St. Louis City Alder Candidate Filing Ends Jan 3rd

Updated Thursday, 01/02/2025, with additional candidate filed in 11th Ward, the incumbent Alder.

Updated Monday, 12/30/2024, with additional candidate filed in 7th Ward.

Seven Alder seats in St. Louis City, the odd numbered wards, are up for election this Spring. Even numbered wards will be elected in 2027.

Filing began November 25th and ends January 3rd. Filing for Alder is done at St. Louis City Board of Election Commissioners in Downtown.

The Primary Election is March 3rd and the General Election is April 8th. This will be the second election that Alders are elected by nonpartisan ballot with the top two Primary winners going on to General Election. In 2023, all 14 Alders were elected to two year or four year terms. This is the election for four year terms in 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, and 13th Wards.

Alder Salary is $72,000. That may seem like a full time job salary but in St. Louis City you can be elected an Alder and still own businesses, be a bank Vice President like 2nd Ward Alder Tom Oldenburg, be a landlord for apartments or Airbnbs.

Qualifications to run for Alder
√ Age: at least 25 years
√ City Resident: at least 3 years
√ Resident of Ward: at least 1 year
√ City Taxpayer: at least 2 years
√ U.S. Citizen: at least 5 years
√ Shall not have been convicted of malfeasance in office, bribery or other corrupt practice or crime

Requirements to file for Alder
√ Filing Fee: 1% of Salary (current salary is $72,000)
√ Nominating Petition
√ Tax Clearance: by Collector of Revenue for personal property, real estate, earnings taxes + water-trash bills
√ Compliance with all Campaign Finance Laws

Candidates Filed as of January 2nd

First Ward

Filed: Anne Schweitzer
Incumbent Voting Records- Board Bills
Campaign Website
Occupation: Alder; campaign consultant at Public Eye; 2018 consultant for election of State Rep. Steve Butz; owner of now dissolved nonprofit Rumble Cats Rescue
Residence: Boulevard Heights
Residence Tax Abated: No
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report: $26,017.63 on hand, no debts. Donors of Note: $750 Richard Callow, Public Eye owner; $500 City Collector of Revenue Gregg Daly; $500 State Rep. Steve Butz; $500 Fred Wessels, former State Rep and former Alder; $250 Matt Villa, Villa Lighting COO and former Alder; $100 Firefighters Local #73; $100 Sarah Martin, lobbyist and former Alder; $50 Jimmy Lappe, Mo AFL CIO program director and former Alder

Filed: Anthony M. “Tony” Kirchner
Campaign Website
Occupation: former Deputy Sheriff; former U.S. Navy
Residence: Bevo
Residence Tax Abated: No
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report: Limited Activity. Committee filed 09/13/2024.

Notes
1st Ward 2023 Primary Election: Anne Schweitzer 1,173; Tony Kirchner 1,088; Matt Kotraba 409
1st Ward 2023 General Election: Anne Schweitzer 1,614; Tony Kirchner 1,472
In that election, Kirchner was endorsed by former Sheriffs Vernon Betts and Jim Murphy, former Alder Jack Coatar, St. Louis Police Officers Association
13th Ward 2021 Primary Election: Anne Schweitzer 1318; Beth Murphy 744
13th Ward 2021 General Election: Anne Schweitzer 1497; Beth Murphy 885

Third Ward

Filed: Shane Cohn
Incumbent Voting Records- Board Bills
Campaign website (have not found one)
Occupation: Alder; owner of 4664 Tennessee LLC, investment and redevelopment of real estate
Residence: Dutchtown
Residence Tax Abated: No
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report: $14,505.14 on hand, no debt. Donors of Note: $2,600 South Side Property LLC; $500 IBEW; $500 Jon Chen, Urban Eats owner; $500 Associated General Contractors of Mo PAC; $250 Matthew McBride, corporate welfare attorney, serves on many economic development boards; $150 Sean Spencer, Tower Grove CDC executive director; $102 Richard Callow, Public Eye owner; $100 Scott Intagliata, Charter Commission secretary and Unico + other businesses owner. Same report was filed by mistake for 25th Ward Regular Democratic Club.
Candidate MEC PAC: STL Neighbors United for Progress PAC
October 2024 Report: Committee created 11/05/2024, no reports yet

