Aldermanic races begin to shape up
A hat tip to the Arch City Chronicle, which discovered that Joe Vaccaro — owner of a car wash on Hampton Avenue — has formed a committee to run for alderman in the 23rd Ward. 
Vaccaro has run three times before, including once as an Independent, when he lost to current Alderman Kathleen Hanrahan in 2004.
Whether Hanrahan will stick around to field the challenge, though, is unclear; the Chronicle suggests that Hanrahan might not seek re-election.
The 23rd Ward, which covers the leafy Lindenwood Park neighborhood, is always an interesting one to watch, if for no other reason than its political pedigree, which includes the Slay (as in the mayor) and Joyce (as in the city prosecutor) families.
Half of the aldermen — those in the odd-numbered wards — will be up for re-election next spring.
The Third Ward’s Jeffery Hardin has already announced he’ll once again take on nemesis Freeman Bosley Sr.
In the 5th Ward, the political fervor sparked by developer Paul McKee– the St. Charles County builder who has been hoarding land around Old North St. Louis — could spark someone to run against April Ford Griffin.
But the race to watch could be farther south, where it’s a good bet term-limited State Rep. Mike Daus will seek to unseat Jennifer Florida in the 15th.
Joe Vaccaro is the type of guy that would take action and get problems solved.