Will St. Louis Cancel Contract with Murder for Hire Defendant?

This is a follow up to St. Louis Hires Murder Suspect’s Company for Demo Contract and St. Louis Electeds Repped in Decision to Contract with Accused Murderer

Thursday afternoon, January 8th, a new meeting notice appeared on the City of St. Louis Public Meetings Calendar. It caught the attention of more than a few people.

The notice was for a meeting a week later. 10:30 am Thursday, January 15th, there will be a “Special” meeting (meaning not a regular weekly or monthly meeting), Zoom only, of the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) Board.

The LCRA Board was the second City entity to approve a $3,692,000 contract with S. Shafer Excavating Inc for environmental remediation and demolition services at 4690 and 4700 Goodfellow Blvd, a 16.45-acre former ammunition plant site.

LCRA spent less than ten minutes on the contract at their December 16th meeting. The Illinois company is owned and run by Sammy J. Shafer Jr., whose murder-for-hire trial is set for April in Madison County. It’s alleged that Shafer Jr. was the mastermind and paid for the murder of Portia Rowland, who had planned to marry his wife, Sarah, after their divorce.

The contract killing never came up in the LCRA meeting.

We don’t know if the murder case came up at the meeting of the first City entity to approve, recommend, the contract with S. Shafer Excavating. There are no Minutes or video available online for the December 9th meeting of the City’s Substantial Awards Selection Committee.

It was there that the contract for services on the Goodfellow site was discussed, mostly in closed session, and Shafer’s company recommended. Members of the Substantial Awards Selection Committee include representatives of Mayor Cara Spencer, Comptroller Donna Baringer, and Board of Alders President Megan Green.

This Thursday’s meeting has no agenda posted yet but it might very well include canceling the contract with Shafer Excavating.

But what about accountability? Who is to blame for no background check on Shafer Excavating? Is it an isolated instance at St. Louis Development Corporation, LCRA’s boss, or is this a systemwide failure on contracts?

What was the role of the Substantial Awards Selection Committee, which includes the offices of the three most powerful positions in City government, in this mess? None of them have come forward to say it was a mistake and they’ll do better. I suppose it does take time to find a scapegoat.

And where are St. Louis City Alders on this?

Silence is complicity.

How is the lack of a background check on potential contractors being fixed? Will there be a committee appointed to study the situation and issue a report absolving elected and mayoral appointed officials and identifying a scapegoat? It would not be the first.

St. Louis Electeds Repped in Decision to Contract with Accused Murderer

St. Louis Substantial Awards Selection Committee Agenda for December 9, 2025, meeting

Updated 01/11/2026 Will St. Louis Cancel Contract with Murder for Hire Defendant?

This is an Update to St. Louis Hires Murder Suspect’s Company for Demo Contract.

It turns out that the Board for St. Louis City Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority is not the only City entity that had a say on awarding the $3,692,000 contract to S. Shafer Excavating.

The contract is for environmental remediation and demolition services at 4690 and 4700 Goodfellow Blvd, a 16.45-acre former ammunition plant site.

The company is run by Sammy J. Shafer Jr, accused of murder for hire. The alleged driver is Marty D. Shaw, Shafer Jr.’s employee. The alleged shooter is Gary D. Johnson, previously convicted of a different murder, and Shaw’s cousin.

The three are accused of the January 21, 2025, murder of Portia Louise Rowland in Collinsville, Illinois. Rowland was the girlfriend of Sarah Shafer, Shafer Jr.’s wife. She was living with her at the time of the murder. They intended to be married after Shafer’s divorce was finalized.

Shafer Jr. allegedly provided the gun used in the murder and left the $10,000 payment in an excavator at his home. His trial is set for April 27, 2026.

Before LCRA awarded the contract to the accused murder’s company on December 16, 2025, there was a December 9th meeting of the City’s Substantial Awards Selection Committee in which the contract for services on the Goodfellow site was discussed, mostly in closed session. This was the meeting where it was decided to recommend S. Shafer Excavating to LCRA.

Members of the Substantial Awards Selection Committee include representatives of Mayor Cara Spencer, Comptroller Donna Baringer, and Board of Alders President Megan Green.

The only records of the committee posted online are Agendas. No meeting materials, exhibits, etc. No Meeting Minutes. No meeting videos. A Transparency Fail.

Did no one from the Board of Estimate and Apportionment- Mayor, Comptroller, Board President- bother to do a records check on Sammy Shafer Jr. and his company?

Or did they just ignore the information readily available?

St. Louis Hires Murder Suspect’s Company for Demo Contract

Illinois Secretary of State document showing agent change for Shafer Excavating

St. Louis Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority Resolution authorizing contract with Shafer Excavating

This story has an update here dated January 11, 2026

This story has an update here dated January 5, 2026.

Portia Louise Rowland was murdered shortly after 6:06 am on January 21, 2025, in the driveway of her home in Collinsville, Illinois. She died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Sarah Shafer, her girlfriend, was in the home at the time of the murder.

The alleged murder getaway vehicle was found in St. Louis County, Missouri. The alleged driver, Marty D. Shaw, 33, Collinsville, was charged in Illinois with two counts of First Degree Murder as an accomplice in the killing.

Next, Gary D. Johnson, 44, East St. Louis, was arrested as the shooter, two counts of First Degree Murder as well as one count of Felon in possession of a Weapon. After the shooting, he allegedly changed clothes and went to a casino. Johnson had previously been convicted of a murder in 1997.

On January 25th, Sammy J. Shafer Jr., 36, Caseyville, was arrested outside his home and charged with two counts of First Degree Murder and two counts of Solicitation/Murder for Hire in the death of Rowland. It’s alleged that he paid $10,000 for the hit.

Shafer Jr., it is alleged, hired Johnson to kill Rowland, whom he considered a romantic rival. Sarah Shafer, Shafer’s wife, divorce pending, and Portia Rowland had planned to marry, according to prosecutors.

Shafer Jr. is President of S. Shafer Excavating and Demolition, a company based in Pontoon Beach, Illinois, registered with Illinois Secretary of State, File #73632633. His father, Sammy J Shafer Sr., also of Caseyville, is Secretary of the company.

On April 17, 2025, the company changed its registered agent from Shafer Jr. to Tammy Shafer, his mother.

The company is also registered with Missouri Secretary of State as S. Shafer Excavating Inc.

Shafer Jr. is scheduled to go to trial on April 27, 2026.

On December 16, 2025, the Board for St. Louis City’s Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority spent less than ten minutes rubberstamping a $3,692,000 contract with S. Shafer Excavating Inc for environmental remediation and demolition services at 4690 and 4700 Goodfellow Blvd, a 16.45-acre former ammunition plant site.

The murder case never came up at the meeting (YouTube video of meeting, Shafer contract starts at 6:55).

Three LCRA Board members voted for the contract: Sean Spencer, executive director for Tower Grove Community Development Corporation; attorney Kennard Jones; and business consultant Lori Koenig. Two Board members were absent: attorney Matthew McBride, who runs Nexus PAC, and Lindsey Evans, a senior project manager at PGAV Planners.

