Stage set for three-way mayor’s race
Slay, left, faces challenges from Maida Coleman, center, and Irene J. Smith
Outgoing State Sen. Maida Coleman has issued a press release indicating her intention to file for mayor today, the last day candidates can put their name on the ballot for the March 3 primary.
Coleman, who has served in Jefferson City for over a dozen years in both the House and Senate, faces an uphill climb in her attempt to unseat Mayor Francis Slay, who has over $1 million in the bank as he seeks a third term.
Also in the race is former Alderman Irene J. Smith, who Slay defeated in 2005. This year, she poses more of a threat to taking votes away from Coleman than from chipping into Slay’s base.
In her release, Coleman provided a preview of the issues she intends to put before voters as she embarks on a campaign that, win or lose, will be barely three months long.
“Under the current administration, St. Louis has been named the most dangerous city in the US. St. Louis Public Schools have been taken over by the state, jobs are disappearing in droves and the city has become more polarized than ever,” Coleman said. “I believe St. Louis deserves a mayor who wants to represent the whole community and not simply a small portion.”
Coleman is expected to make her entrance into the race official shortly before filing closes at 5 p.m.
I’m not voting for either black woman. Coleman or Smith have not shown me anything that proves they would do anything better than Slay. If anything I think they have both shown they want to take us backward not forward.
Unless Smith drops out to endorse Coleman (and it won’t work the other way, since voters didin’t buy “Buckethead” Smith in 2005), the next mayor of St. Louis will be Francis Slay. And even if Smith does drop out, the next mayor will still probably be Francis Slay. Coleman isn’t a top drawer leader any more than Smith. Still, Slay deserves competition and should have to spend the crazy amount of money he has raised.
Gimme a break, Stlblue, it was when parents did step up and run for the Board and say they were not going to put up with the public schools crap anymore that Slay went to the state and begged for takeover. He couldn’t stand that he wasn’t the one who got to decide who would be on the board, the voters did. The fact that those parents were dedicated to making the schools better didn’t matter to him at all. And if he was that way about the schools, he’s that way with other stuff too. Smith needs to bow out so those tired of being ruled by a dictator can all join behind one candidate and get the job done.
Why would anybody vote for Slay again?Here the reason not to-Let rich people moved into condos downtown,tax free for the next 20 years while long time citizens faced an increasing tax burden-Mass curruption on a grand scale with the police deparment-the fiasco of Ballpark Village-worseining
crime,murder,social diseases,etc.-Schools in turmoil and so much more.Let all keep this in mind when it time to vote for a new mayor.
I will take 3-1 odds at 20 that Slay wins. The two women will split the black vote just enough to assure Slay gets reelected. Actually, maybe one of the candidates is a Slay plant.
I really wish Irene would just be an adult for once and go sit down and say “hey this race isn’t for me because I don’t stand a chance”.
Now I don’t really think Coleman or Slay have a realy clue on how to deal with things in North St. Louis. They don’t have that connection.
The Mayor will still be Slay until the end of his next term when he decides to allow McMillian to run…yeah when he tells him it’s o.k.
Not much of a choice, if its really any choice. As for the public schools, its was Slay and his good buddies, like Vince Shameless who bleed the schools dry with their good buddy contracts and under the table deals. In fact, Slay was totally against state involvement until hours just after his people were dethroned from the school board. Then he chose to be vindictive and worked hard to bring the state in. I think that alone speaks volumes as to the integrity of Slay. As to Coleman, a career politician and Smith, well, we dont need more egomaniacs in seats of power. We need someone who will do what is good for the whole city. Not themselves, or their birth district or whatever relationship is there. If you cant help the city as a whole, dont even step up. Dem , Independent or Rethug, it doesnt matter, as long as they are honestly doing what is good for the whole city.
Slay. . . mayor for life
What is wrong with you people….the city is more vibrant than ever under slay….what about the all american city award or the International Award for Revitalization….no one ever remembers the good! St. Louis has come a long way and will continue. Yes the public schools need some work and crime needs to stop but that will not get better in a short period of time especially in a new administration. Francis cares a lot about the city and contrary to most people may think he is not racist. Im tired of my city pitting races against each other. We are all humans not lets act like it. Lets get past are differences and unite to be a great city by putting aside the blame game and working together!!
njgn94-The only thing Slay do for this city is what is good to lined his greedy pockets.You don’t have to go to Chicago for Chicago style politics.