Filed: Inez M. Bordeaux
Campaign website
Occupation: former Deputy Director of Community Collaborations, ArchCity Defenders; owner of Highfalutin LLC
Residence: Mount Pleasant
Residence Tax Abated: No
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report. Committee created 11/19/2024, no reports yet

Filed: Dallas Nicole Adams
Campaign website
Occupation: former Communications Manager for Metropolitan Parks & Recreation District (tax district dba Great Rivers Greenway, had a seat via job on Seed St. Louis Board, which moved to Delmar Divine)
Residence: Dutchtown
Residence Tax Abated: No
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report. Committee created 12/02/2024, no reports yet

Notes
3rd Ward 2023 Primary Election: Shane Cohn 410, no opponent
3rd Ward 2023 General Election: Shane Cohn 827, no opponent
25th Ward 2017 Primary Election: Shane Cohn 858, no opponent
25th Ward 2017 General Election: Shane Cohn 981, no opponent

5th Ward

Incumbent NOT Running: Joseph “Joe” Vollmer, has endorsed Matthew Devoti
Incumbent Voting Records- Board Bills
Campaign website
Occupation: owner of Milo’s Bocce Garden; co-owner TLJ Investments (funeral home); owner of TLSJ (commercial real estate); landlord
Residence: The Hill
Residence Tax Abated: No
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report. $3,105 on hand; no debt. No contributions received for period.

Filed: Matthew Devoti
Campaign website
Occupation: personal injury attorney; serves on 22nd Circuit Judicial Commission
Residence: The Hill
Residence Tax Abated: Yes
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report. $4,996.66; no debt. Donors of Note: $2,600 Jim Heine, retiree in Boerne TX; $1,000 Bonnie Devoti, candidate’s mother

Notes
5th Ward 2023 Primary Election: Joe Vollmer 1,533; Helen Petty 990
5th Ward 2023 General Election: Joe Vollmer 2,177; Helen Petty 1,580
10th Ward 2019 Primary Election: Joe Vollmer 968; Pat Hickey 623
10th Ward 2019 General Election: Joe Vollmer 700

7th Ward

Filed: Alisha Sonnier
Incumbent Voting Records- Board Bills
Campaign Website
Residence: Tower Grove East
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: former mental health advocate at Cigna; campaign staffer, 2022 paid total of $1,975 as “Political Director” by Board President Megan Green’s candidate committee; also paid $1,000 on 04/04/2023 (general election day, the day Sonnier was elected Alder) for “Win bonus” by Board President Megan Green’s candidate committee
Other Politics: 2021-23 St. Louis City School Board, appointed by Mayor Tishaura Jones
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report. $2,601.44 on hand; no debt. Donors of Note: $500 Kelvin Adams, president of St. Louis Community Foundation and former Superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools; $250 Shilpa Patel, Hotel Avyan/real estate; $200 total Scott Intagliata, Charter Commission secretary and Unico + other businesses owner; $100 Richard Callow, Public Eye owner

Filed: Cedric L. Redmon Jr
Campaign Website
Residence: Benton Park West; his Linkedin account says he is in Florissant
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: musician; 2020-2021 spy plane advocate, may have lobbied for pay without registering as lobbyist
Others Politics: 2023 candidate for Alder; 2019 candidate for 6th Ward Alder, one of two candidates
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report: No committee created yet

Notes
7th Ward 2023 Primary Election: Alisha Sonnier 1,108; J.P. Mitchom 731; Cedric Redmon 643
7th Ward 2023 General Election: Alisha Sonnier 1,470 ; J.P. Mitchom 933
6th Ward 2019 Primary Election: Christine Ingrassia 930; Cedric Redmon 412; Debra Carnahan 590; Henry Gray 179
6th Ward 2019 General Election: Christine Ingrassia 969; Michael Hebron 199

9th Ward

Filed: Michael Browning
Incumbent Voting Records- Board Bills
Campaign Website
Residence: Forest Park Southeast
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: former senior grant specialist at Washington University School of Medicine (but still identified as employed by Washington University on some but not all donations he made in 2024); former vice president of Forest Park Southwest Neighborhood Association
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report. $2,601.44 on hand, no debt. Donors of Note: $500 Associated General Contractors of Mo PAC; $250 Sean Spencer, Tower Grove CDC executive director; $200 Tom Brackman, retired attorney, serves on Waterman Lake tax district; $180 Karen Presley Karabell, SF Shannon partner (vacation & long-term rentals); $100 Katharyn Davis, real estate attorney; $100 Richard Callow, Public Eye owner

