STL City Charter Commission Fail, Again

Burn it all down.

Vote against anything proposed by the St. Louis City Charter Reform Commission. It has proven itself unworthy of the trust and votes of St. Louisans.

It’s been Transparency Fail after Transparency Fail, the latest related to 4:30 pm Tonight’s Commission Special Meeting.

I know. I know. We’re supposed to give the Sunshine violations a pass because we personally like some of the Commissioners and some of the ideas they’ve been exploring.

I know. I know. We’re supposed to give them a pass because they’re volunteers.

Nope. It’s a dumpster fire. Let it go down in flames.

Tonight’s Meeting has a notice on the City’s Public Meetings Calendar that was posted on June 20th. But like so many Charter Commission meetings before it, there was no Agenda posted online at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Missouri’s Sunshine Law (610.020) requires public notice at least 24 hours in advance for public meetings and that notice shall include an Agenda. It is a very weak law that does not require the Notice and Agenda be posted online. That’s where St. Louis City’s Sunshine directives come into play here. Executive Order 60 and City Ordinance mandate the public meeting notices required by state law be posted to the online City Public Meeting Calendar.

8:58 am Today, over 16 hours past the deadline for required 24 hours Meeting Notice with Agenda, after much dragging on Twitter about the missing Agenda and need to cancel and reschedule meeting because of noncompliance with City Sunshine requirements, the Charter Commission added an Agenda to the meeting notice on City Calendar. We know this because the Public Meetings Calendar notices have Time/Date stamps for creation and editing at the end of the entry.

Then, and this really has my blood boiling, this afternoon, mere hours before the 4:30 pm meeting, the Commission dumped a 38 page “Meeting Packet” pdf on the documents page created for the Agenda. There is no way of knowing exact time this happened because document pages have no Time/Date stamp.

Time and time again, this Commission has failed to be transparent- lack of Minutes for subcommittees, Meeting Notices with Agendas posted late or never, Meeting Minutes of the Commission that do not reflect the meetings, etc.

And don’t get me started on the writing failures in the proposed Charter amendments.

Let this thing die.

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

STL City Charter Commission, May ’24 Draft Doc

Below is the St. Louis City Charter (Reform) Commission‘s latest hard on the eyes, semi-public document on proposed changes to Charter.

I am publishing it here because the Charter Commission may never post it to their online documents page or may not post until right before, during, or even after their next meeting, a Virtual meeting set for 4:30 pm Wednesday, May 29th.

The Charter Commission has failed to be transparent at the level needed for Charter reform. It posts meeting materials long after meetings, sits on Minutes until City Counselor edits, the Minutes often are at odds with what actually happened, there are no Minutes for the three Workgroups’ meetings, meetings have gone into Closed Session for sketchy reasons, and other issues.

I personally like a number of people involved with the Commission. They are well-meaning but it’s a rigged process, a hot mess. The spreadsheet may give you an idea of the agenda, which must go before voters to be adopted but the devil is in the details. In this case, the details will be written by City Counselor Sheena Hamilton, who works for Mayor Tishaura Jones.

The Commission is composed of voting members and nonvoting members. Voting: Briana Bobo, Anna Crosslin, David Dwight IV, Chris Grant, Scott Intagliata, Dr. Jazzmine Nolan-Echols, Travis Sheridan. Non-Voting: Director of Personnel Sonja Gray (Mayor Jones appointee), City Counselor Sheena Hamilton, former State Senator Jake Hummel (Missouri AFL-CIO President)Christine Ingrassia (Board President Megan Green’s Director of Operations), Casey Millburg (Mayor Jones’ Policy Director), 5th Ward Alder Joe Vollmer.

I am chopping up the spreadsheet and adding pape by page as images, instead of importing the word salad, hard on the eyes spreadsheet, because I am not paying to upgrade this site for spreadsheets and videos.

Note1: Many people confuse the Charter with the City Code: Ordinances, Laws. The Charter is the City’s constitution. The Code is City’s version of Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo).

Note2: St. Louis City has a Strong Mayor system of government. Many people are confused about this because of propaganda by past charter reform efforts. Could the position be made stronger? Sure. A Weak Mayor system is usually associated with City Managers and ribbon cutting mayors. St. Louis City has had many weak mayors but that’s not the same as a Weak Mayor system.

