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09.05.2008 10:29 am

Maida Coleman running for mayor?

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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The Arch City Chronicle is keeping tabs on the rumor mill: They’ve got outgoing State Sen. Maida Coleman mulling a potential bid for the mayor’s office. Maida Coleman

Coleman’s name has been linked to other offices since she arrived in Jefferson City. Two years ago, her bid for State Auditor was thwarted by the disclosure that she had previously filed for bankruptcy.

As the Chronicle also mentions, Coleman considered running against Mike McMillan for License Collector.

McMillan, in his second year as License Collector, had been considered the front-runner to challenge Mayor Francis Slay, but after talking with the mayor at the Democratic Convention in Denver, has said he decided not to run. 

That would appear to leave the door open for Coleman, who has already made clear her disdain for Slay. During a meeting of the city’s Democratic Committee last month, Coleman took exception with a contribution the committee gave to Slay.

“This insults half of the organization,” Coleman said at the meeting.

If she decided to run, Coleman could find strong support in a coalition of constituencies — unions, teachers, allies of former Fire Chief Sherman George — that have been irked by the mayor over his second term.

But it would be far tougher for Coleman to match Slay financially — he has more than $850,000 in the bank already, and with campaign contribution limits no longer a worry, should have no problem continuing to raise the green.

15 comments

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Are those cheers I hear coming from City Hall Room 200?

Good luck with that endeavor, Senator Coleman.

— stldem
11:08 am September 5th, 2008

Will Zaki Baruti be her campaign manager?

— Nick Kasoff
11:20 am September 5th, 2008

Coleman would without a doubt raise enough money to mount a formidable campaign and be elected the first woman mayor of St. Louis.

Best of luck, Maida.

— RightON
11:22 am September 5th, 2008

If the Sen. can work the magic that Wright-Jones did. Then Slay’s 850k plus means nothing. There is enough ill will towards Slay on both sides of town that whoever runs is starting with 5k votes. They will need about 13k to win in a low turn out election in March.

— Rick James
11:58 am September 5th, 2008

They need more than 13K votes to win the primary.

Seriously, is Maida still looking for a job?

I would pay attention just to watch the carnage. Last I heard no Senators can rely on her gathering more than one vote on the floor…hers. She’s a failure.

I guess she’s pals with Don Suggs. He is desparate for power and under Slay he hasn’t been able to pad his bank account like he did with the past 2 mayors.

— Indy racer
12:12 pm September 5th, 2008

I can only hope this is true.

Run, Maida, Run!

— suzyjax
12:37 pm September 5th, 2008

coleman is going to win on the backs of Sherman George supporters, voters and teachers.

Not bloody likely…

— amazedbythespinners
2:18 pm September 5th, 2008

“Slay’s $850k means nothing”

hahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha

Please keep in mind he has $850k without a challenger. If an AA joins the race to split the vote, watch the $$’s come flooding into Slay’s coffers.

— pragmatist
2:22 pm September 5th, 2008

Slay would be lucky to draw Coleman as an opponent. How long do you think it will take Callow and Rainford to remind the voters that seven years ago Coleman had to file for bankruptcy because she owed a dozen creditors over $11,000? She can’t even manage her own budget, how are we going to trust her to manage the City’s??

— insider
2:38 pm September 5th, 2008

Really, you think money can buy elections? Go have a chat with Clinkscale and Buford and then come back and we’ll talk. Not only would everyone who voted in that election vote against Slay, but add the other factions that are mad. You think enough people really like Slay so much they will come out with the same fervor as those who don’t like him will? Yeah yeah, blather on about money. Means nothing, especially when so many Slay donors don’t even live in the city. That means, fyi, they can’t vote for him. What is wrong with you people that you think people with connections to money are the ones who deserve to be in charge? I have much less trouble trusting someone who knows the real world where sometimes there isn’t enough money, than someone who thinks he is entitled to whatever job he wants because he loves power. If Slay knew how to manage budgets he wouldn’t be giving all the city revenue away through tax abatement and then telling city workers he has no money for their raises, but oh sure, there is plenty to give raises to his friends who work for him!

— slaysick
3:32 pm September 5th, 2008

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