down most of today while I’ve been trying to write this. You have to be persistent when filing a Sunshine request. Try in the morning. Try again in the afternoon. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Big question is why aren’t E&A Exhibits posted with the Agendas? Why the secrecy?
Maybe it’s time for the AG to look at how government entities in St. Louis City comply (or don’t) with Missouri’s Sunshine Law.
It’s definitely time for St. Louis City to have a strong municipal Sunshine Law in the Charter (via amendment by Charter Commission or otherwise) or via ordinance by Board of Alders.
Candidate filing begins February 27th in Missouri for the August 6th Primary Election for county offices, General Assembly, Statewide offices, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and political party committeepeople. Filing ends March 26th. Candidate Filing Information Candidate Qualifications
Circuit Attorney (four year term, no Term Limit): Gabe Gore, appointed in May 2023 by Governor Mike Parson to fill vacancy of Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner who resigned Sheriff (four year term, no Term Limit): Vernon Betts– elected 2016, 2020 Treasurer (four year term, no Term Limit): Adam Layne- appointed April 2021 by Mayor Tishaura Jones to fill out her term as Treasurer after her election as Mayor
Missouri Senate (Term Limit of two four-year terms) 5th District: accused rapist Steven Roberts Jr.- elected 2020 Missouri House of Representatives (Term Limit of four two-year terms) 66th District, mostly St. Louis County: Marlene Terry- elected 2020, 2022 76th District: Marlon Anderson- elected 2020, 2022 77th District: Kimberly-Ann Collins- elected 2020, 2022 78th District: Vacancy due to resignation of Rasheen Aldridge after his election as Alder 79th District: LaKeySha Bosley- elected 2018, 2020, 2022 80th District: Peter Meredith- elected 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, Term Limited 81st District: Steve Butz- elected 2018, 2020, 2022, he is the only openly anti-abortion legislator from St. Louis City 82nd District: Donna Baringer- elected 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, Term Limited 83rd District, mostly St. Louis County: Sarah Unsicker– elected 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, Term Limited 84th District: Del Taylor- elected 2022
August 6th is also when political parties elect one Committeeman and one Committeewoman from each of the City’s fourteen wards to serve on party Central Committees. This will be the first such election since wards were reduced to 14 from 28.
Deadline for filing a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent for November 5th General Election is October 25th. A Write-in Candidate’s name does not appear on the printed ballot nor is there is list of Write-In Candidates posted at polling places. An unsuccessful candidate in the 2024 Primary Election may not file as Write-In Candidate for the same office in 2024 General Election. Write-in votes are counted only for the candidates who have filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate. Write-in Candidate Information Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent for Non-Federal Office
Where to file, nominating petitions, Presidential Caucus/Primary, more, have been added.
Filing Begins February 27, 2024 and ends March 26, 2024 for the following offices affecting St. Louis City…
St. Louis City County Offices: Circuit Attorney, Sheriff, and Treasurer.
State legislative offices: all Missouri House seats and 5th District Missouri Senate (currently held by accused rapist Steve Roberts Jr.)
Statewide offices: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General
Federal offices: U.S. President, one U.S. Senate seat, and all U.S. House seats including 1st District seat, currently held by Cori Bush. I have supported Cori since her first run for public office, donate to her campaign, so hell yeah I am going to promote her here.
We don’t have to worry about former 7th Ward Alder Jack Coatar running for St. Louis City Circuit Attorney in 2024. He will just peddle his former elected office experience and connections at Spencer Fane.
The account is identified for ‘Citywide Office City of St. Louis.’ He has to declare that he’s running for something, even generically, to maintain the committee and spend down the money on subscriptions and food. He might be waiting for Alder Cara Spencer to screw up and run in New 8th Ward, but Circuit Attorney definitely out.
In his April and amended MEC reports, Coatar’s committee shows contributions returned: $2,500 from Vinson One LLC and $2,500 from Ice House Master. Vinson One is connected to corporate welfare aficionado, Lux Living developer, slumlord, Vic Alston. Ice House “Master” is not found in the Missouri Secretary of State’s Business Search. It’s a good guess this is an account associated with the Ice House development in Soulard, Coatar’s home neighborhood. The Ice House and adjacent Steelyards (75% tax abatement for 10 years, sales tax exemption on construction materials, which Coatar sponsored), were projects by Alston and Sid Chakraverty, his brother, sold shortly after completion and now operate under the name Steelyard Apartments.
Per Articles of Incorporation, in the event the organization dissolves, remaining funds are to go to a “an organization with a similar purpose, or to The Backstoppers Inc police officers and firefighters fund.” I could not find any other information on the nonprofit other than the Incorporation.
Sam Gladney serves as a Commissioner on Bi-State Development Agency, the St. Louis area’s anti-bus, awful public transit agency. Gladney worked with lobbyist Jane Dueker, Michael Kelley of political consultant Kelley Group, and others on the short lived dark money Rebuild Saint Louis effort for airport privatization.
