New Ward Profiles Updated

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

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

ICYMI (Krewson and Keaveny) Because I Sure Did

Another run by Lyda?

Former St. Louis City Mayor Lyda Krewson still has an active MEC account. Per her January 2023 Report, she has $337,460.92 on hand. Under expenses, she’s also still a client of Kelley Group, which recently ran the losing Board President campaign for Alder Jack Coatar.

Krewson’s MEC account says she is running for citywide office in the 8/6/2024 Primary Election. Citywide offices on that ballot include City Treasurer, City Sheriff, and City Circuit Attorney.

Krewson has been added to the New 9th Ward Profile page under Former Public Officials.

Lots of campaign money in New 10th Ward

It turns out former State Senator Joe Keaveny is sitting on $168,641.65. His MEC account says he is running statewide in 8/6/2024 Primary Election.

Keaveny’s replaced former State Senator Jeff Smith in 2009 after Smith resigned after pleading guilty to two congressional campaign related felonies. He was last on a ballot in 2014.

Keaveny has been added to the New 10th Ward Profile under Former Public Officials. Additional campaign finance information has also been added to the bios for State Senator Karla May and State Rep. Del Taylor on same page.

Mayor Tishaura Jones, Comptroller Darlene Green, and Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner all reside in New 10th Ward.

Also

St. Louis City War Chests has been revised to account for Krewson and Keaveny, who are now #2 and #4 on the list. The numbering has also been fixed. Keep those tips, addition s, corrections coming.

January 2023 Reports to MEC are starting to trickle in. They are optional reports, not mandatory. New Ward Profiles will be updated with new campaign finance info as they get filed and I have time (or an interest) to do so.

Ward Profiles & Future Alder Money Updates

The New Ward Profiles have been updated with last day candidate filings for Alders.

Next week, they will be updated for new committee activity at Missouri Ethics Commission and some other tidying up.

New Ward Profiles WILL be updated for candidate campaign report information after one or more of the following:

January Quarterly Report: Due January 17th. Optional for all committees. The closing date for this report was December 31st. Any money raised after that date will not be reported in January Quarterly. Again, it’s each committee’s decision on whether to make a January Report
And/Or 40 Days Before Election Report: Due January 26th. Required only if committee 1) accepted contributions (money or in-kind), 2) had expenses (paid or incurred), or 3) donated to another committee. The closing date for this report is January 21st.
And/Or 8 Days Before Election Report: Due February 27th. Required only if committee 1) had expenses (paid or incurred) or 2) donated to another committee. The closing date for this report is February 23rd.
And/Or 30 Day After Election Report: Due March 6th. The closing date is March 1st. Required only if the committee had expenses (paid or incurred) or made contributions to other committees. The closing date for this report is March 1st.

The New Ward Profiles WILL NOT be updated with:

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

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

Also

The smaller the political subdivision, the more likely a candidate will file late reports (and pay fines for it) or incorrect reports that are later amended. Committees also play the didn’t get a bill until after the election game where expenses are reported after the election.

Nasheed has a consultant business

Vintage postcard of Missouri State Capitol

On October 28, 2020, Jamilah Nasheed and LaTanya Reeves organized a business, a Limited Liability Corporation, with the Missouri Secretary of State. At the time, Nasheed was a Missouri State Senator, and would be so for another two months, and Reeves worked in Mayor Lyda Krewson’s office.

Many state legislators own businesses and work at jobs other than their elected positions. In 2018, however, 62% of Missourians approved Constitutional Amendment 1 (Clean Missouri), which included an increase from six months to two years for the waiting period for legislators to become lobbyists.

Nasheed’s may have violated that constitutional provision by organizing Ignite Strategic Consulting, purpose: “Governmental and political consulting and all other purposes allowable by law.”

At the very least, Nasheed violated the intent of the law- to stop the revolving door of state legislators cashing in on their elected office cachet- and she did so in a deceitful manner.