LCRA is one of ten boards appointed by St. Louis City’s mayor to facilitate the mayor’s economic development agenda via blighting, corporate welfare, sale of land owned by the city, under the umbrella organization St. Louis Development Corporation. The director of SLDC is also appointed by the mayor.

The Goodfellow industrial site will be cleaned up at public expense for a redevelopment. Mayor Cara Spencer and her SLDC director Otis Williams have not announced what that development will be.

I know what you’re thinking, “Innocent until proven guilty.”

Correct.

But Plot Twist. Shafer Jr. is not the only alleged connection between the murder of Portia Rowland and S. Shafer Excavating and Demolition.

The getaway vehicle was registered to Tammy Shafer, Shafer Jr.’s mother, now agent for the company. She is not a suspect.

However, suspect Marty D. Shaw, alleged driver of the vehicle, was or still is employed by the company. Shaw is also the cousin of suspect Gary D. Johnson, the alleged shooter.

Shafer Jr. allegedly provided the gun used in the murder and left the $10,000 payment in an excavator at his home.

While not a concern for Mayor Spencer, SLDC Director Williams, or the LCRA Board, it was a concern in Springfield, Illinois, which already had a contract with the company.

Either SLDC did not perform a records check on Shafer Jr. and his company or it was ignored. Here’s what I found in fifteen minutes. Some articles are now stored at Internet Archive Machine because of paywall and desire to have sources available to all.

November 19, 2025 Belleville News-Democrat: Nearly 150 on witness list for metro-east husband’s murder-for-hire trial

June 16, 2025, Belleville News-Democrat: Attorneys debate if Caseyville husband who allegedly hired hitman can get fair trial“

February 14, 2025, KTVI TV: Alleged orchestrator in Collinsville murder-for-hire set for court appearance

February 5, 2025 KMOV TV: Man at center of murder-for-hire plot denied pre-trial release

February 5, 2025 Belleville News-Democrat: Prosecutor: Caseyville businessman planned murder-for-hire for months, provided the gun

January 29, 2025, Belleville News-Democrat: High-profile attorney represents man charged in Collinsville murder-for-hire case

January 28, 2025 St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Victim’s girlfriend’s husband charged in murder-for-hire scheme in Collinsville

January 27, 2025, Belleville News-Democrat: Caseyville businessman accused of hiring hitman to kill wife’s girlfriend in Collinsville

More Data Center Money Went to Mayor Spencer

On February 22nd, Rodney H. Thomas, of Armory data center developer THO Investments, donated $12,500 to Spencer’s PAC.

In addition to data center developer Jerald Kent donating $80,000 over the past two years to 21st Century St. Louis PAC, the legal money laundry for Greater St. Louis, he made donations to other campaign committees.

On February 20th of this year, twelve days before the St. Louis City mayoral primary election, Kent gave $25,000 to A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC, the pac for now Mayor Cara Spencer. That money helped fund media buys, negative advertising against incumbent Mayor Tishaura Jones.

As earlier reported, he also donated the max of $2,600 to the then 8th Ward Alder and candidate for Mayor on the same day.

Kent is the Chairman and CEO of Tierpoint and Cequel 3, data center developers. It’s highly likely Kent and/or his attorneys influenced, if not actually the author or put stamp of approval on, Mayor Spencer’s Executive Order 92 on data centers.

Transparency Fail. Spencer’s PAC also received $4,000 on March 31st from John M Baragiola III, his occupation/employer is identified on the April quarterly campaign report as “NA/ — Retired.” Baragiola is actually President and owner of Falcon Technologies, a company that sells materials for IT infrastructure. He also gets farm subsidies.

Campaign $ and Millennium Hotel Deal

Cha Ching graphic with floating paper money

March 10th , 2025, A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC received $50,000 from The Lamar Johnson Collaborative, the architectural firm now working with Bob Clark’s Clayco and Gateway Arch Park Foundation on redevelopment of former Millennium Hotel. It’s Mayor Cara Spencer’s PAC, a way around campaign finance contribution limits.

Clayco contributed a total of $130,674.60 to the PAC in January-February. Those monies helped fund mailings produced by Mike Kelley‘s Show Me Victories and negative media against then Mayor Tishuara Jones.

Clark donated the maximum $2,600 to both Spencer and now Comptroller Donna Baringer this year. But he also donated $10,000 February 25th to 71 Percent PAC run by Kelley Group/Show Me Victories, political consultants.

The 71 Percent PAC paid $77,897.24 to Show Me Victories for digital ads and mailings supporting and opposing candidates. It supported the election of Spencer and Baringer as well as re-election of 11th Ward Alder Laura Keyes and losing 7th Ward Alder candidate Cedric Redmond. It opposed the re-election of Mayor Jones and Comptroller Darlene Green as well as 7th Alder Alisha Sonnier.

Board Bill Number
39 In Session
2025-2026
Chapter 99 Redevelopment Plan for 200 South
4th St. Redevelopment Area

Summary

This Board Bill seeks to approve a Chapter 99
Redevelopment Plan and Blighting Study for the 200 South
4th St. Redevelopment Area. The proposed Bill also allows
for use of eminent domain within the area for all properties. This Board Bill will allow for up to a 20-year tax
abatement at 90 percent.

In 2019, then Alder Spencer co-sponsored Charter amendments against concealment of campaign donor true identity ( Board Bill 41) and against candidates accepting funds from donors seeking City contracts (Board Bill 40). Neither made it to the ballot.

In September, the Board of Alders passed and Spencer signed a redevelopment plan for Millennium Hotel. Board Bill 39 provides for 20 years of tax abatement (making St. Louis public school children pay for redevelopment), per Bill Summary on City website as of 12/29/2025, on the project as well as eminent domain use.

Updated 12/29/2025 to reflect tax abatement information from official bill Summary, not me comparing the 105 page Introduced bill to the 104 Committee Substitute bill. If Summary is wrong, that’s not on me.

More Data Center $ for Greater St. Louis PAC

How Much Does A St. Louis City Alder Seat Cost? has been updated to reflect new donations to 21st Century St. Louis PAC, the legal money laundry of Greater St. Louis.

Two 48 Hour Reports totalling $40,000 by Jerald Kent, Chairman and CEO of Tierpoint and Cequel 3, data center developers, were made in December.

Transparency Fail. The August 11, 2025, contribution to 21st Century St. Louis PAC should have been reported by 48 Hour Report in August and then also in the PAC’s October Report. It was not reported until December 22nd. This should result in fines from Missouri Ethics Commission for failure to disclose in a timely manner.

In September, St. Louis City Mayor Cara Spencer issued Executive Order 92 on data centers, probably written by a lobbyist.

In October, the St. Louis City Board of Alders passed Resolution 111 on data centers that was not worth the paper it is printed on.

Greater St. Louis is the successor organization from the merger and rebranding of Civic Progress, Downtown STL, St. Louis Regional Chamber, Arch to Park, and AllianceSTL.

Tierpoint lists three data centers in the St. Louis area among their many facilities, including two in Downtown at 1111 Olive and 2300 Locust.

The Locust data center counts Greater St. Louis, Ameren electric company, and St. Louis Development Corporation, the City’s corporater welfare agency, among its partners.

1111 Olive was a 2010 TIF redevelopment and part of State Auditor Nicole Galloway’s 2020 audit on deficiencies in Tax Increment Financing in St. Louis.

