Supporters of Francis Slay converged on St. Louis University’s new basketball arena Friday, helping the mayor’s full-court fundraising press for 2009.

Slay has quietly amassed a robust re-election war chest, making the prospect of challenging him next year increasingly formidable. The mayor has already reported $642,236 campaign cash on hand, and that was before Friday’s $100 a person fundraiser at the Chaifetz Arena.

The event was held on the arena floor, with Slay’s new campaign slogan - “Standing Up for St. Louis” - displayed on the ribbon-boards around the stadium terrace. Slay has, once again, chosen blue and yellow for his campaign colors, and picked a slogan that strikes a civic theme. (2005: “We’ll be a great city again.”)

Despite Slay’s deep pockets, Friday’s fundraiser was not an opulent event. The bill of fare was, however, distinctly St. Louis: Budweiser, Imo’s pizza and, of course, Ted Drewes for dessert.

Though I arrived late - I was covering something else - the guests I did see included a sturdy crowd of political regulars: State Sen. Jeff Smith; Aldermen Bill Waterhouse, Kacie Starr Triplett and Dionne Flowers; Parks Director Gary Bess; Attorney David Newburger, Slay’s new Commissioner on the Disabled; Slay’s new campaign fundraiser, Matt Lieberman; Arch City Chronicle chief Dave Drebes; and Royale proprietor Steven Fitzpatrick Smith.

Also at the fundraiser were members of the Arch Rival girls roller-derby team, who were happy to be supporting Slay.

“Mayor Slay is a big fan of roller derby,” said member Barbara Tessmer, who rolls by the derby name “Suri O’Killer.”

Slay’s new campaign slogan and colors