Reeves was the agent of record until August 2, 2022, when Nasheed replaced her, per filing with Secretary of State. Nasheed’s name would not show up on a records check prior to the August change. Was the business interest disclosed to Governor Mike Parson before he appointed her to the Board of Probation and Parole?

In addition to her work on the Board, Nasheed is a well known advocate and activist for privatization of public schools. But, as of today, she is not a registered lobbyist nor has ever been, per a search at Missouri Ethics Commission.

The St. Louis City address of the business should also be a concern. It’s the same address as State Representative Rasheen Aldridge.

Disclosure: I endorsed Jamilah Nasheed for Board President in 2019. We have since parted ways.

City Election Candidate Filing Opens Nov 28

Candidates for Board of Alder President and all 14 Ward Alder seats begin filing 8 am Monday, November 28. Filing ends 5 pm January 6. The Primary is March 7 and General Election is April 4.

For those of you interested in running and not part of a slate, or running on your own, and already collecting nominating signatures, here are the qualifications and requirements.

A candidate for Board of Alder President must be at least 30 years of age, a U.S. citizen for at least 5 years, St. Louis City resident for at least 5 years, an assessed City taxpayer for at least 2 years, and must not have been convicted of malfeasance in office, bribery or other corrupt practice or crime.

A candidate for Alder must be at least 25 years of age, a U.S. citizen for at least 5 years, St. Louis City resident for at least 3 years, a resident of the ward from which elected for at least one year, an assessed City taxpayer for at least 2 years, and must not have been convicted of malfeasance in office, bribery or other corrupt practice or crime.

✔️ All candidates for City office will need petition signatures for Certificate of Nomination.

✔️ All candidates must obtain a receipt from City Treasurer for payment of a filing fee equal to 1% of the salary of the office sought.

✔️ All candidates must obtain a Statement of Tax Clearance– confirmation the candidate is not delinquent in the payment of city taxes and water and refuse bills- from City Collector of Revenue.

Candidates must take their Certificate of Nomination, receipt for payment of filing fee, and Statement of Tax Clearance to the Board of Election to file by the deadline.

✔️ Candidates must also file campaign finance reports with Missouri Ethics Commission.

Also see Board of Election Candidate Filing Information.

Lawyers of TIF Donations to Alders

This survey includes campaign contributions reported to Missouri Ethics Commission, for report years 2019 to 2022 to date, to current members of the St. Louis City Board of Alders and interim Board President, regardless of what office, if any, is identified as their office sought.

This survey includes only campaign contributions by the major law firms engaged in development incentives, tax abatement, and tax increment financing, that I am aware of, and attorneys at those firms, regardless of whether their practice includes corporate welfare. Contributions are reported here regardless of whether the attorney today practices at the firm identified in MEC records.

There are links to law firm bios when the contributor is known to work for corporate welfare. When an attorney is also a lobbyist, there is also a link to their MEC lobbyist registration.

Contributions to Alders and the Board President who have vacated office over past four years- and there were a lot- are not included.

Contributions to ward organization- and there were some- are not included.

Contributions of amounts lower than $100 and not itemized by the candidate are not included, obviously.

Husch Blackwell (law firm)
2022 Jack Coatar $2,600 + Jack PAC $10,000
2021 Jack Coatar $2,600, Tom Oldenburg $2,600
2020 Jack Coatar $1,000
2019 Christine Ingrassia $500

Husch Blackwell (attorneys)
David Richardson
2022 Jack Coatar $1,000
2021 Jack Coatar $1,000
2019 Christine Ingrassia $250
Scott Hammell
2022 Tom Oldenburg $1,000
Steven McCandless
2021 Tom Oldenburg $500
Patrick Eckelkamp
2021 Tom Oldenburg $500