Unlike Missouri MAGA Governor Mike Kehoe, who wants to get rid of the State’s income tax, Tierpoint notes the state is a “Strategic Location” “With a low corporate income tax rate… recognized for its low costs and pro-business environment” and “The state incentivizes the building and expansion of data centers with sales and use tax exemptions.”

Plans to redevelop St. Louis Armory into a data center met public opposition and the developer has failed to answer all questions raised.

How Much Does A St. Louis City Alder Seat Cost?

Updated 12/27/2025 to reflect additional December 2025 donations by Jerald Kent, Chairman and CEO of Tierpoint and Cequel 3 data centers.

I have no idea how much candidates for St. Louis City Alder and Board President raised and spent in 2023 or 2025. I could go thru campaign finance reports filed at Missouri Ethics Commission. But those figures would be highly problematic because of independent spending by political action committees (PACs), legal money laundries in Missouri.

What I can tell you about is the St. Louis City-based PAC, that now has an agenda before the Board of Alders and City economic development boards, that spent a lot of money electing the Board of Alders in recent years. A LOT.

Civic Progress Action Committee, the PAC for Civic Progress, and its successor 21st Century St. Louis PAC, the PAC for Greater St. Louis, have a 24 year history online at MEC. It’s a history showing dramatic changes in purpose and how they operate– two different eras, different goals.

Civic Progress Action Committee was run for many years by Walter L. Metcalfe, Jr. and Alfred E. Kerth, III. Civic Progress was a rich white man’s club, the captains of industry. Their PAC was noblesse oblige politics.

Civic Progress Action Committee paid for lunch meetings at private clubs including St. Louis Club and The Bogey Club. It paid for administrative services from FleishmanHillard, Bryan Cave, PricewaterhouseCoopers, RubinBrown, and Civic Progress Inc. It invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in Euro Dollar Bonds. Nothing like that shows up in 21st Century St. Louis PAC’s reports.

Civic Progress Action Committee hired lobbyists to monitor and testify at hearings: 35 checks, $5,000 each to Nexus Group from February 2018 to December 2020; 33 checks, $5,000 to $10,000 each to Dentons, previous employers of Nexus Group, from January 2015 to February 2018. Lobbyist Dick Wiles, a Jefferson City fixture for decades, once represented Civic Progress as well.

Greater St. Louis has 15 lobbyists, both at the State Capitol and at City Hall. They are not paid by 21st Century St. Louis PAC. At City Hall and at economic development board meetings (corporate welfare) the organization is served by attorney David Sweeney, former Clerk of the Board of Alders and considered a “friend” by most Alders and other elected officials at City Hall. Sweeney also lobbies for many developers. Generally, Alders rubberstamp projects that Sweeney represents.

One thing that Civic Progress Action Committee did not do was consort with City Alders, donate to candidates, or make Independent Expenditures to elect candidates. That all changed when Civic Progress merged with several organizations to become Greater St. Louis and Jason Hall, its CEO, took over Civic Progress Action on August 3, 2022. Good luck finding a news article on this merger that is objective, not mostly propaganda.

In 2023, 21st Century St. Louis PAC helped elect two Alders representing the City’s central corridor and lesser amounts on eight other successful candidates, 12 of 15 votes on the Board including Board President Megan Green. In 2025, the PAC helped elect 8 of 8 Alder seats on regular and special election ballots, a majority of votes on the Board.

In 2023, 21st Century St. Louis PAC’s $42,936.02 in direct expenditures and contributions were pivotable to helping nine-year Washington University employee Michael Browning defeat two incumbent Alders- Tina “Sweet-T” Pihl and Michael Gras- to become Alder of the City’s Central West End’s new 9th Ward, a product of consolidating wards from 28 to 14 and subsequent redistricting. Another $40,936.03 went to the re-election of 14th Ward Alder Rasheen Aldridge, one of two Downtown Alders.

In 2025, 21st Century St. Louis PAC spent $13,936.68 on Alder Browning, who had neither a primary nor general election opponent, and $26,379.91 electing banker Jami Cox Antwi as Downtown’s second Alder, the 8th Ward seat vacated by the election of Alder Cara Spencer to Mayor.

Another $16,183.60 went to the re-election of 1st Ward Alder Anne Schweitzer; $16,533.44 to help re-elect 7th Ward Alder Alisha Sonnier; and $13,978.68 to re-elect 11th Ward Alder Laura Keys; plus, smaller amounts for another four Alders.

Browning and Aldridge have sponsored millions and millions of dollars in corporate welfare for developers in the City’s central corridor (Central West End to Downtown)- property tax abatements (which reduce revenue to public schools), sales tax exemotions, developer-controlled special taxes, and more. Antwi is the Board’s newest member but will predictably follow in the footsteps of Spencer and, before that, Alder Phyllis Young, in sponsoring millions in corporate welfar for Downtown developers. That’s why Greater St. Louis invests money in Alder elections. And the sky’s the limit on how much.

Most of the money spent by 21st Century St. Louis PAC was by Direct Expenditure. In Missouri, these are funds to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure without giving directly to a candidate or committee, money for mailings, robo calls, digital advertising, etc.

Direct Expenditures are a way around campaign finance contribution limits. A PAC can donate the legal limit, for Alders that’s $2,600, then spend as much as it wants in Direct Expenditures. 21st Century St. Louis PAC did exactly that.

Direct Expenditures are also only reported by the PAC making them. They do not show up on beneficiary candidate or ballot committee reports. You have to know who the players are in an election and track their reports available online at Missouri Ethics Commission. The spending may attract news media attention for statewide candidates and ballot issues but rarely local elections.

January 2023 to October 2025
21st Century St. Louis PAC
Direct Expenditures Benefiting St. Louis City Candidates
06/30/2025 $11,627.82 Alder Jami Cox Antwi
06/13/2025 $12,152.03 Alder Jami Cox Antwi
03/24/2025 $14,183.60 Alder Anne Schweitzer
03/24/2025 $13,933.44 Alder Alisha Sonnier
03/24/2025 $13,836.68 Alder Michael Browning
03/24/2025 $13,718.68 Alder Laura Keys
03/29/2023 $6,686.28 former Alder Joe Vollmer
03/29/2023 $6,686.27 former Alder Joe Vaccaro
03/27/2023 $11,140.06 Alder Michael Browning
03/27/2023 $11,140.07 Alder Rasheen Aldridge
03/22/2023 $11,235.48 Alder Michael Browning
03/22/2023 $11,235.48 Alder Rasheen Aldridge
03/20/2023 $15,960.48 Alder Michael Browning
03/20/2023 $15,960.48 Alder Rasheen Aldridge