Will STL E&A, Tax Districts Go To AG Sunshine School?

Pleased to share that there has been a Transparency Win regarding St. Louis City’s Board of Estimate & Apportionment. On June 24th, E&A began publishing Exhibits with Agendas on City’s website.
——————–

An interesting development in enforcement of Missouri’s Sunshine Law happened last week in a city of 6,344 in southwest Missouri. It could impact government entities in St. Louis City, including the powerful Board of Estimate and Apportionment (E&A: Mayor, Comptroller, Board of Alders President).

The City of Willard has ben slapped on the wrist by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and told they have to attend Sunshine School. At issue was the use of the generic Agenda topic “Unfinished Business” by Willard’s Board of Aldermen. (paywall) The AG’s Office says it should also include sub-topics detailing points of discussion.

That’s potentially huge because many St. Louis City special tax districts, agencies, and even the Board of E&A routinely use generic categories for Agendas.

As examples, Soulard Special Business District, a taxing district to fund private police and surveillance, and Soulard Community Improvement District, a taxing district to fund improvements with $1.8 Million dollars banked, both use skeleton agendas. They also have an atrocious record of posting late notices or wrong meeting location to the City’s online public meetings calendar.

The significance of E&A failing to provide specifics in their Agendas was highlighted recently when E&A approved more funding for the controversial ShotSpotter contract without public notice.

ShotSpotter is a surveillance product by SoundThinking. While cities have been turning down contract renewals and Chicago may soon dump the program, as promised by its mayor, St. Louis City’s E&A gave the contract a fourth amendment. And it was done, as is most E&A business, without the public notice.

For twenty years, it has been standard practice of E&A to post meeting notices and agendas to the City’s Public Meetings Calendar. The Agenda for the December 20, 2023 E&A Meeting, like most meetings, included:

“Request from the Comptroller’s Office for approval of contracts and leases for various
City departments as listed on Exhibit A.”

“Request from the Comptroller’s Office for approval of intradepartmental and
interdepartmental transfers from various City departments as listed on Exhibit B.”

“Request from the Comptroller’s Office for approval of transfers between projects for
Capital Improvement Funds listed on Exhibit C.”

But no Exhibits, the meat and potatoes of what they’re voting on, is available online for public inspection.

In the case of the December 20 Agenda, ShotSpotter was in Exhibit A, Item 17, hidden from the public. There was no opportunity for the public to contact E&A with concerns.

Item 17, Exhibit A, St. Louis Board of Estimate and Apportionment Agenda, December 20, 2023: ShotSpotter amendment

There was no debate on the ShotSpotter amendment. It was adopted on a 2-1 vote. Mayor Tishaura Jones and Comptroller Darlene Green voted yes; Board President Megan Green voted no.

No E&A Exhibits to Agendas or Meeting Minutes are posted online. How do we know the amendment happened and that the vote was? E&A meetings, usually very short, can be watched via Zoom or City’s YouTube channel.

Screenshot of Tweet by St. Louis Board of Alders President Megan Green regarding her vote against Shotspotter contract amendment

We can see from the YouTube video that Board President Green made a motion to separate ShotSpotter from the rest of the Agenda for the vote. She gave no reason why at the meeting. But, as the meeting ended, 7 minutes after starting, Green Tweeted about her vote against ShotSpotter. A graphic had been prepared in advance.

Why didn’t Green share the ShotSpotter Exhibit item with the public, Privacy Watch STL coalition, etc. before the meeting? That’s a good question.

The next meeting of E&A is 3 pm Wednesday, January 17th. Exhibits A, B, C missing. Again. The secret business is anyone’s guess.

People also Sunshine E&A Exhibits.

“Sunshine Gerry” Connolly usually makes a request as soon as the E&A Agenda is posted online. It can take a day to a month for the documents to show up in the City’s Sunshine Portal.

Screenshot of error message from St. Louis City Sunshine Portal, Public Records Archives

Public access to the Portal’s Public Records Archives is limited to when it is functioning, which is often not the case. It’s been down most of today while I’ve been trying to write this. You have to be persistent when filing a Sunshine request. Try in the morning. Try again in the afternoon. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Big question is why aren’t E&A Exhibits posted with the Agendas? Why the secrecy?