Lewis Rice (attorneys)
Bri Hoy
2019 Anne Schweitzer $250
Lucas Jackson
2022 Jack Coatar $250
Alfred Ludwig
2021 Cara Spencer $200
Jerina Phillips
2022 Megan Green $500
David Sweeney (lobbyist)
2022 Pam Boyd $500, Shameem Clark Hubbard $100 + $100, Jack Coatar $250 + $1,500 + $100, Michael Gras $250, Megan Green $500 + $500, Anne Schweitzer $100 + $200, Joe Vaccaro $500
2021 Jack Coatar $250, Tom Oldenburg $500
2020 Jack Coatar $200
2019 Dan Guenther $100, Bret Narayan $150, Joe Vaccaro $100, Joe Vollmer $250

Thompson Coburn (law firm)
2022 Jack Coatar $2,600

Thompson Coburn (attorneys)
Elizabeth Feldmeir
2021 Tom Oldenburg $1,000
Chris Hohn
2021 Tom Oldenburg $1,000
Jarrod Sharp
2021 Tom Oldenburg $1,000
Celeste Vossmeyer
2021 Cara Spencer $250 + $1,000
2020 Megan Green $500
William Kuehling (lobbyist) now private practice, previously at Thompson Coburn
2021 Cara Spencer $2,000 + $250
2020 Jack Coatar $100 + $100
2019 Carol Howard $250, Cara Spencer $250

Spencer Fane (attorneys)
Jack Coatar
2021 Cara Spencer $250
Bradford Cytron
2022 Jack Coatar $1000
James Dankenbring
2022 Jack Coatar $1,000 + $1,000
Robert Epstein
2022 Jack Coatar $200
Elizabeth Felker
2022 Jack Coatar $100
Jason Flower
2022 Jack Coatar $250
Arthur Gregg
2022 Jack Coatar $150
Gerald Greiman
2022 Jack Coatar $1,000 + $1,000 +$1,000
2021 Jack Coatar $250 + $500
2020 Jack Coatar $1,000 + $500
Thomas Jerry
2022 Jack Coatar $250
2021 Jack Coater $200
James Loranger
2022 Jack Coatar $150
Jessica Merrigan
2022 Anne Schweitzer $250
2020 Anne Schweitzer $50 + $250
2019 Anne Schweitzer $250
Robert Preston
2022 Jack Coatar $250 + $250
Francis Slay (former lobbyist)
2020 Jack Coatar $125
2020 Anne Schweitzer $200
Erik Solverud
2022 Jack Coatar $250

Also see Aldergeddon: October MEC Reports

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

School Board October Campaign Finance Reports

Only two of five candidates for St. Louis City School Board on November 8th ballot formed campaign finance committees and filed October finance reports with Missouri Ethics Commission.

Donna Jones raised $2,200 including $2,000 from AFT Local 420 and $200 from St. Louis City Labor Legislative Club; spent $28.10; has $2,171.90 on hand; $0 debt.

Emily Hubbard raised $3,095* including $2,000 from AFT Local 420; spent $1,448; has $1,646.12 on hand; $0 debt.

The other School Board candidates- David Jackson, Bill Monroe, and J.L. Quinones- did not form candidate committees. Missouri law requires candidate committees be formed by the thirtieth day before election if any of the following happens:

Candidate receives more than $325 from a single contributor (other than the candidate)
Candidate spends over $1,000 of their own money
Candidate’s contributions and expenditures are over $1,000

More information on the candidates.

*Marie Ceselski, the author of this blog post, is a donor to Emily Hubbard.

School Board Election Update

Donna Jones has filed a campaign committee with Missouri Ethics Commission. A link to her upcoming reports has been added to 2022 School Board Candidate Info page.

As of today, only Jones and Emily Hubbard have filed committees. October quarterly reports are due October 17th.

If you have an interest in learning how to file campaign finance reports with MEC, there is a Wednesday webinar.

School Board Candidates are required to file a campaign committee with Missouri Ethics Commission when any of the following occurs

+ Candidate receives more than $325 from a single contributor (other than the candidate)

+ Candidate spends over $1,000 of their own money

+ Candidate’s contributions and expenditures are over $1,000

A Candidate may file a committee before meeting any requirement to do so.