Notes
9th Ward 2023 Primary Election: Michael Browning 1,007; former 17th Ward Alder Tina Pihl 876; former 28th Ward Alder Michael Gras 868 (election following redistricting with ward consolidation, from 28 wards to 14)
9th Ward 2023 General Election: Michael Browning 1,773; former 17th Ward Alder Tina Pihl 1,027

11th Ward

Filed: Laura Keys
Incumbent Voting Records- Board Bills
Campaign Website
Residence: O’Fallon
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: Alder; landlord; owner Able Hands In-Home Health Services of Missouri LLC; owner Missouri DNA & Drug Testing Centers, LLC; owner Secure Identity Fingerprinting LLC; owner St. Louis Fingerprints LLC; owner Residential Maid Service LLC
Candidate MEC Committee:
December 2024 Report: $1,381.97 on hand, no debt. $621.13 total in reimbursements to James Keyes, husband
October 2024 Report: $3,729.50 on hand, no debt. Donor of Note: $2,000 from Ring the Bell PAC (PAC not filed with MEC) @ Crown Mart, 4501 Union

Filed: Melinda L. Long
Campaign Website (have not found one)
Residence: O’Fallon
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: former Alder 2001-2002; insurance agent; owner United Health, Accident & Life (UHAL) LLC Ins. Agency; The O’Fallon Block Link LLC; administratively dissolved Fellowship Foundation Organization
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report: No committee created yet

Filed: Rebecca I. McLoud
Campaign Website (have not found one)
Residence: O’Fallon
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: insurance agent; former Board Secretary, O’Fallon Community Developing Organization
Candidate MEC Committee
October 2024 Report: No committee created yet

Notes
11th Ward 2023 Primary Election: Laura Keys 568; Carla Wright 312
11th Ward 2023 General Election: Laura Keys 782; Carla Wright 335
21st Ward 2017 Primary Election: John Collins-Muhammad 812; Laura Keys 783; Marlene Buckley 227
21st Ward 2017 General Election: John Collins-Muhammad 1406; Marty Spikener 107

13th Ward

Filed: Pamela Boyd
Incumbent Voting Records- Board Bills
Campaign Website
Residence: Walnut Park West
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: Alder; was or is certified dietary manager at The Valley Stonebridge Community skilled nursing facility
Candidate MEC Committee:
October 2024 Report. $5,625.73 on hand; no debt. No itemized donors this period.

Notes
13th Ward 2023 Primary Election: Pamela Boyd 751; Norma Walker 506; former Alder Lisa Middlebrook 390
13th Ward 2023 General Election: Pamela Boyd 984; Norma Walker 839
27th Ward 2017 Primary Election: Pam Boyd, 800; Keena Carter 635; Ciera Simril 228
27th Ward 2017 General Election: Pam Boyd 1280; Antree Spikener 117

Post-Election New 2nd Ward Profile Update

2nd Ward Alder Tom Oldenburg, City of St. Louis

This blog’s Profile page for St. Louis City’s New 2nd Ward has 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.

In addition to the contribution from the Police Leadership group, Oldenburg accepted $1,000 from St. Louis Police Officers Association in January.

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.

Ward Profiles Updated

Old black and white photo of St. Louis City Hall

As St. Louis City election returns come in, you can check your ward to see who legally bought access to the Board President and your new Alder here.

Campaign finance laws are completely useless under a system that allows legal money laundering, and makes conflict of interest laws a moot point, and a culture of ignoring the ethical lapses of leaders in order to feel like part of a winning team.

School Board Candidate Profiles Updated

Benjamin Banneker Elementary, a school for Black children in circa 1900 segregated St. Louis City. Banneker was an African American astronomer, mathematician, and architect, Photo located at Missouri History Museum.

Two St. Louis City Pubic School Board candidate profiles have been updated with 8 Days Out campaign finance report information. Tracy Hykes and Sadie Weiss submitted their required information to Missouri Ethics Commission. You can find their information here.