Maybe it’s time for the AG to look at how government entities in St. Louis City comply (or don’t) with Missouri’s Sunshine Law.

It’s definitely time for St. Louis City to have a strong municipal Sunshine Law in the Charter (via amendment by Charter Commission or otherwise) or via ordinance by Board of Alders.

Aldergeddon: New 1st Ward

Map of New 1st Ward, St. Louis City (2023)

Last Updated: 04/27/2023

New St. Louis City 1st Ward includes all or parts of Bevo, Carondelet, Boulevard Heights, Holly Hills, Patch Neighborhoods, parts of old 11th, 12th, 13th Wards, other Wards, and is the result of Census Redistricting and Ward Reduction.

All 14 New Ward Profiles here.

2023 General Election Results

18+ Population: 17,986
Registered Voters: 13,793 (76.68% Registered)
Total Ballots Cast: 3,121 (22.63% Turnout)
Board President
Megan Green: 1,954 (84.9%)
Alder
Anne Schweitzer: 1,614 (52.02%)
Tony Kirchner: 1,472 (47.4%)
Prop C (Charter Commission): Yes 1,543 (52.70%), No 1,385 (47.30%). Passed Citywide.
Prop No Letter/Number (Recreational Cannabis Tax): Yes 1,950 (63.13%), No 1,139 (36.8%). Passed Citywide.
School Board (citywide at-large election, top two elected- Sadie Weiss and Tracy Hykes)
Sadie Weiss: 1,625 (40.21%)
Tracy Hykes: 1,331 (32.94%)
J.L. Quinones: 980 (24.25%)
St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees (numerous wards participating- Nicole Robinson won)
Nicole Robinson: 299 (49.75%)
Pam Ross: 289 (48.09%)
Citywide and Subdistrict Election Results

2023 Primary Results

18+ Population: 17,986
Registered Voters: 13,774 (76.58% Registered)
Total Ballots Cast: 2,188 (15.89% Turnout)
Total Votes Cast, Approval Voting: 2,670 – 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: 1,307
Alder (top two advance to General Election)
Matt Kotraba: 409
Tony Kirchner: 1,088
Anne Schweitzer: 1,173

Public Officials Residing in New 1st Ward

New 1st Ward Alder Anne Schweitzer
Neighborhood: Boulevard Heights
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: campaign consultant at Public Eye
Other Elected Office: former 13th Ward Alder
Other Politics: treasurer for Reinvest StL 2016 Prop E & F and Reinvest StL 2015 Prop 1
Genealogy: daughter of Jane Schweitzer, former/last elected City Circuit Clerk; daughter of Gordon Schweitzer, former municipal judge; granddaughter of Gordon Schweitzer, former Sheriff
2023 Alder Primary: 1st of 3 candidates, 1,173 Votes of 2,670
2023 Alder General Election: 1,614 (52.02%)
Campaign Finance
April 2023 Report #2: $1,860 raised ($500 Board President Megan Green’s Progress PAC, $500 Associated General Contractors Mo, $500 Iron Workers, $250 Glaziers, $50 former Fire Chief Sherman George); $630.02 spent; $14,101.61 on hand; $0 debt
April 2023 Report #2: Limited Activity
April 2023 Report #1: $1,330 raised ($500 Plumbers & Pipefitters 562); $12,857.80 spent ($11,807.76 Bouchard Gold Communications, Austin); $12,871.63 on hand; $0 debt
March 2023 Report #1 Amended: Added 7 contributions ($1,000 SEIU Healthcare, $500 Pro Choice Mo, $500 Sheetmetal Workers, $300 IBEW, $200 Operating Engineers, $200 Bricklayers. New Totals- $17,760 raised; $13,255.11 spent; $24,399.43 on hand; $0 debt
March 2023 Report #1: $15,035 raised ($6,150 from Labor, $500 former 13th Ward Alder Fred Wessels, $500 Realtors Association, $200 former 11th Ward Alder Matt Villa, $100 former Police Chief Sam Dotson, $100 City Assessor Michael Dauphin, $50 former City Health Director Pam Walker); $13,255.11 spent (Bouchard Gold Communications, Austin); $21,674.43 on hand; $0 debt
February 2023 Report: $6,705 raised ($1,500 SEIU MO/KS, $1,500 SEIU Healthcare, $1000 LIUNA, $450 Sierra Club PAC), $23,689.55 spent ($22,474.56 Bouchard Gold Communications, Austin), $19,894.54 on hand, $0 debt
January 2023 Report #2: $2,284 raised ($500 Building Trades PAC, $500 IAFF Local 73, $75 City Treasurer Adam Layne), $777.97 spent, $38,385.12 on hand, $0 debt
January 2023 Report #1: $3,760 raised ($1,000 from dad- Gordon Schweitzer), $2,848.80 spent, $36,879.09 on hand, $0 debt
October 2022 Report: $2,624.46 raised, $84.43 spent, $35,967.89 on hand, $0 debt
Treasurer: Jane Schweitzer (Alder’s mother, former/last elected City Circuit Court Clerk)

City Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly (county office)
Neighborhood: Boulevard Heights
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: Collector of Revenue
Other Elected Office: former License Collector; briefly candidate for Mayor
Party Office: 12th Ward Democratic Committeeman**
Other Political: treasurer of 12th Ward Regular Democratic Organization; treasurer of 2021 Yes on Prop E Earnings Tax STL
Genealogy: sister of Geraldine Kraemer, St. Louis City Election Board Commissioner
Campaign Finance
April 2023 Report: $718.38 raised (interest earned); $6,605.63 spent ($3,065.26 on food including $1,096.83 Bartolino’s South and $879.43 at four restaurants in Florida, $294.56 Sam’s Club, $250 Prop C Charter Commission campaign); $446,845.03 on hand; $2,153.88 debt
January 2023 Report: $247.18 raised, $5,566.34 spent, $452,732.28 on hand, $879.06 debt
December 2022 Report: $985.98 raised, $6,257.81 spent, $458,051.44 on hand, $1,112.99 debt
November 2022 Report Amended: $4,200 raised, $4,661.76 spent, $463,323.27 on hand, $4,913.98
October Report Amended: $5,609.75 raised, $2,739.11 spent, $463,785.03 on hand, $1,435.15 debt.
Treasurer: Dana Gamache (works at Collector of Revenue)
Deputy Treasurer: Kathy Gamache (12th Ward Committeewoman, works at Collector of Revenue)

State Rep. Steve Butz
Neighborhood: Holly Hills
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: owner of Crawford-Butz Insurance Agency, managing partner for Eagle Hurst Ranch in Steelville
Other Elected Office: former candidate for State Rep. 2016 (Ben Borgmeyer was listed on MEC filing as a member of the campaign committee. He’s now Democratic Director of Elections at St. Louis City Election Board)
Campaign Finance
April 2023 Report: $0 raised; $210 spent; $66,332.22 on hand; $32,500 debt
January 2023 Report: $1,000 raised; $0 spent; $66,542.22 on hand; $32,500 debt
November 2022 Report: $500 raised; $2,783.66 spent; $65,542.22 on hand; $32,500 debt
October 2022 Report #2: $5000 raised; $11,896.67 spent; $67,825.88 on hand; $32,500 debt
October 2022 Report #1: $11,400 raised; $1,260 spent; $74,722.55 on hand; $32,500 debt
Treasurer: Ted Hartzler

St. Louis City Assessor*** Michael Dauphin
Neighborhood: Holly Hills
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: attorney, Assessor
Party Office: former 13th Ward Democratic Committeeman

Ward Committee (PACs)

New 1st Ward Democratic organization: None

New 1st Ward Republican organization: None

Old 12th Ward Regular Democratic Organization
Campaign Finance
April 2023 Report: Limited Activity
February 2023 Report: $650 ($250 AFT 420, $400 Dem Central Committee, both 2022 checks); $1,040.40 spent (printing in January); $833.47 on hand; $0 debt
January 2023 Report: Limited Activity
December 2022 Report: Limited Activity
October 2022 Report #2: Limited Activity
October 2022 Report #1: Limited Activity.
July 2022 Report: $38.79 raised, $1,205.10 spent, $1,455.74 on hand, $0 debt.
Treasurer: Gregory F.X. Daly (12th Ward Committeeman, Collector of Revenue)

Old SOS filings: 12th Ward Democratic Political Party Committee (nonprofit)
Officers: 12th Ward Committeeman & Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly is President, Secretary, and all three Board members. He also owns 12th Ward Democratic Political Party Committee as a fictious name registration.

