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

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

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)
12/2/2024 $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 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
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
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
09/30/2025 $2,000 St. Louis County State Senator Tracy McCreery
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
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

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 8th Ward Alder Candidate Forum Tonight

6 pm Tonight/Thursday New 8th Ward Alder Candidate Forum at Epiphany UCC Church, 2911 McNair, Benton Park.

Moderated by St. Louis League of Women Voters.

Unfortunately, it will only be streamed on Book of Faces

Submit questions in advance.

New 8th Ward stretches down the City’s Mississippi Riverfront from Near North to Bellerive Park in Carondelet. It includes parts of current 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 20th, and 25th Wards and is the result of Census Redistricting and Ward Reduction.

Candidates for New 8th Ward Alder include:

Shedrick “Nato Caliph” Kelley lives in McKinley Heights and is a financial analyst at Wells Fargo and hip hop artist/emcee. In 2021, Kelley came within 134 votes (5.5%) of beating incumbent Old 7th Ward Alder Jack Coatar, who is sitting out this election.

Coatar lives in Soulard and is an attorney at Spencer Fane’s Litigation, Governmental Affairs, and Real Estate Practice. He lost a bid for higher office last November, running for Board of Alder President against Old 15th Ward Alder Megan Green. Green won by 1,417 votes (5.5%). Coatar barely won in his home ward, New 8th Ward, by 118 votes.

Old 20th Ward Alder Cara Spencer lives in Gravois Park and is senior vice president for Community and Economic Development at St. Louis Bank. She ran for Mayor in 2021, losing to Treasurer Tishaura Jones by 2,301 votes (5%).

Former Old 9th Ward Alder Ken Ortmann lives in Benton Park and owns a bar in Soulard. He lost his 2021 re-election bid to Dan Guenther by 674 votes (31.1%). Old 9th Ward Alder Guenther, also of Benton Park, chose not to run in this year.

Also see New 8th Ward Profile for information on candidate campaign finances.

Aldergeddon: New 8th Ward

The new St. Louis City 8th Ward stretches down the City’s Mississippi Riverfront from Near North to Bellerive Park in Carondelet. It includes parts of current 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 20th, and 25th Wards and is the result of Census Redistricting and Ward Reduction.

All 14 New Ward Profiles here.

2023 Alder Primary Results

18+ Population: 18,173
Registered Voters: 12,997 (71.51% Registered)
Total Ballots Cast: 1,989 (15.3% Turnout)
Total Votes Cast, Approval Voting: 2,560 – In St. Louis City Municipal Primary Elections, voters may vote for as many candidates as they want with top two advancing to General Election.
Board President
Megan Green: 1,364
Alder Candidates
Shedrick Kelley: 506
Ken Ortmann: 858
Cara Spencer: 1,469

2023 Alder General Election

Current 20th Ward Alder Cara Spencer
Neighborhood: Gravois Park
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: senior vice president for Community and Economic Development at St. Louis Bank; former executive director for Consumers Council of Missouri; former director of business development at South Side Spaces and Nebula Coworking; former director of Strategic Analytics & Epidemiology at Tessellon pharmaceutical marketing; former consultant at The Mattson Jack Group pharmaceutical consulting
Other Elected Office: former candidate for Mayor
2023 Alder Primary: 1st place of 3 candidates, 1,469 Votes of 2,560
Campaign Finance
March 2023 Report: $34,497 raised ( $5,200 21st Century St. Louis PAC/Civic Progress, $3,000 LIUNA 110, $2,600 Jim Holloran-McGurk’s owner, Soulard School Ed Center Chair, $2,500 Andrew Taylor- Chair of Enterprise Holdings, $1,000 Dennis Phillips- poker player and Kosciusko developer, $1,000 St. Louis Realtors PAC, $1,000 theLouPAC, $1000 Leadership Counts- legal money laundry- Steve Stone + St. Louis Cardinals, + Kevin Short + LIUNA 42, $1,000 LIUNA 42, $500 SEIU, $250 AFT 420, $200 7th Ward Cmte woman and D.C. attorney Danielle Mangogna, $100 former Alder Heather Navarro, $100 former State Sen Joan Bray, $100 Greg Christian- Sheriff Office PIO/former 15th Ward Committeeman) + In-Kind $2,500 Sqwires Restaurant; $40,913.09 spent ($19,108.18 direct mail Navigate Campaigns of D.C.); $41,507.62 on hand; $0 debt
February 2023 Report: $49,463 raised ($2,600 Pete Rothschild- Red Brick, $2,600 Dana Rothschild, $1,500 4Hands Brewery $1,000 SEIU Healthcare, $1000 SEIU Mo-KS, $250 former Mayor Lyda Krewson, $250 former 7th Ward Alder Phyllis Young, $200 7th Ward Cmte woman and D.C. attorney Danielle Mangogna, $100 charter school founder Jack Krewson, $100 former Mayor Vince Schoemehl); $38,655.95 spent ($25,410 to Navigate Campaigns direct mail); $47,923.71 on hand, $0 debt
January 2023 Report #2: $34,520 raised ($100 State Rep Tracy McCreery, $1,000 developer Michael Schwartz, $100 lobbyist and former Alder Sarah Martin, $500 Teamsters Local 6, $500 Building Trades PAC, $250 State Rep Steve Butz, $250 former lobbyist Bill Kuehling), $4,706.62 spent ($220 MEC fine, $253.43 Sam’s Club event food), $37,116.66 on hand, $0 debt
January 2023 Report #1: $0 raised, $1,097.54 spent, $7,303.28 on hand, $0 debt
October 2022 Report Late: Limited Activity
July 2022 Report: $0 raised, $566.17 spent, $8,400.82 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Kathryn Parish (attorney)