Hykes and Weiss have been endorsed by American Federal of Teachers Local 420.

Candidate Jaile’Shawn Quinones did not file a committee with MEC.

Next Tuesday, City voters will elect two new School Board Members. No excuse Absentee Voting (what Missouri calls early voting) is currently available at four locations.

Campaign Finance Info Added to Ward Profiles

St. Louis City New Ward Profiles have been updated with 8 Days Before Primary Reports, Amended Reports, and 24 Hour Later Expenditure Reports for Board President, Alders and Alder candidates, School Board Members and School Board candidates, Candidate PACs, Ward PACs, Political Party Committeepeople, other elected officials, former elected officials who still have accounts.

Next up, I will add Primary Election Results.

New campaign finance information will be added as it comes in and I have time or inclination to do so. No one really cares about campaign money unless it is damaging to an opponent, which really blows.

Future campaign finance reports due/may be due:

8 Day Before General Election Report. Close: 3/23/2023. Due: 3/27/2023. Required if Committee made Expenditures (paid or incurred) or made Contributions for the election. Noon Friday, Missouri Ethics Commission will conduct a webinar on how to complete this report.

30 Day After Primary Election Report. Close: 4/1/2023. Due: Due: 4/6/2023. Required if Committee made Expenditures (paid or incurred) or made Contributions for the election. If debt exceeds $1,000, Committee may not file Limited Activity for this report.

Mandatory April Quarterly Report. Close: 3/31/2023. Due: 4/17/2023.

30 Day After Election Report. Close: 4/29/2023. Due: 5/4/2023. Required if Committee made Expenditures (paid or incurred) or made Contributions for the election. If this report is required, it must be filed prior to taking office. If debt exceeds $1,000, Committee may not file Limited Activity for this report.

Additional Campaign Finance Reporting

48 Hour Report of Contribution over $5,000: Due within 48 Hours after receipt.
24 Hour Notice of Late Contribution Over $250 Received Less Than 12 Days Before Election: Due within 24 Hours after receipt.
24 Hour Late Expenditure Report by Continuing Committees (PACs including ward committees): Due within 24 Hours after paid or incurred.

Aldergeddon Campaign Finance Info

The New Ward Profiles include up-to-date campaign finance information for most St. Louis City Alder candidates and ward organizations/political action committees.

Most instead of all because the reports are constantly changing with amended reports and late contribution or late expenditure filings with Missouri Ethics Commission. It’s very hard to keep up with.

There really ought to be a law against raising and spending money the last week of election. Get it done before then. Make that public at least five days before elections. Make it apply to candidates, political action committees, political parties.

Heartbreaking for me, personally, all the candidates taking money from the captains of industry and recipients of corporate welfare known as Civic Progress and Great White Fathers via 21st Century St. Louis PAC. Each accepted $2,600.

New 2nd Ward: 16th Ward Tom Oldenburg

New 3rd Ward: 25th Ward Alder Shane Cohn

New 5th Ward: 10th Ward Alder Joe Vollmer

New 6th Ward: Daniela Velazquez

New 8th Ward: 20th Ward Alder Cara Spencer

New 9th Ward: 28th Ward Alder Michael Gras and Michael Browning

New 11th Ward: 21st Ward Alder Laura Keys

New 13th Ward: 27th Ward Alder Pam Boyd

New 14th Ward: 5th Ward Alder James Page and State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge

Also: Mayor Tishaura Jones, Comptroller Darlene Green, Board President Megan Green

New Ward Profiles Updated

40 Days Before Election campaign finance report information and other committee changes have been added to the New Ward Profiles.

Mostly, these are updates to candidate for Alder and changes to ward committees.

Next up are 8 Days Before Election Reports: Due February 27th. Required only if committee 1) had expenses (paid or incurred) or 2) donated to another committee. The closing date for this report is February 23rd.

The New Ward Profiles WILL NOT be updated with:

48 Hour Report of Contribution over $5,000: Due within 48 Hours after receipt.
24 Hour Notice of Late Contribution Over $250 Received Less Than 12 Days Before Election: Due within 24 Hours after receipt.
24 Hour Late Expenditure Report by Continuing Committees (PACs including ward committees): Due within 24 Hours after paid or incurred.