Old 12th Ward Trivia: former Circuit Clerk Mariano Favazza (also former State Rep candidate , former Alder candidate) registered 12th Ward Pro Life Democrats as a d.b.a. in 2004. It expired in 2009. Circuit Clerk is now appointed by Circuit Court Judges via legislation from Missouri General Assembly.

Old 12th Ward Republican organization: None

Old 13th Ward Regular Democratic Club
Campaign Finance
April 2023 Report: $100 raised ($100 AFT 420); $0 spent; $4,109.37 on hand; $0 debt
January 2023 Report: $30 raised; $560.89; $4,009.37 on hand; $0 debt
October 2022 Report: Limited Activity
July 2022 Report: $0 raised; $0 spent; $4,540.26 on hand; $0 debt
Treasurer: Paul Sager (realtor, former president of Holly Hills Improvement Association)

Old 13th Ward Republican organization: None

Political Party Committeepeople

Old 12th Ward Democratic Committeewoman Krissy Sullivan
Neighborhood:
Residence Tax Abated:
Occupation: physical therapist
Genealogy: daughter of John Temporiti, former chair of Missouri Democratic Party; former chief of staff to Mayor Vince Schoemehl; wife of Brian Sullivan, deputy Democratic director at St. Louis City Election Board
*No party committeewoman account filed at MEC

Old 12th Ward Democratic Committeeman Gregory F.X. Daly
Collector of Revenue (see above)

Old 12th Ward Republican Committeewoman Mary Therese McLean
Neighborhood: Princeton Heights
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: owner of Morning to Midnight Media; owner of Totally Renewed (using Farmington Mo address)
Other Elected Office: former candidate for State Senate 2022
Other Party Office: chair of St. Louis City Republican Party
Other Political: treasurer for 2nd Ward Alder candidate Phill Menendez
Campaign Finance
Termination 12/09/2022: Transferring $870.81 to new committee not identified
November 2022 Report #2: $500 raised; $1,511.60 spent; $870.81 on hand; $0 debt
November 2022 Report #1: $0 raised; $0 spent; $1,882.41on hand; $0 debt
Treasurer: Chris Clark (former treasurer for former candidate for State Senator 2018; former treasurer for former candidate for 23rd Ward Alder Robert Crump 2013; former treasurer for former candidate for Sheriff Robert Vroman Sternberg 2012)
*No party committeewoman account filed at MEC

Old 12th Ward Republican Committeeman Joe Carretero
Neighborhood: Boulevard Heights, New 2nd Ward
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: currently at Campbell Security; retired sergeant at St. Louis Police Dept, “Kettle” lawsuit; was security manager for Pulitzer Arts Foundation while a policer officer; retired sergeant major from U.S. Army
Campaign Finance
*No party committeeman account filed at MEC

Old 13th Ward Democratic Committeewoman– Vacant

Old 13th Ward Democratic Committeeman Fred Wessels Jr.
Neighborhood: Holly Hills
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: co-owner of Poderosa Properties; former Community Development Agency Director; former executive director of St. Louis Peregrine Society
Other Elected Office: former State Rep, former 13th Ward Alder, former candidate for City Treasurer
Campaign Finance
April 2023 Report: $0 raised; $0 spent; $1,477.45 on hand; $0 debt
January 2023 Report: $0 raised; $0 spent; $1,477.45 on hand; $0 debt
October 2022 Report: $0 raised; $0 spent; $1,477.45 on hand; $0 debt
Treasurer: Gloria Wessels (owner of Cruises & Tours by Gloria; wife of Committeeman Wessels; treasurer of Leadership Committee PAC 2014-2016)

Old 13th Ward Republican Committeewoman Diane Dailey
Neighborhood:
Residence Tax Abated:
Occupation: realtor, retired sergeant at St. Louis Police Dept
Campaign Finance
*No party committeeman account filed at MEC

Current 13th Ward Republican Committeeman Matt Kotraba
See former Alder candidates below