January 2023 to October 2025
21st Century St. Louis PAC
Contributions to St. Louis City Electeds and Failed Candidates
05/28/2025 $2,600 Alder Jami Cox Antwi
03/26/2025 $2,600 Alder Laura Keys
02/13/2025 $2,600 Alder Anne Schweitzer
02/13/2025 $2,600 Alder Matt DeVoti
02/13/2025 $2,600 Alder Alisha Sonnier
12/17/2024 $2,600 Alder Pam Boyd
12/17/2024 $2,600 Alder Shane Cohn
12/17/2024 $2,600 Alder Laura Keys
10/09/2024 $2,600 Alder Michael Browning
12/14/2023 $2,600 Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore
03/10/2023 $2,600 failed Alder candidate J.P. Mitchom
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Rasheen Aldridge
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Michael Browning
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Tom Oldenburg
03/10/2023 $2,600 Board President Megan Green
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Shane Cohn
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Daniela Velazquez
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Pam Boyd
03/10/2023 $2,600 former Alder Joe Vollmer
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Laura Keys
03/10/2023 $2,600 former Alder, now Mayor Cara Spencer
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Shane Cohn
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Daniela Velazquez
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Alder, now Mayor Cara Spencer
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Alder Joe Vollmer
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Michael Browning
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Alder Mike Gras
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Laura Keys
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Pam Boyd
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Mayor Tishaura Jones
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Comptroller Darlene Green
02/21/2023 $2,600 Board President Megan Green
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Tom Oldenburg
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Alder James Page
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Rasheen Aldridge

Who funded the 21st Century St. Louis PAC’s efforts in St. Louis City Alder campaigns in 2023 and 2025?

January 2023 to October 2025
21st Century St. Louis PAC Funders

12/16/2025 $20,000 Jerald Kent (Tierpoint and Cequel 3, data center)
08/11/2025 $20,000 Jerald Kent (Tierpoint and Cequel 3, data center) – this contribution was posted 12/22/2025 as a 48 Hour Report, so should be getting a fine from Missouri Ethics Commission for failure to disclosure in timely manner
07/29/2025 $7,372.44 STL Regional Chamber PAC*
02/27/2025 $5,000 Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (law firm)
02/23/2025 $5,000 David Peacock (Advantage Solutions)
02/03/2025 $5,000 David Peacock (Advantage Solutions)
12/02/2024 $10,000 John Tracy (Dot Family Holdings)
11/12/2024 $25,000 Andrew Taylor (Enterprise Mobility)
10/23/2024 $5,000 Commerce Bancshares
10/10/2024 $10,000 Ameren (utility, strong interest in data centers)
10/07/2024 $20,000 Lodging Hospitality Management (developer, hotelier)
08/23/2024 $4,500 Jerome Schlichter (attorney)
08/23/2024 $4,500 Susan Schlichter (retired)
08/20/2024 $5,000 Michael Konzen (PGAV)
08/14/2024 $10,000 John Tracy (Dot Family Holdings)
08/13/2024 $10,000 Thompson Coburn (law firm)
08/12/2024 $20,000 Jerald Kent (Tierpoint and Cequel 3, data center)
08/16/2024 $5,000 Schnuck Markets
09/05/2023 $10,000 John Tracy (Dot Family Holdings)
03/29/2023 $4,000 Lodging Hospitality Management (developer, hotelier)
03/29/2023 $4,000 Susan Schlichter (retired)
03/27/2023 $10,000 Thompson Coburn (law firm)
03/27/2023 $5,000 Spire PAC (utility)
03/24/2023 $2,500 Commerce Bancshares
03/21/2023 $5,000 900 N Tucker LLC (developer,Old Post-Dispatch Bldg, data center, Interco Plaza)
03/20/2023 $10,000 Jerald Kent (Tierpoint and Cequel 3, data center)
03/20/2023 $3,000 Edward L. Dowd Jr. Living Trust (attorney)
03/17/2023 $20,000 First Bank
03/16/2023 $10,000 Post Holdings (consumer packaged foods)
03/14/2023 $5,000 Bryan Cave Missouri PAC (law firm)
02/24/2023 $5,000 900 N Tucker LLC (developer, Old Post-Dispatch Bldg, data center, Interco Plaza)
02/17/2023 $5,000 Schnuck Markets
02/14/2023 $5,000 Commerce Bancshares PAC
02/09/2023 $5,000 Jerome Schlichter (attorney)
02/07/2023 $25,000 Andrew Taylor (Enterprise Holdings)
02/08/2023 $10,000 Jerald Kent (Tierpoint, data center)
02/06/2023 $5,000 Lodging Hospitality Management (developer, hotelier)
02/02/2023 $5,000 Robert Hermann Jr (Busch Family, Hermann Companies)
02/01/2023 $5,000 Thompson Coburn (law firm)

Notice how much the source of funds changed after the merger.

January 2015 to December 2020
Civic Progress Action Committee Funders
12/21/2020 $12,000 SSM Health St. Louis
11/17/2020 $4,500 Caleres Inc
10/13/2020 $7,500 Nestle Purina PetCare
10/13/2020 $7,500 BJC Healthcare
09/30/2020 $4,500 Stifel Financial
09/26/2020 $7,500 Edward Jones
09/23/2020 $4,500 Maritz
08/27/2020 $7,500 Ameren Missouri
06/25/2020 $4,500 Coin Acceptors Inc
06/22/2020 $4,500 Schnucks Markets
06/10/2020 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
06/05/2020 $13,000 RGA Reinsurance
05/29/2020 $4,500 Cequel III
05/18/2020 $4,500 Graybar Electric
05/11/2020 $4,500 Spire Missouri
03/31/2020 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
02/11/2020 $13,000 Centene Management
02/10/2020 $4,500 Commerce Bancshares
02/06/2020 $13,000 Emerson Electric
01/31/2020 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
01/29/2020 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings Inc PAC
12/13/2019 $75,000 Civic Progress Inc
03/20/2019 $4,500 Caleres
02/26/2019 $4,500 Maritz
02/08/2019 $7,500 Mercy
01/25/2019 $13,000 Centene Management
01/25/2019 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings Inc PAC
01/16/2019 $4,500 Schnucks Markets
01/02/2019 $7,500 Ameren Missouri
12/14/2028 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
11/05/2018 $25,000 Civic Progress
11/02/2018 $4,500 Cequel III
10/23/2018 $4,500 Maritz
05/31/2018 $4,500 Graybar Electric
05/21/2018 $4,500 BJC HealthCare
05/16/2018 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
05/07/2018 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
05/03/2018 $4,500 Coin Acceptors
05/03/2018 Southwestern Bell Telephone dba AT&T
05/01/2018 $7,500 RGA Reinsurance
05/01/2018 $13,000 Express Scripts
03/29/2018 $4,500 Caleres Inc
02/08/2028 $7,500 Edward Jones
01/26/2018 $4,500 Mercy St. Louis
01/24/2018 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
01/24/2018 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings Inc. PAC
01/24/2018 $7,500 Centene Management
01/09/2018 $13,000 Emerson Electric
01/17/2018 $4,500 Spire Missouri
01/05/2018 $4,500 Commerce Bancshares
09/13/2017 $4,500 Southwestern Bell Telephone dba AT&T
07/01/2017 $4,500 Commerce Bank
06/20/2017 $13,000 Monsanto
06/12/2017 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
05/22/2017 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings Inc. PAC
05/17/2017 $7,500 RGA Reinsurance
05/02/2017 $4,500 Mercy
04/28/2017 $4,500 Maritz
04/11/2017 $4,500 Caleres Inc
04/06/2017 $4,500 Coin Acceptors Inc
03/30/2017 $4,500 Stifel Financial
02/02/2017 $7,500 World Wide Technology Holding Co
01/30/2017 $4,500 Schnuck Markets
01/25/2017 $7,500 Centene Management
01/25/2017 $7,500 Edward Jones
12/22/2016 $13,000 Emerson Electric
12/22/2016 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
12/20/2016 $4,500 BJC Healthcare
12/20/2016 $175,000 Civic Progress
12/19/2016 $4,500 The Laclede Group
11/07/2016 $2,000 Committee for Bond Initiatives
09/07/2016 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
08/16/2016 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
06/30/2016 $4,500 Graybar Electric
06/20/2016 $4,500 BJC Healthcare
06/20/2016 $4,500 Mercy
06/10/2016 $7,500 RGA Reinsurance
05/31/2016 $13,000 Express Scripts
05/31/2016 $4,500 Commerce Bancshares
05/31/2016 $4,500 Coin Acceptors
04/27/2016 $4,500 Cequel III
03/31/2016 $4,500 Stifel Financial
03/14/2016 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings PAC
02/29/2016 $4,500 The Laclede Group
02/09/2016 $4,500 Caleres
02/09/2016 $4,500 Schnuck Markets
02/02/2016 $7,500 Centenne Management
02/02/2016 $7,500 US Bank
02/02/2016 $13,000 Monsanto
01/26/2016 $4,500 Civic Progress
01/22/2016 $13,000 Emerson Electric
01/20/2916 $7,500 Ameren
01/12/2016 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
01/11/2016 $7,500 Edward Jones
12/22/2016 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
05/28/2015 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
05/28/2015 $4,500 Coin Acceptors
05/28/2015 $4,500 Maritz
05/15/2015 $4,500 Commerce Bancshares
05/15/2015 $4,500 Mercy
05/08/2015 $7,500 Nestle Purina PetCare
04/02/2015 $7,500 Energizer Holdings
03/12/2015 $7,500 Edward Jones
03/12/2015 $4,500 TKG Management
03/02/2015 $7,500 Peabody Investments
02/25/2015 $4,500 Schnuck Markets
02/25/2015 $4,500 Southwestern Bell Telephone dba AT&T Missouri
02/06/2015 $4,500 Brown Shoe
01/23/2015 $4,500 Graybar Electric
01/23/2015 $4,500 World Wide Technology Holding Co
01/23/2015 $7,500 Centene Management
01/19/2015 $4,500 UniGroup
01/15/2015 $7,500 US Bank
01/08/2015 $4,500 PF Services, Inc., 670 Mason Ridge Center
01/08/2015 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
01/08/2015 $13,000 Emerson Electric
01/08/2015 $7,500 Ameren