Current Circuit Attorney Gabriel Gore has not filed a committee with MEC. Appointed in May by Governor Mike Parson to the fill the vacancy after resignation of Circuit Attorney Kim Gardener, Gore has not ruled out running for the office. Gore previously practiced law at Dowd Bennett, where former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth and former Governor Jay Nixon hang their hats. Gore served on the Ferguson Commission (along with now 14th Ward Alder Rasheen Aldridge), appointed by Nixon, and worked with Danforth on his Waco Commission.
Former Circuit Attorney Kim Gardener is obviously not running. Her MEC account says she is, but that’s a formality to spend down $98,176.74. Some good things could be done with that money.
Roberts Jr.’s July Report shows only one contribution, $1,000 in May from the STL Democratic Coalition, a political action committee (legal money laundry), or otherwise he would not have been able to pay bills. He has a scant $253.42 on hand and is $20,000 in debt. In March, his parents donated $1,900, to help keep his failing political career afloat.
State Senator Karla May, a supporter and close ally of accused rapist Roberts Jr., is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. This creates an opportunity for a 2024 slate to help Roberts Jr. I do not yet see a committee filed with Federal Election Commission for her. Other Democratic candidates running for the U.S. Senate seat are Lucas Kunce, a U.S. Senate primary loser in 2022, and St. Louis County Circuit Attorney Wesley Bell.
May’s State Senate MEC committee is delinquent filing her July Report. Her April Report, late, showed $0 contributions, $17,677.56 expenses (including $908.05 in late fees to MEC), $15,145.59 on hand. May is also a Democratic Committeewoman and Chair of the St. Louis Democratic City Central Committee. She has filed Limited Activity reports for her Committeewoman account since 2019.
Former AlderMichael Gras sought the appointment to fill Circuit Attorney vacancy but has not amended his MEC account to reflect candidacy in the 2024 election. He filed Limited Activity quarterly reports for July and April. His April 30 Days After Election Report shows has $2,813 on hand and has $5,167.05 in debt including loans from himself.
Candidate Mueller’s July Report shows $24,975.39 in contributions, including $6,895 in-kind from Dresden Capital, which is Luke Reynolds, owner of Molly’s in Soulard. Mueller has $11,784.25 on hand.
Reynolds serves as Chair of (consistent Transparency Fail) Soulard Special Business District, a property tax district that pays for private policing, and is Vice-Chair of Soulard Community Improvement District, a sales tax special district (and another consistent Transparency Fail).
The law firm Rogers, Sevastino, Bante raised $2,250 for Mueller. John P. Rogers of the firm is Luke Reynolds’s lawyer.
Attorney Terence Niehoff gave $500 to Mueller. He was treasurer for Jack PAC. His office is in Soulard. There’s another $1,000 in Soulard-related contributions, all former donors to Coatar. Political consultant Michael Kelley gave $250 to Mueller.
Coatar is not running for Circuit Attorney. Mueller is inheriting supporters from him.
This blog’s Profile page for St. Louis City’s New 2nd Wardhas been updated with General Election results (all candidates and ballot issues) and post-election campaign finance reports filed with Missouri Ethics Commission.
You’ll notice that the winning Alder candidate is now listed under Public Officials Residing In New 2nd Ward and defeated candidate information has been moved toward bottom of the page. Eventually, the General and Primary Election info will move above those.
Also have added link to Neighborhoods in the new ward.
Winner of the April 4th Alder election in New 2nd Ward is U.S. Bank community development banker Tom Oldenburg, former 16th Ward Alder. Oldenburg came in first during the three candidate Primary and in the General Election earned 2,205 votes (59.76%).
Oldenburg filed one report in April. He raised another $10,565.26 including $4,400 from Labor Unions and $1,000 from Commerce Bank, $1,000 from attorney Jerry Schlichter, $500 each from Associated General Contractors and Missouri Restaurant Association, and $250 each from St. Louis Police Leadership Organization (sergeants and above) and former Mayor Lyda Krewson. He spent another $31,130 including $21,124.66 to Kelley Group/Show Me Victories. He has $18,857 on hand and $0 debt.
Oldenburg’s General Election opponent, former police officer Phill Menendez, received no contributions from police groups. He earned 1,439 votes (39.00%) in the General Election. His April MEC report shows another $1,012.55 raised and $1,456.95 spent, including $185.50 raised from a raffle at The Christy that he paid $434.71 for catering. He has $2,605.39 on hand and $0 debt.
Katie Bellis, the third candidate for 2nd Ward Alder, the candidate who did not make it to the General Election, terminated her campaign committee this month. She spent $11,237.24, including $4,000 owed Dani Revord, $1,250 for campaign management by Morgan Lowe, and $1,287.50 to We Are Novella for graphic design.
82nd District State Rep. Donna Baringer, a resident of St. Louis Hills Neighborhood of New 2nd Ward and former 16th Ward Alder, filed an April Report showing $160 raised; $2,229 spent; $62,494.94 on hand; $0 debt. Baringer is term limited and cannot run in 2024. What to do with that campaign war chest?