Former Public Officials

Former 12th Ward Alder William ‘Bill’ Stephens
Neighborhood: Boulevard Heights
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: former librarian
Other Elected Office: candidate for State Rep. 2022
Other Political: Chair of LGBTQ Caucus, Missouri Democratic Party
Campaign Finance
Account says it is a candidate committee for State Rep 81st District in 8/6/2024 Primary
January 2023 Report: Limited Activity
October 2022 Report: Limited Activity
September 2022 Report: $500 raised; $2,515.84 spent; $2,686.15 on hand; $5,108.16 debt
Treasurer: Madeline Buthod (14th Ward Committeewoman)

Former 12th Ward Alder Larry Arnowitz (deceased)
Campaign Finance
April 2023 Report: Limited Activity
October 2022 Report: Limited Activity (late)
July 2022 Report: Limited Activity (late)
April 2022 Report: Limited Activity (late)
January 2022 Report: Limited Activity (late)
October 2021 Report: Limited Activity (late)
July 2021 Report: Limited Activity (late)
April 2021 Report: Limited Activity (late)
October 2020 Report: Limited Activity (late)
July 2020 Report: $0 raised, $0 spent, $21,745.06 on hand, $0 debt
Deputy Treasurer: Philomena Arnowitz (wife/widow Of Alder Arnowitz)

Former Alder Candidates

Tony Kirchner
Neighborhood: Bevo Mill
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: deputy sheriff
2023 Alder General Election: 1,472 (47.4%)
2023 Alder Primary: 2nd of 3 candidates, 1,088 of Votes of 2,670
Campaign Finance
April 2023 Report: $5,200 raised ($2,600 Todd Schnuck- Schnuck Markets, $2,600 Husch Blackwell- Lawyers of TIF); $12,152.86 spent ($3,000 G3 Strategies- Greg Christian, PIO @ City Sheriff); $10,912.53 on hand; $2,000 debt
March 2023 Report: $14,890 raised ($2,600 Commerce Bank, $2,600 attorney Jerry Schlichter, $2,500 former Emerson Electric CEO David Farr, $1000 Leadership Counts- a legal money laundry for Steve Stone + STL Cardinals + LIUNA 42 + Kevin Short, $250 former Mayor Vince Schoemehl, $150 former 17th Ward Alder Joe Roddy); $14,577.74 spent; $17,865.39 on hand; $2,000 debt
February 2023 Report #2: $7,785 ($1,000 LIUNA 42, $250 Alder Jack Coatar, $100 former Sheriff Jim Murphy, $100 Alder Carol Howard); $0 spent; $17,553.13 on hand; $2,000 debt
February 2023 Report #1: $3,715 raised ($500 St. Louis Police Officers Assn, $300 former 8th Ward Alder Steve Conway, $250 Lobbyist/Lawyers of TIF David Sweeney), $3,183.20 spent (mostly on mailing), $9,768.13 on hand, $2,000 debt
January 2023 Report #2: $1,682 raised, $2,529.17 spent, $9,236.33 on hand, $2,000 debt
January 2023 Report #1: $11,368 raised ($1,000 from accused rapist Steve Roberts, $250 from Terence Niehoff- Alder Coatar’s PAC treasurer, $2,000 loan from the candidate), $1,284.50 spent, $10,083.50 on hand, $2,000 debt
Treasurer: Jen Graves

Matthew E. Kotraba
Note: There is a Matthew T. “Toby” Kotraba who is a St. Louis City firefighter and insurance agent
Neighborhood: Boulevard Heights
Residence Tax Abated: No
Occupation: infrastructure manager at BJC HealthCare
Party Office: 13th Ward Republican Committeeman
2023 Alder Primary: 3rd place of 3 candidates, 409 Votes of 2,670
Campaign Finance
Terminated committee 04/05/2023: $85 raised; $1,008.24 spent ($835.94 returned to donors); $0 on hand; $0 debt
February 2023 Report: $410 raised; $523.13 spent; $923.24 on hand; $0 debt
January 2023 Report #2: $550 raised ($500 St. Louis City GOP); $2,733.63 spent ($975 Newstalk STL radio); $1,036.37 on hand; $0 debt
January 2023 Report #1: $3,220 raised; $0 spent; $3,220 on hand; $0 debt
October 2022 Report: Limited Activity
Treasurer: Deb Bennett
* No party committeeman account filed at MEC

* 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.

** A committeeperson who is also an elected official is not required to have a separate campaign finance account for committeeperson contributions and expenses.

***appointed by Mayor Lyda Krewson, then Mayor Tishaura Jones