Civic Progress Action Committee paid for ballot issue campaigns affecting City of St. Louis- school bonds, Charter reform, Metropolitan Sewer District, sales tax for police, as well as statewide ballot issues. In 2012, as example, $68,600 was spent on Citizens for a Healthy Missouri’s ballot issue for a cigarette tax increase, defeated 51% to 49%. It will be interesting to see if Greater St. Louis continues that legacy.

January 2015 to December 2022
Civic Progress Action Committee & Civic Progress Inc
Contributions & Direct Expenditures to Ballot Issues
03/14/2022 $25,000 Local Jobs for STL
08/13/2021 $20,000 Invest in St. Louis Community College
03/19/2021 $25,000 Yes on Prop E – Earnings Tax STL
10/06/2017 $125,000 Citizens For A Safer St. Louis
03/29/2017 $10,000 Reduce & Reform STL
04/05/2017 $10,000 direct expenditure for Proposition S
02/24/2016 $100,000 Friends of St. Louis Public Schools
04/05/2016 $100,000 direct expenditure for Proposition 1
11/23/2015 $20,000 Campaign for Clean Water STL

In 2024, 21st Century St. Louis PAC endorsed MAGA candidate Mike Kehoe for Missouri Governor. In June 2025, the PAC donated $5,000 to the Missouri House Republican Campaign Committee. In May, 2025 Governor Kehoe and Missouri General Assembly took away local control of St. Louis City’s Police Department, overturned the will of Missouri voters who had approved local control.

*STL Regional Chamber PAC was part of the merger that created 21st Century St. Louis PAC. It was short lived on its own. Other than ordering checks, it spent no funds. The money transferred came from $7,500 in contributions in 2021 from Missouri American Water Employees PAC and Anheuser Busch, the only contributions the PAC had received.

Sinquefields Donate to Nexus PAC. Again

Updated 01/10/2026 with January 2026 Report filed with Missouri Ethics Commission including money TO Bosley Family charity and State Rep Nick Kimble as well as elected officials elsewhere in Missouri as well as South Carolina and Illinois; and money from Pharmaceutical Care Management Association.

Updated 11/28/2025 with additional information from Missouri Ethics Commission: Contributions TO Progress PAC, St. Louis City Board President Megan Green; St. Louis City Comptroller Donna Baringer; and dozens to electeds outside of St. Louis City as well as other PACs; plus October contributions FROM developer McCormack Baron Salazar and airport concessionaire OHM KCI JA LLC. Also added a note about Nexus PAC Treasurer’s failure to recuse himeself from economic development board votes benefiting Nexus PAC donors.

Free market, anti tax, school privatization evangelists and high roller campaign contributors Rex and Jeannne Sinquefield made a $25,000 donation this week to Nexus PAC (not their first), the legal campaign money laundry for Nexus Group, a prominent lobbying shop in Missouri.

Some of Nexus Group’s current and past clients include various school privatization organizations (that’s probably what the Sinquefield money is for), Airbnb Inc, and developers.

But wait. There’s more.

The Treasurer for Nexus PAC is attorney Matthew McBride. McBride also sits on a number of economic development boards for the City of St. Louis. He chairs the St. Louis City Port Authority Commission and also serves on the City’s St. Louis Development Corporation Board, Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board, Land Clearance for Redevlopment Authority, Planned Industrial Expansion Authority.

Preservation Square redeveloper McCormack Baron Salazar is a donor to Nexus PAC but McBride failed to abstain or recuse himself on economic development board votes relating to Preservation Square.

These are powerful entities that authorize corporate welfare for developments. Sometimes these boards act on their own and sometimes what they adopt then goes on to the Board of Alders for approval. Sometimes these boards grant more incentives after Alders have acted, a breathtaking lack of transparency.

Clear to a lot of us who follow the corporate welfare sausage making machine in St. Louis, the treasurer of a PAC that legally launders money from developers, someone who writes campaign checks to City elected officials, should not be appointed to boards, let alone boards with elected officials as members, with millions of dollars in incentives for developers on the table.

But here we are. No one at City Hall seems to see a problem with all this conflict of interest.

The only thing that makes sense, sadly, in all this is Rex Sinquefield donating a lot of money to a PAC for lobbyists who not only represent school privatization interests but also developers who seek tax abatement, which is taking money away from public school kids who Sinquefield despises.

