Eleventh Ward Dems — including Villas — back Wright-Jones
Party leaders were relieved when State Rep. Tom Villa decided not to seek the 5th District Senate seat, a possibility that could have resulted in no African-American senators representing St. Louis. 
But although Villa is not running himself, he is now aligned with a candidate: State Rep. Robin Wright-Jones, her campaign announced today.
His support, however, is not quite a straight-forward endorsement.
Villa was one of four Democratic leaders from the Eleventh Ward — the southernmost ward in the city — to vote this weekend to endorse Wright-Jones.
The panel also included ward Committeewoman Kathy Gamache and Committeeman Joe Ryan, and Tom’s nephew, Alderman Matt Villa.
Even so, Villa’s support — whatever form it takes — is a boon for Wright-Jones, who has watched citywide elected officials Greg F.X. Daly, Jennifer Joyce and Lewis Reed fall behind her primary rival, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard.
Tom Villa – a Democratic stalwart who has held office at City Hall or Jefferson City for the better part of 30 years – could help Wright-Jones shore up her support in south St. Louis, where seasoned voters will remember Villa’s father (and Matt’s grandfather), legendary alderman Albert “Red” Villa.
Pulling in the Villa family is a big upset for Robin. This will definitely give her more firepower on the southside. Tom’s endorsement couldn’t have come at a better time for Robin.
It’s probably too little too late for Robin at this point…
An old Representative’s endorsement for Robin, and not the actual ward’s endorsement, which would have included some of the Republican’s endorsements as well, means little for Robin’s chance at winning the election.
Even if endorsements the final say in elections, Rodney would win in a landslide.
If you would read the article, you would see that Robin got the endorsement of not only Rep. Villa, but also the 11th ward alderman and the ward committee. Try and downplay it if you want, but this one is pretty big. Oh yeah, Rodney is not winning in a landslide.
This is HUGE! It’s certainly better than Brian Wahby’s endorsement of Hubbard. Had Hubbard been able to secure Villa, he could’ve won So. St. Louis. Now he won’t and the winner in So. St. Louis is the winner of the 5th.
Between Robin and Villa, can those two even make it up the steps to knock on any doors? LOL! Villa made a big political mistake by backing a lazy candidate like Robin. She has no record at all. She hasn’t passed a single bill! Villa should know better. Then again, maybe he thinks he can control her more than a Rodney Hubbard.
Slay, Sinquefeld, & McKee control Rep. Hubbard. The “lazy” tag is getting old. “Lazy” candidates don’t continue to get endorsements as the race draws to an end. Hubbard has spent over a 180k on this campaign and a “lazy” candidate is in the lead. Ask Hubbard for his poll results. LOL!