Former 9th Ward Alder Ken Ortmann
Neighborhood: Benton Park
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: owner of Cat’s Meow bar; landlord
Other Elected Office: former 9th Ward Alder
Genealogy: husband of former 9th Ward Democratic Committeewoman Pat Ortmann (see below)
2023 Alder Primary: 2nd place of 3 candidates, 858 Votes of 2,560
Campaign Finance
March 2023 Report: $1,235.58 raised ($500 loan from self/candidate); $2,785.20 spent; $2,421.14 on hand; $7,022.16 debt
February 2023 Report: $10,350.23 raised ($5,000.09 loan from himself, $250 former 11th Ward Alder Matt Villa, $50 Sheriff Vernon Betts, $50 former 8th Ward Alder Steve Conway), $6,879.47 spent, 3,470.76 on hand, $5,000.09 debt
Treasurer: Kevin P Kelleher (CPA; Hicar Properties LLC; founding member/officer for Benton Park Community Housing Corp administratively dissolved)

2023 Primary- Other Alder Candidates

Candidate for 8th Ward Alder Shedrick “Nato Caliph” Kelley
Neighborhood: McKinley Heights
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: financial analyst at Wells Fargo; owner of Cipher Music Group; co-owner Kelley Dispatch & Logistic
Other Elected Office: former candidate for 7th Ward Alder
2023 Alder Primary: 3rd place of 3 candidates, 506 Votes of 2,560
Campaign Finance
February 2023 Report: $1,705 raised, $1,256.78 spent, $2,481.07 on hand, $0 debt
January 2023 Report: $5,315 raised ($4,500 from 4 donor), $3,282.15 spent ($500 to realtor and former US Senate candidate Spencer Toder’s Constituent Connection), $2,032.85 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Alicia Kelley (wife of candidate Shedrick Kelley; owner of BridgeWay Global LLC)