2023-October 2025 Nexus PAC Funders
01/05/2026 $9,400 Pharmaceutical Care Management Assn (Washington DC)
10/07/2025 $10,000 McCormack Baron Salazar (developer)
09/29/2025 $10,000 OHM KCI JA LLC (airport concessions)
09/23/2025 $25,000 Rex and Jeannne Sinquefield
07/29/2025 $20,000 Nexus Group
05/21/2025 $5,000 McCormack Baron Salazar (developer)
03/28/2025 $10,000 Paric Holdings (developer)
02/24/2025 $2,500 OHM KCI JA LLC (airport concessions)
10/29/2024 $40,000 Paric Holdings (developer)
09/30/2024 $16,000 Rex and Jeannne Sinquefield
09/12/2024 $1,000 Invenergy Transmission
09/12/2024 $2,000 Invenergy Transmission
08/12/2024 $6,000 Invenergy Transmission
07/31/2024 $1,000 Invenergy Transmission
07/19/2024 $10,000 Nexus Group
02/07/2024 $2,000 Shelter Insurance, Columbia MO
02/01/2024 $4,000 Shelter Insurance, Columbia MO
01/25/2024 $4,000 Shelter Insurance, Columbia MO
12/18/2023 $6,000 Invenergy Transmission
12/11/2023 $10,000 Paric Holdings (developer)
12/05/2023 $2,000 Nexus Group
11/28/2023 $10,000 Nexus Group
11/13/2023 $15,000 Rex and Jeannne Sinquefield
09/26/2023 $10,000 Paric Holdings (developer)
06/16/2023 $10,000 Paric Holdings (developer)
05/05/2023 $10,000 Paric Holdings (developer)
03/20/2023 $2,000 McCormack Baron Salazar (developer)
02/09/2023 $2,000 Shelter Insurance, Columbia MO
01/27/2023 $4,000 Shelter Insurance, Columbia MO
01/25/2023 $4,000 Shelter Insurance, Columbia MO

2023-October 2025 Nexus PAC Contributions to St. Louis City Electeds
10/02/2025 $1,000 Communities First (charity run by Lucinda Frazier, mother of St. Louis City State Rep LaKeySha Bosley and former Alder Brandon Bosley, charity is same address as both their campaign accounts)
10/02/2025 $500 St. Louis City State Rep Nick Kimble
09/30/2025 $2,500 Progress PAC, St. Louis City Board President Megan Green
09/29/2025 $1,600 St. Louis City Comptroller Donna Baringer
06/26/2025 $1,000 St. Louis City Comptroller Donna Baringer
06/17/2025 $2,500 Progress PAC, St. Louis City Board President Megan Green
05/07/2025 $2,500 Progress PAC, St. Louis City Board President Megan Green
04/02/2025 $500 St. Louis City Alder Shane Cohn
03/31/2025 $5,000 A Brighter Future for St Louis PAC, St. Louis City Mayor Cara Spencer
02/28/2025 $2,500 314 Forward PAC, former St. Louis City Mayor Tishaura Jones
02/25/2025 $5,000 Progress PAC, St. Louis City Board President Megan Green
01/23/2025 $500 St. Louis City Treasurer Adam Layne
01/16/2025 $1000 St. Louis City Alder Anne Schweitzer
10/29/2024 $5,000 Progress PAC, St. Louis City Board President Megan Green
10/29/2024 $2,000 St. Louis City Board Prez Megan Green
10/29/2024 $1,000 St. Louis City Alder Shane Cohn
10/29/2024 $1,000 St. Louis City Alder Daniela Velazquez
10/07/2024 $500 St. Louis City State Rep Marty Joe Murray
10/07/2024 $2,400 accused rapist and St. Louis City State Senator Steven Roberts Jr
12/27/2023 $1000 St. Louis City Alder Daniela Velazquez
12/04/2023 $5,000 STL Democratic Coalition, appears to be connected to accused rapist and St. Louis City State Senator Steven Roberts Jr, former State Rep Wiley Price, former Sheriff Vernon Betts; $60,893.08 on hand
04/07/2023 $500 St. Louis City Alder Pam Boyd
03/24/2023 $500 St. Louis City Alder Laura Keys
03/05/2023 $500 St. Louis City Alder Rasheen Aldridge
02/23/2023 $500 St. Louis City Alder Shameem Clark-Hubbard

2023-October 2025 Nexus PAC Contributions to candidates and PACs elsewhere in Missouri and other states