Baringer’s next run would probably be citywide in 2024 for a county office, not a return to Board of Alders. It makes little sense financially now for Oldenburg to swap the new $72,000 municipal legislative salary for a $35,915 state legislative salary. New 2nd Ward Regular Democratic Organization filed a hot mess for an April Report. They deleted their beginning balance, the previous $1,589.07 on hand, for new cycle. Just made it disappear. They raised $772 plus reported $636.94 In-Kind from Alder Oldenburg’s campaign committee. Then, under Miscellaneous Receipts, they reported the $1,117.07 transferred from old 16th Ward Democratic Organization and already reported by them in January. Old 14th Ward Democratic Organization filed a Limited Activity Report for April.
The Republicans have no new ward organization in New 2nd Ward nor old ward organizations in Old 14th or 16th Wards.
Old 14th Ward Committeeman Matt Bell and Old 16th Ward Democratic Committeeman Steve Lenivy (also treasurer for St. Louis Democratic City Central Committee) both filed Limited Activity Reports. Both live in the Southampton Neighborhood in New 5th Ward.
This blog’s Profile page for St. Louis City’s New 1st Wardhas been updated with General Election results (all candidates and ballot issues) and late, amended, and post-election campaign finance reports filed with Missouri Ethics Commission.
You’ll notice that the winning Alder candidate is now listed under Public Officials Residing In New 1st Ward and defeated candidate information has been moved toward bottom of the page. Eventually, the General and Primary Election info will move above those.
Also have added link to Neighborhoods in the new ward.
Winner of the April 4th Alder election in New 1st Ward is Anne Schweitzer, former 13th Ward Alder. Alder Schweitzer came in first during the three candidate Primary and earned 1,614 votes (52.02%) in the General Election.
Schweitzer filed three reports and one amended report in April. She raised $5,915 including $3,450 from Labor Unions and $500 from Pro Choice Missouri. She spent $12,437, most of it to Bouchard Gold Communications, Austin, Texas. She has $14,101.61 on hand and no debt.
Schweitzer’s General Election opponent, Deputy Sheriff Tony Kirchner, received 1,472 votes (47.4%). He filed an April Quarterly Report showing $5,200 raised, including $2,600 from Schnuck Markets’ Todd Schnuck and $2,600 from Lawyers of TIF Husch Blackwell. He spent $12,152.86 including $3,000 to G3 Strategies, run by Greg Christian, Public Information Officer at the City Sheriff’s Department and former 15th Ward Democratic Committeeman. He has $10,912.53 on hand and $2,000 debt. Look for him to file for office again.
Matthew E. Kotraba, the third candidate for 1st Ward Alder, the candidate who did not make it to the General Election, terminated his campaign committee and returned $835.94 to donors.
City Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly, a resident of New 1st Ward and Boulevard Heights Neighborhood, is sitting on a war chest of $446,845.03. His April Report shows his campaign account earned $718.38 for the quarter. Daly spent $6,605.63 , $3,065.26 on food and beverages, often identified on the report as “entertainment,” including $1,096.83 atBartolino’s South, $879.43 at four restaurants in Florida, $294.56 at Sam’s Club, and his committee made a $250 donation to the Prop C Charter Commission campaign.
81st District State Rep. Steve Butz, a resident of the Holly Hills Neighborhood of New 1st Ward, filed a, April Report showing no new contributions and $66,332.22 on hand, $32,500 debt. There was a rumor on Spoutible that Butz wanted to run against Mayor Tishaura Jones.
New 1st Ward still has no Democratic or Republican ward organizations (political action committee) filed with Missouri Ethics Commission.
Old 12th Ward Regular Democratic Organization filed a Limited Activity Report for April. This is Collector Daly’s ward PAC. In January, it had $833.47 on hand.
Old 13th Ward Regular Democratic Club, this is Old 13th Ward Democratic Committeeman Fred Wessels ward PAC, reported a $100 contribution from AFT Local 420 and $4,109.37 on hand.
The only Democratic committeeperson residing in New 1st Ward with a campaign committee filed with MEC, besides Collector Daly (12th Ward Committeeman), is Old 13th Ward Committeeman Fred Wessels, Holly Hills Neighborhood. Wessels is a formerState Rep,former13th Ward Alder, and former candidate for City Treasurer (the year Tishaura Jones, now Mayor, ran and won the Treasurer’s race). He reported no money raised or spent but has $1,477.45 on hand and no debt.
Former 13th Ward Alder Bill Stephens did not file an April Report. His campaign committee account at MEC says that he is running for State Rep 81st District in 2024 Democratic Primary.
Philomena Arnowitz, widow of the late Larry Arnowitz, former 13th Ward Alder, filed a lot of campaign reports- all Limited Activity- to get the account into compliance. The last report that wasn’t Limited Activity was July 2020 with $0 raised, $0 spent, $21,745.06 on hand, $0 debt.
The Great State of St. Louis 