Other Public Officials Residing In Ward

Current 7th Ward Alder Jack Coatar
Neighborhood: Soulard
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: attorney at Spencer Fane’s Litigation, Governmental Affairs, and Real Estate Practice; former assistant Circuit Attorney
Other Elected Office: former candidate for Board President, not running for Alder in 2023
Campaign Finance
MEC account now says he’s running for citywide in 8/6/2024 Primary
January 2023 Report: $400 raised, $4,524.23 spent ($4,000 for a campaign staffer), $16,460.23 on hand, $0 debt
November 2022 Report #2: $41,305 raised, $99,238.76 spent (including $42,500 to Kelley Group and $13,500 to Tim Person**), $20,584.46 on hand, $0 debt
November 2022 Report #1: $157,213 raised, $216,007.07 spent (most of it to Kelley Group, also $15,000 to Tim Person**) , $79,118.22 on hand, $0 debt
October #2 2022 Report #2: $36,225 raised, $71,884.32 spent (mostly to consultants including Kelley Group), $138,012.29 on hand, $0 debt
October 2023 Report #1: $116,604.18 raised, $119,651.90 spent (mostly to consultants including Kelley Group), $174,171.61 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Molly Dougherty (attorney at Sandberg Phoenix, secretary of Soulard Special Business District). Treasurer from 2014-2020 was Megan Shackelford of Kelley Group.
Deputy Treasurer: Kathryn Jayne Drennen/Drennan (also current treasurer for theLOUpac, Democracy 2.0 PAC, and Webster Groves School Board candidate Allen Todd; former treasurer for State Senate candidate Mark Osmack, Friends of Webster Groves Schools, Your Vote Matters MO PAC, Vote-StL PAC, Vote Yes on Prop E Webster Groves, Friends of St. Louis Zoo, Farm Action Missouri PAC, candidate for Secretary of State Robin Carnahan 2016, Missourians for a Fiscally Responsible Future PAC, Gateway to Progress PAC; current deputy treasurer for Missouri Voter Project – State PAC; former deputy treasurer for JanePAC for Jane Dueker, 15th Ward Alder candidate Rhonda Smythe, 78th District State Rep. candidate Penny Hubbard, former 5th Ward Alder Tammika Hubbard, former Lt Governor candidate Rusty Carnahan, former unspecific statewide candidate Rusty Carnahan, 2018 Ballot Fund for minimum wage and against Right to Work for Less, No Bans on Choice
Affiliated PAC Jack PAC
April 2023 Report: $10,000 raised (Caesar’s Enterprise- Horseshoe Casino, Downtown St. Louis); $10,000 spent (Caesar’s Enterprise contribution returned); $5,243.27 on hand; $0 debt
January 2023 Report: $0 raised, $23.07 spent, $5,243.27 on hand, $0 debt
December 2022 Report: $509.55 raised, $1,091.00 spent, $5,266.34 on hand, $0 debt
November 2022 Report: $202,601 raised ($240,000 from Leadership Counts, a legal money laundry), $293,424.95 spent ($272,800 to Snyder Pickerill Media Group), $5,314.39 on hand, $0 debt
October 2022 Report: $54,134 raised, $500 spent, $96,138.34 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Terence Niehoff (attorney in Soulard). This PAC was created 9/10/2019 by Patrick Lynn of Kelley Group.

Current 9th Ward Alder Dan Guenther
Neighborhood: Benton Park
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: former Monarch Community Liaison at Office of Sustainability
Campaign Finance
January 2023 Report: Limited Activity
October 2022 Report #1: Limited Activity
January 2022 Report: $200 raised, $798.95 spent, $8,586.50 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Sara Johnson (former 9th Ward Committeewoman)
Deputy Treasurer: Megan Bennett (lives in New 14th Ward)

Ward Committees (PACs)

New 8th Ward Democratic organization: None

New 8th Ward Republican organization: None

Current 7th Ward Democrats
Campaign Finance
October 2022 Report: Limited Activity
Previous Report with activity or showing other than $0 on hand- April 2021 Report: $658.40 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Jazmyn Holton (lives in New 14th Ward)

Current 7th Ward Republican organization: None

Current 9th Ward Democrats
Campaign Finance
October 2022 Report: Limited Activity
Previous Report with activity- February 2021 Report: $1,454.74 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Bryan Walsh (artist, 9th Ward Committeeman. Until 4/29/2022, Treasurer was Braxton Payne of Kelley Group.)

Current 9th Ward Democratic Organization
Genealogy: aligned with former Alder Ken Ortmann and former Committeewoman Pat Ortmann, owners of Cat’s Meow
Campaign Finance
January 2023 Report: Limited Activity
October 2022 Report: Limited Activity
Previous Report with activity- April 2022 Report: $7.61 raised (interest), $90 spent (on “clubs”), $4,042.30 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Trisha Wyant (daughter of former Alder Ortmann and former Committeewoman Ortmann)
Deputy Treasurer: Ron Auer (former State Representative)

Current 9th Ward Republican organization: None

Current 20th Ward Democratic Organization
Campaign Finance
January 2023 Report: $0 raised, $36 spent, $313.30 on hand, $0 debt
October 2022 Report: $0 raised, $6 spent, $349.30 on hand, $0
Treasurer: Nancy Stopke
Deputy Treasurer: Dale Sweet (former 20th Ward Committeeman; treasurer for former Alder candidate Kemata McCline)