Contributions and expenditures reported in these filings are included in the next report filed by the committee. There are too many candidates in this election cycle for one person (me) to keep up with these kinds of filings.

Where’s Bosley’s Money?

UPDATED

Found the money. Alder Brandon Bosley’s campaign is using a political action committee not yet filed with Missouri Ethics Commission.

Literature and yard signs promoting his candidacy have been printed and are in use with a “Paid for by the 14th Ward Democratic Organization.”

But the only 14th Ward organization active in MEC database is the one serving pre-ward reduction 14th Ward in Bevo, Princeton Heights, and Southampton neighborhoods.

Money has been spent or debt created on Bosley’s behalf without reporting it to MEC in a timely fashion. The Treasurer is Linda Primer, who is also the Deputy Treasurer for Citizens for Brandon Bosley. There is no arms length between the two entities. Definitely collaboration between the two.

Lots more details below.

Original Post

New 14th Ward Profile is updated with 40 Days Before Alder Election reports.

3rd Ward Alder Brandon Bosley did not make a January Report or a 40 Days Out Report. His October 2022 Report was Limited Activity. His last report with any activity was April 2021 when he had $100 on hand. It’s not the sign of someone running a legit campaign.

January Reports were optional and 40 Days Out Reports were due only if committee 1) accepted contributions (money or in-kind) or 2) had expenses (paid or incurred).

The Bosley Family political action committee- 3rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization- hasn’t reported activity since April 2021 when it had $20.21 on hand.

Alder Bosley’s mother and Treasurer- 3rd Ward Committeewoman Lucinda Frazier- registered a new 14th Ward Democratic Organization as a nonprofit with Missouri Secretary of State, but not MEC. Very curious.

Alder Bosley’s Deputy Treasurer- Linda Primer- is also Treasurer for 3rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization and Civil PAC, as well as Deputy Treasurer for Bosley’s sister- State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley

Civil PAC hasn’t reported any activity since July 2022. It paid the 3rd Ward organization $2,500 for a lit drop in 2020. State Rep. Bosley last reported activity in December 2022, including $800 to political consultant Tim Person.

Some of Person’s previous clients include Jack Coatar’s disastrous run for Board President, former Mayor Lyda Krewson, former Board President Lewis Reed, former County Executive candidate Mark Montovani, former State Rep. Wiley Price, Heartland Action PAC, and Civil PAC.

Tim Person isn’t just a political consultant. He is Human Resources Director for St. Louis City Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler. Person replaced a Recorder employee of many years who was fired by Butler without cause the day he was sworn into office. She and other employees, also fired for not working for his election, sued and taxpayers paid out a six figure settlement.

We’re also talking about the same Michael Butler who chairs the Missouri Democratic Party (also sued by former employee and Party donors had to pay a settlement) and hired Person to do fundraising. Same Michael Butler who owns an all you can drink for one price bar, same bar State Rep. Bosley has worked at or still does. Same bar she held a re-election fundraiser at last year.

Butler also serves on the Board for Communities First, a nonprofit founded by Lucinda Frazier (Alder Bosley’s mother), who is also Butler’s Chief of Staff. The nonprofit’s address is used by State Rep. Bosley on her campaign finance reports and her last candidate filing at Secretary of State. It’s also been used as a default address for 3rd Ward/Bosley Family related campaign workers.

It’s a good guess that Person will be trying to help elect Alder Bosley to the new 14th Ward seat, if Bosley is actively running. It’s also a good guess that money to help that effort might come via Civil PAC.

More intrigue- State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, one of four candidates for the 14th Ward seat, is a former employee of Michael Butler’s Recorder of Deeds office and he donated $2,600 last year to Communities First.

St. Louis, biggest small town in America.

Former Statewide Dem Candidates With MEC Accounts

All of these Missouri Ethics Commission accounts say they are candidates running statewide in 8/6/2024 Primary Election.

Former House Speaker Steve Gaw, Candidate for Secretary of State and US House

Fourteen year after his last campaign, Steve Gaw still has a candidate committee. His last report, other than Limited Activity, was October 2012 Amended: $43,627.80 on hand, $0 debt.

Gaw was Speaker of the Missouri House from Moberly 1996-2001, the first Speaker after Bob Griffin. Griffin resigned in 1996 and was convicted of Federal corruption charges in 1998.