12/18/2025 $2,000 MAGA Hannibal State Rep Chad Perkins
11/12/2025 $750 MAGA Jaackson County State Rep Mike Steinmeyer
11/12/2025 $1,400 St. Louis County State Senator Tracy McCreery
11/05/2025 $1,000 Columbia, South Carolina, City Councilman Sam Johnson
10/22/2025 $500 MAGA Cass County State Rep Sherri Gallick
10/03/2025 $250 Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul
10/02/2025 $2,000 MAGA Jackson County State Rep Ron Fowler
10/02/2025 $500 MAGA Springfield State Rep Bill Owen
09/30/2025 $2,000 St. Louis County State Senator Brian Williams
09/30/2025 $500 St. Louis County State Rep Raychel Proudie
09/29/2025 $1,000 Atlanta GA Mayor Andre Dickens
09/04/2025 $2,000 MAGA Warren County State Rep Jeff Myers
08/27/2025 $2,400 Conservative Solutions for Missouri PAC, MAGA Jefferson County State Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman (now owns a $1.9M home in Central West End, St. Louis City)
08/27/2025 $2,400 Boone County State Senator Steve Webber
08/27/2025 $2,400 MAGA Scott County State Senator Jamie Burger
08/27/2025 $2,400 MAGA Cole County State Senator Jake Vogel
08/27/2025 $2,400 MAGA St. Francois County State Senator Mike Henderson
08/27/2025 $2,400 MAGA 1776 PAC
08/27/2025 $2,400 MAGA Pettis County State Rep Brad Pollitt, now candidate for State Senate
08/27/2025 $1,000 Boone County Commissioner Kip Kendrick, former State Rep
08/27/2025 $1,000 MAGA Lake of the Ozarks State Rep Jeff Vernetti ( also a developer)
08/27/2025 $1,000 MAGA Mid-Missouri Conservative PAC
08/27/2025 $1,000 MAGA Dunklin County State Rep Cameron Bunting Parker
08/27/2025 $1,000 MAGA St. Charles County State Rep Travis Wilson
08/27/2025 $1,000 MAGA Butler County State Rep Hardy Billington
08/27/2025 $500 MAGA St. Charles County State Rep Dave Hinman
08/27/2025 $500 MAGA St. Charles County State Rep Terri Violet
08/27/2025 $500 MAGA Cass County State Rep Bill Irwin
08/27/2025 $500 MAGA Clay County State Rep Mark Meirath
08/27/2025 $500 MAGA Jefferson County State Rep Cecelie Williams
08/27/2025 $500 MAGA St. Charles County State Rep Scott Miller
03/31/2025 $1,250 Kansas City Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw, candidate for KC Mayor
01/09/2025 $2,400 MAGA Jefferson County State Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman
11/22/2024 $500 MAGA Lake of the Ozarks State Rep. Jeff Vernetti (also a developer)
10/29/2024 $2,825 MAGA Governor Mike Kehoe
10/18/2024 $2,000 MAGA St. Louis County State Rep Brad Christ
10/07/2024 $2,500 Homefront PAC, Boone County State Senator Steve Webber
10/07/2024 $2,400 MAGA Linvingston County State Senator Rusty Black
10/07/2024 $2,000 Great Northwest PAC (MAGA Livingston County State Senator Rusty Black)
10/07/2024 $2,400 St. Louis County State Senator Doug Beck
10/07/2024 $2,000 DougPAC, St. Louis County State Senator Doug Beck
09/26/2024 $500 Jesus Oset, failed MAGA candidate for Boone County Circuit Judge
09/18/2025 $250 St. Louis County State Rep Mark Boyco
09/18/2025 $500 St. Louis City State Rep Nick Kimble
09/11/2024 $2,000 Kansas City State Rep Ashley Aune
09/03/2024 $2,400 MAGA Stone County MAGA State Senator Brad Hudson
09/03/2024 $2,400 MAGA St. Charles County State Senator Adam Schnelting
08/12/2024 $500 152 Freedom PAC (could not find this in MEC database, address is a UPS store in Poplar Bluff, probably related to MAGA State Rep Hardy Billington)
08/09/2024 $1,000 MAGA Jasper County State Rep Lane Roberts
08/09/2024 $1,000 MAGA Hannibal State Rep Louis Riggs
08/09/2024 $1,000 MAGA Jefferson County State Rep Renee Reuter
08/09/2024 $1,000 MAGA Kansas City State Rep Sean Pouche
08/09/2024 $1,000 MAGA Lincoln County State Rep Doyle Justus
08/09/2024 $1,000 MAGA Clay & Platte Counties State Rep Josh Hurlbert
08/09/2024 $1,000 MAGA Jasper & Newton Counties State Rep Bob Bromley
07/23/2024 $2,400 MAGA Ozark County former State Rep Travis Smith
07/19/2024 $825 MAGA Jasper County former State Rep Cody Smith
07/19/2024 $1,500 America Forward
07/10/2024 $1,000 MAGA Reynolds County former State Rep Chris Dodson Dinkins
07/10/2024 $1,000 MAGA Scott County State Senator Jamie Burger
07/10/2024 $1,000 MAGA Newton & McDonald Counties State Rep Dirk Deaton
07/10/2024 $2,400 Jackson County Leadership PAC, MAGA State Senator Mike Cierpiot
07/10/2024 $2,400 MAGA St. Francoise County State Senator Mike Henderson
07/10/2024 $2,400 Kansas City State Senator Patty Lewis
07/10/2024 $500 MAGA St. Charles County State Rep Travis Wilson
07/10/2024 $500 MAGA Jefferson County State Rep David Casteel
07/10/2024 $500 MAGA Warren County State Rep Jeff Meyers
07/10/2024 $500 Kansas City State Rep Wick Thomas
07/08/2024 $1,000 North County Solidarity PAC (Walton Family- Elbert, Rochelle)
12/23/2023 $2,500 MAGA former Attorney General Andrew Bailey
12/04/2023 $5,000 DougPAC, St. Louis County State Senator Doug Beck
12/04/2023 $5,000 B PAC, St. Louis County State Senator Brian Williams
11/16/2023 $500 MAGA Greene, Christian and Webster Counties State Rep Darin Chappell
11/16/2023 $1,000 Kansas City Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw, candidate for KC Mayor
11/16/2023 $1,000 St. Louis County State Senator Tracy McCreery
11/16/2023 $1000 MAGA Warren County State Rep Jeff Meyers
11/16/2023 $1000 MAGA St. Louis County former State Rep John Diehl
11/16/2023 $2,400 Clay County State Senator Maggie Nurrenbern
11/16/2023 $2,000 Eastside Forward PAC, Kansas City State Senator Barbara Anne Washington
11/16/2023 $2,000 MAGA St. Charles County State Senator Nick Schroer
11/16/2023 $2,000 MAGA Clay and Ray Counties former State Rep Doug Richey
11/16/2023 $2,000 MAGA Saline County State Senator Kurtis Gregory
11/16/2023 $2,500 Missouri United, former St. Louis County MAGA State Rep Dean Plocher
11/16/2023 $2,500 Lincoln PAC, MAGA Springfield State Senator Lincoln Hough
11/16/2023 $2,825 MAGA Buchanan and Platte Counties State Senator Tony Luetkemeyer
10/09/2023 $500 MAGA St. Charles State Rep Travis Wilson
10/06/2023 $1,000 Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s campaign for Mayor of Houston
09/28/2023 $2,500 Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s campaign for Mayor of Houston
09/14/2023 $2,500 MAGA Springfield State Senator Lincoln Hough
09/06/2023 $1,000 MAGA former Independence State Rep Robert Sauls
09/06/2023 $1000 MAGA Hannibal State Rep Louis Riggs
09/06/2023 $1000 MAGA Kansas City State Rep Sean Pouche
09/06/2023 $1,000 MAGA Clay & Platte Counties State Rep Josh Hurlbert
08/29/2023 $1,000 North County Solidarity PAC (Walton Family- Elbert, Rochelle)
08/29/2023 $1,000 Six County PAC, MAGA pac based in St. Francois County, helped elect Elaine Gannon to Missouri Senate
08/02/2023 $1,000 MAGA Springfield State Rep Alex Riley
08/02/2023 $500 MAGA Dunklin County State Rep Cameron Bunting Parker
08/02/2023 $500 MAGA Lee’s Summit State Rep Jon Patterson
06/25/2023 $1,000 Kansas City Councilwoman Melissa Patterson Hazley
05/16/2023 $1,000 Kansas City State Senator Barbara Washington
05/08/2023 $2,500 MAGA former Attorney General Andrew Bailey
05/04/2023 $2,500 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
03/24/2023 $500 former Bellefontaine Neighbors Mayor Tommie Pierson Sr
01/26/2023 $2,400 Columbia State Senator Steve Webber
12/27/2022 $2,500 Page PAC, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page

Returned or Not Delivered Nexus PAC Donations
09/30/2025 $2,000 St. Louis County State Senator Tracy McCreery (reported 01/06/2026)
10/29/2024 $2,825 MAGA former Attorney General Andrew Bailey (reported 07/14/2025)
10/07/2024 $1,900 Boone County State Senator Steve Webber (reported 10/10/2025)
07/08/2024 $1,500 St. Louis City Alder Shameem Clark-Hubbard (reported 07/14/2025)
09/26/2024 $500 Columbia State Rep Steve Webber (reported 12/02/2024)
01/08/2024 $2,175 MAGA former Attorney General Andrew Bailey (reported 04/05/2024)
12/21/2023 $2,825 MAGA Jasper County former State Rep Cody Smith (reported 07/26/2024)
11/16/2023 $2,000 MAGA Livingston County State Senator Rusty Black (reported 07/26/2024)
11/16/2023 $2,000 MAGA Callaway County State Senator Travis Fitzwater (reported 07/26/2024)
10/12/2023 $5,000 United We Stand PAC, connected to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (reported 01/16/2024)
10/31/2023 $2,400 MAGA State Rep, unsuccessful Secretary of State candidate Dean Plocher (reported 01/16/2024)
09/28/2023 $1,000 St. Louis County Executive Sam Page (reported 07/26/2024)
09/28/2023 $500 St. Louis City Alder Daniela Velazquez (reported 01/16/2024)
09/12/2023 $1000 Tri-County PAC, not listed in MEC database, might be Professional Firefighters of Tri-County PAC, (reported 01/16/2024)
02/21/2023 $500 St. Louis City Alder Pam Boyd (reported 04/17/2023)
03/09/2022 $1000 ATL for All (reported 02/27/2023)
06/16/2022 $500 MAGA former Caldwell County State Rep Randy Railsback (reported 02/27/2023)
11/28/2022 $1,000 MAGA St. Charles County State Senator Nick Schroer

Say No to More Corporate Welfare for Anheuser-Busch

Last Updated 8:17 pm January 30, 2025

It’s not that a $85.55 Billion company like Anheuser-Busch needs corporate welfare. It just wants it.

