Chilly weather leads to slow morning at polls
A voter in the 23rd Ward, where seven Democrats are vying for an open seat
ST. LOUIS — Election officials are reporting an “extremely low” turnout to the start of today’s municipal primary in the city.
Weather may have something to do with it: It’s 19 degrees now, with temperatures expected to peek above freezing in the afternoon.
It the 21st Ward — where Alderman Bennice Jones King is facing a tough battle from committeeman Antonio French — Elections Director Scott Leiendecker said there was barely a trickle of voters.
“Every time I went into a polling place, there was either zero voters or one voter,” he said.
in the 23rd and 25th Wards — the only wards with open aldermanic seats — turnout sounded slightly better, though nothing even close to approaching the long lines generated the last time voters went to the polls in November.
St. Louis voters are weighing-in on the mayor’s race and half the Board of Aldermen. There are three Democrats running for mayor, including incumbent Francis Slay, and two contenders vying for the Green Party nomination.
Slay, seeking his third term, was expected to cast his ballot around 9 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, his new polling place since moving into the 12th Ward last year.
Polls opened at 6 a.m. We should have absentee vote totals shortly after the polls close at 7 p.m. Be sure to check-in throughout the night — we’ll post partial results as they come in.
The final tally should be available before 11 p.m.
Jake, I find it strange that you’ve stopped naming the other candidates. You did not bother to report on anything during the campaign, and now you won’t even name the candidates.
You are a disgrace, and you are putting your employer out of business.
When the returns come in today, the Post’s irrelevance will become apparent. Vote Irene J. Smith in the Democratic Primary!
irenejsmith.com or irenejsmith.blogspot.com
I was the only voter at my polling place this morning. I hoped I would see more people because of the race for mayor and the “yes we can” spirit from just a few months ago. Irene Smith loses today…not only because she embarrassed our great city, but because her supporters(outside of the 5-10 who post on these blogs) don’t care enough to vote.
anyone got a list of who voted for the spending of money for the street rename so I can make sure not to vote for them? They came up with the money to pay for the street signs but they cannot come up with the money to pay for new speedlimit signs and SCHOOL signs in neighborhood. Interesting set of priorties for spending there
wingrider01, that was Alderwoman Kacie Starr-Triplett’s idea.
BTW, I am embarrassed that Slay got elected twice. Irene Smith will win today.
I hope Irene Smith doesn’t win…hasn’t she embassed St. Louis enough???
The final straw for Irene was last week on “Saint Louis on the Air.” She mentioned the money she intends to spend on job-training for people to learn how to rehab houses in the city of Saint Louis. This proves how out of touch she is. There are THOUSANDS of small business Rehabbers out of work…with little or no opportunities to rehab in the city…and she wants to add more competition to the pool???!!! Silly. Her plans to rejuvinate go no farther than removing Slay because she doesn’t like him. Then what do we do?? If you haven’t voted yet, please vote for what is best for Saint Louis! Her own supporters know she doesnt have a good plan, thats why they’ll stay home today, like most days.
Where Am I? There’s this thing called the stimulus. It provides money for rehabbing. Maybe you’ve heard of it?
Now go back to the Slay campaign office. Right now, you’re just wasting Rex Sinquefield and Paul McKee’s money.
It may have been Alderwoman Kacie Starr-Triplett’s idol worshipping idea but it takes more then one to get it to pass - they all need to be shown the door and given 50 cents to purchase a clue on what is and is not important when running a city in todays economy.
Another list of duds on the ballot again. When will it change? And not the kind of change in the White House today. St. Louis has been strangled by his party for decades.
Same methods, same results St. Louis.
AJS,
So because more FED funds are available, we should spend large amount of that money to train people how to rehab houses? …even though there is a huge supply of current Rehabbers awaiting the same opportunity? If thats the Irene way, then I’m right for voting for Slay. Why not spend money on reasons for Rehabbers to rehab within our city limits. If you buy a house for $100K and put $30K into it and can only sell it for $110K, what good does rehab training do for you? Not to mention the THOUSANDS of others trying to do the same thing. Hopefully Coleman has a better plan than those on today’s ballot…but Irene Smith does not! AJS, I’m not wasting my time, I’m looking for a job…A rehabber recently laid me off because there was no opportunity for work in this city…Check Craigslist for the Thousands of others just like me.