Gaw ran for Secretary of State in 2000, losing to Matt Blunt, 45.1% to 51.4%,, the only Republican to win statewide that year.

In 2008, Gaw ran for 9th District U.S. House but came in second in a four candidate Democratic Primary. Judy Baker, then lost in the General Election to Blaine Luetkemeyer, 47.5% to 50%.

Former State Auditor Susan Montee

10 years after her last campaign, Susan Montee still has a candidate committee. Her October 2022 Report shows $0 raised, $0 spent, $1,938.93 on hand, $500,000 debt.

Montee began her political career serving as both as an elected St. Joseph City Councilwoman (unpaid) and elected Buchanan County Auditor.

In 2006, she ran and won a term as State Auditor, beating Republican Sandra Thomas, 52.8% to 43.4%. This was the election that State Auditor Claire McCaskill beat Republican U.S. Senator Jim Talent, 50% to 47%. McCaskill resigned as State Auditor and then Republican Governor Matt Blunt appointed Montee to the fill the less than a week remaining in McCaskill’s term.

In 2010, Montee lost re-election to Republican Tom Schweich, 45.5% to 50.8%, and soon after became Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party.

The following year, Montee resigned as Party Chair to run for Missouri Lieutenant Governor. In the Democratic Primary, she faced seven candidates and won with 44.9%. The other candidates were former Columbia State Rep. Judy Baker with 15.8%, perennial St. Louis candidate Bill Haas with 12%, Springfield State Rep. Sara Lampe with 8.9%, St. Joseph government surplus business owner Dennis Weisenburger with 5.5%, former Kansas City State Rep. Jackie Townes McGee with 5.3%, former Presiding Commissioner of Saline County Becky Lee Plattner with 3.8%, former St. Louis State Rep. Fred Kratky with 3.8%.

In the General Election for Lieutenant Governor, she lost to incumbent Republican Peter Kinder, 45.5% to 49.3%.

Former AG Chris Koster, Republican turned Democrat

Six years after his last campaign, Chris Koster still has a candidate committee. His last report, January 2023, showed $0 raised, $1,914 (all a donation to Central Institute for the Deaf), $35,192.61 on hand, $0 debt.

He was elected Cass County Prosecutor in 1994, 1996, 2000, as a Republican. He successfully prosecuted the first internet serial killer. In 2004, he was elected as Republican to the Missouri Senate to represent Cass, Johnson, Bates, Vernon Counties and chaired the Senate Republican Caucus.

In 2007, Koster left the Republican Party and became a Democrat. In 2008, he won the Democratic Primary for Attorney despite his former wife, Rebecca Bowman Nassikas, donating $200,000 to a PAC running TV ads against him.
He then beat GOP State Senator Mike Gibbons in the General Election, 52.83% to 47.17%.

In 2013, in his second term as Attorney General, Koster began running for Missouri Governor and in 2016 lost to Eric Greitens, 45.40% to 51.29%.

Koster’s October Report shows $15,000 donated to Missouri Botanical Gardens and Mizzou Law School Foundation. He appears to be slowly spending down the account with donations to nonprofits. He is currently Secretary and General Counsel for Centene.

Former Secretary of State Candidate Yinka Faleti

Two years after running for Secretary of State, Yinka Faleti still has a candidate committee. He filed Limited Activity for January 2023. His October 2022 Report shows $462 raised, spent $876, $21,254.66 on hand, $0 debt. He sold his campaign’s email list to Korede Inc, Ronke Faleti’s, his wife, business, for $412 according to the report.

Faleti ran unopposed in the 2020 Democratic Primary. He lost to Republican Jay Ashcroft, 36.4% to 60.5%.

New Ward Profiles Updated

New Ward Profiles have been updated for any candidate for Alder, elected officials and former elected officials (state legislature, City citywide and Alders, citywide County officers, School Board), ward organizations, party committeepeople, who filed January Reports with Missouri Ethics Commission. January Reports were optional.

The next filing are Or 40 Days Before Election Reports, due January 26th. They are required only if committee 1) accepted contributions (money or in-kind), 2) had expenses (paid or incurred), or 3) donated to another committee. The closing date for this report is January 21st.