Coleman confusion takes center stage at City Hall
Maida Coleman, left, and Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman
Not since a deranged tarp ate up a Cardinal outfielder in the 1985 National League Championship Series has a Coleman caused so much consternation in St. Louis.
On Friday afternoon, a double-shot of Colemans seeking to become mayor threw what was supposed to be a tidy Democratic primary into disarray.
Just about an hour or so before outgoing State Sen. Maida Coleman, another Coleman — attorney Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman – threw her name into the contest.
Maida Coleman then abruptly took her name out of the running for the March primary, claiming that someone put the other Coleman in as ruse to confuse voters.
Instead, Coleman will seek to join the race as an independent, setting up a scenario where Maida could face Mayor Francis Slay in the April general election.
Over the weekend, both Slay and Watson-Wesley Coleman denied being involved in any political name games.
Meanwhile, the clock is running on Maida Coleman’s bid to file as a nonpartisan candidate. According to the Board of Elections, she has until Feb. 17 to submit the required 526 voter signatures to get her name on the ballot.
While it would be difficult for any candidate to win the mayor’s race without first getting the Democratic nomination, the attention generated by this surname flap could give Maida Coleman’s efforts an extra boost.
Either way, it could be the first time in years that the city saw a compelling match-up in the general election for mayor.
So here’s how it’ll go down … Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman will get 35% against Slay in the primary. Maida Coleman will get 35% against Slay in the general. Then, some genius will say that means 70% of voters are opposed to Slay.