For the third time in six years, I’m not digging back further, the Soulard based brewery since 1852, is asking for favors from the St. Louis City Board of Alders.

They are inclined to do so because they like the company’s lobbyists, the co-dependent unions , the campaign money. Good v. Bad public policy never enters the picture.

Board Bill 161, by Alder Cara Spencer, who is running for Mayor, gives the company
💰$41 Million in industrial revenue bonds for equipment purchase
💰10 years of 50% personal property tax abatement on the equipment and other
personal property

Per the Community Benefits Scorecard by St. Louis Development Corporation, the City’s corporate welfare umbrella agency, the brewery is located “in an area of high need and opportunity.” Soulard and adjacent Benton Park are affluent neighborhoods.

The company doesn’t need the help. It just wants it and feckless Alders will likely vote to give it to them, just like they always do for corporate welfare proposals.

The latest corporate welfare for the company will likely have its first vote at Board of Alders, the Perfection vote, on Friday, January 31st. Contact Board President Megan Green and your Alder and urge them to vote No on Board Bill 161.

The last meeting of the Board before Election break is currently February 7th.

Prior to the July 2008 InBev takeover of Anheuser-Busch, the brewery had 5,000 employees in the St. Louis area. By 2010, InBev had laid off thousands. A next door neighbor in Soulard was one of them. He was a third-generation brewery employee. Like his father and grandfather, he walked to work. Unlike them, he graduated from college and went to work for the brewery in a white-collar job. Our neighbor ended up moving to St. Charles for work.

In March 2019, Alders rewarded Anheuser-Busch with
💰$75 Million in industrial revenue bonds for equipment
💰 Two 5 years of 75%personal property tax abatement

The votes on Board Bill 177 are missing from the Board of Alders Votes on 2018-2019 bills. Sponsor of the bill was Alder Dan Guenther. He now works as Legislative Assistant to Alder Cara Spencer, candidate for Mayor.

In December 2019, Alders gave the company
💰$100 Million in industrial revenue bonds for, mostly, equipment purchase but also some real estate improvements
💰5 years of 50% real property tax abatement
💰5 years of 75% personal property tax abatement
💰Sales and Use Tax exemption on the purchase of construction materials

Sponsor of that bill was, again, Alder Guenther, who now works for Alder Spencer. The vote on Board Bill 155 was 22 Aye, 0 No, 5 Absent, 2 did not vote.

Alders still on the Board who voted for this 2019 corporate welfare: now Board President Megan Green, Pam Boyd, Brett Narayan, Cara Spencer, Tom Oldenburg, Joe Vollmer, Sharon Tyus.

Aside from Spencer running for higher office, none of these Alders is on the March or April ballot because it’s an odd numbered ward election and they represent even numbered wards or, in the case of Vollmer, not seeking re-election.

Aye votes no longer Alders but now working at the Board, in addition to Guenther: Marlene Davis, now Legislative Assistant to Alder Laura Keyes, and Christine Ingrassia, now Director of Operations for Board President Green.

Anheuser-Busch is located in Soulard but not a part of the neighborhood’s Special Business District (property tax funding private police and surveillance cameras) or Community Improvement District (sales tax for traffic calming, dog poo bags, trash pick-up…). Soulard CID recently sought inclusion of the brewery during its expansion petition drive but the brewery declined.

The company received a liquor license from the City for its Biergarten and now competes with Soulard and Benton Park bars and restaurants for customers. It contributes to neighborhood litter and safety issues but does not contribute to the neighborhood’s tax districts charged with providing additional services for such concerns.

In August 2024, Anheuser-Busch requested a $262,000 Missouri Sales Tax Refund.

In 2012, the City of Arnold and Jefferson County gave 20 years property tax abatement to Anheuser-Busch’s Metal Container Corp over objections by the local school district dependent on property taxes.

Anheuser-Busch doesn’t like paying taxes. But taxes pay for public services and it’s not the responsibility of everyone else to pick up the tab for public services used by a $85.55 Billion company

Tell Alders to make Anheuser-Busch pay their share.

Below: text of Gerry “Sunshine Gerry” Connolly’s letter to St. Louis City Board of Estimate and Apportionment (Mayor Tishaura Jones, Comptroller Darelene Green, Board President Megan Green) asking them to vote No on Board Bill 161. The Board of E&A voted 3-0 to support the corporate welfare.

Honorable Members of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment,

Request to vote NO on Board Bill 161. 1/29/25 Board of E and A meeting (agenda Item 2; bonds for Anheuser-Busch project)

Please vote no on Board Bill no. 161. The proposed incentive (Net Present Value = $1.19 Million fails the “but for” test. Anheuser-Busch simply doesn’t require the incentive to implement its project. At the HUDZ hearing on BB 161, Anheuser-Busch’s lobbyist constructed a flimsy narrative that A-B could select an existing A-B facility in another city for the project.

The procedure defined in Ordinance no. 71620 for SLPS to review the project was not properly documented in SLDC’s Developer Proposal Report (DPR) contained in BB 161. The DPR was not available to the public before the HUDZ Public Hearing; members of the HUDZ committee received the DPR via email from SLDC 13 minutes before the hearing started. The BOA has not been able to conduct robust due-diligence on BB 161.

A study cited by the Post-Dispatch estimated that a 30 second ad in the Superbowl costs $7M. The value of the tax break in BB 161 equates to 5 seconds of advertising time at the Superbowl.

Who loses out if BB 161 is approved? St. Louis Public Schools, the City of St. Louis (General Revenue) and multiple taxing districts.

Anheuser-Busch should pay its fair share in taxes, just like the majority of St. Louis residents and businesses.

I urge you to vote no on BB 161.

Thanks for your consideration.

Gerry Connolly

STL City Budget Hearing Fail, Public Denied Opportunity to Speak

Old black and white photo of St. Louis City Hall

The Budget Committee of the Board of Alders (BOA) had a public hearing today, June 5th, 2024, on the 2025 Budget for the City of St. Louis. The hearing, per its City Calendar Notice, was to include public testimony both in person at City Hall and by Zoom. At least two Alders participated by Zoom.

6th Ward resident and local government transparency advocate Gerry Connolly planned to testify by Zoom. He confirmed his participation with BOA staff. He wrote his notes. He logged on to the hearing.

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:
1. Post meeting recordings to Youtube for government entities currently missing. These include the Airport Commission, Affordable Housing Commission, Mental Health Board and Senior Fund.
2. 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.
3. 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 enact for Local Taxing Districts (LTDs). It is possible that changes 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