Current 20th Ward Republican organization: None

Political Party Committeepeople

Current 7th Ward Democratic Committeewoman: Danielle Mangogna
Neighborhood: Downtown West, New 14th Ward
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: attorney at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in D.C., address on MEC reports is in new 14th Ward)
Campaign Finance
October 2022 Report: Limited Activity
Previous Report with activity- April 2021 Report: $486.15 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Steve Smith (owner of The Royale)

Current 7th Ward Democratic Committeeman Brian, might be Brian M. Beckmann
Neighborhood: LaSalle Park
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: account development representative at Square; U.S. Army Veteran
Campaign Finance
*No party committeeman account filed at MEC

Current 7th Ward Republican Committeewoman Nana Agyeman‐Graham
Neighborhood: Downtown
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: operations manager at Show Me Institute; volunteers for St. Louis Victims of Communism Commission; former Board member of Freedom Principle of St. Louis City
Campaign Finance
*No party committeewoman account filed at MEC

Current 7th Ward Republican Committeeman Jim Povolish Jr.
Neighborhood: McKinley Heights
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: sales/service at Charter Communications
Campaign Finance
*No party committeeman account filed at MEC

Current 9th Ward Democratic Committeewoman Inez Bordeaux
Neighborhood: Mount Pleasant, New 3rd Ward
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: manager of Community Collaborations at Arch City Defenders. City Dems website still says Sara Johnson is committeewoman.
Campaign Finance
*No party committeewoman account filed at MEC

Current 9th Ward Democratic Committeeman Bryan Walsh
Neighborhood: Marine Villa
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: artist at Screwed Arts
Other Political: treasurer for 9th Ward Democrats
Campaign Finance
*No party committeeman account filed at MEC

Current 9th Ward Republican Committeewoman Cary Burton
Neighborhood: Marine Villa
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: support engineer at ATOS
Campaign Finance
*No party committeewoman account filed at MEC

Current 9th Ward Republican Committeeman Jerry VanderWier
Neighborhood: Benton Park West, New 7th Ward
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: crisis management at Ameren
Campaign Finance
*No party committeeman account filed at MEC

Current 20th Ward Democratic Committeewoman Kirsten Petty
Neighborhood: Gravois Park, New 7th Ward
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: photographer
Campaign Finance
Terminated MEC committee 7/1/2020
Treasurer: Mark Davis (20th Ward Committeeman)

Current 20th Ward Democratic Committeeman Mark Davis
Neighborhood: Marine Villa
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: retired
Campaign Finance
Terminated MEC committee 7/1/2020
Treasurer: Kirsten Petty (20th Ward Committeewoman)

Current 20th Ward Republican Committeewoman: Vacant

Current 20th Ward Republican Committeeman Tim Gartin
Neighborhood: Dutchtown, New 3rd Ward
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: general studies teacher at Missouri Torah Institute
Other Elected Office: former candidate for Recorder of Deeds but no MEC account; former candidate for 78th District State Rep 2020
Campaign Finance
*No party committeeman account filed at MEC

Former Political Party Committeepeople

Former 9th Ward Democratic Committeewoman Pat Ortmann
Neighborhood: Benton Park
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: owner of Cat’s Meow bar; works at City Collector of Revenue office
Party Office: former 9th Ward Committeewoman
Other Political: former treasurer for Kevin Klupe former candidate for Sheriff 2020
Genealogy: wife of 8th Ward Alder candidate and former 9th Ward Alder Ken Ortmann
Campaign Finance
January 2023 Report: Limited Activity
October 2022 Report: Limited Activity
April 2022 Report: $0 raised, $0 spent, $502.97 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Trisha Wyant (daughter of former Alder Ortmann and former Committeewoman Ortmann; Treasurer for 9th Ward Democratic Organization)

* Political Party County Central Committee ward and township committeepeople have the option to file their campaign finance reports with their county election authority- Board of Election Commissioners in the case of St. Louis City- or online with Missouri Ethics Commission. The St. Louis City Board of Election once posted pdfs of ward committeepeople campaign finance reports to the Board’s website. That is no longer the case. To inspect records, you must visit the Board in person.

** Tim Person runs a political consulting business while on City payroll as Human Resources Director at Recorder of Deeds. Missouri State Party Chair Michael Butler is the elected Recorder and also owns a bar.

Aldergeddon: October MEC Reports

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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