Slay offers kudos to McMillan, once seen as potential rival
Slay, left, and McMillan
ST. LOUIS — Last year, at the height of speculation over who would run for mayor, incumbent Mayor Francis Slay hired an opposition research firm to look into License Collector Mike McMillan, the City Hall Democrat seen as the most viable challenger.
McMillan decided against running, and today Slay offered something new to McMillan: A compliment.
On his website today, Slay praised McMillan for cutting costs in the License Collector’s office, citing it as an example of “responsive, prudent governance.”
McMillan on Monday announced that he had cut staff and vehicles, and ordered remaining employees to take a furlough. McMillan also delivered a half-million in business license revenue collected by his office to the city’s general fund, which can now go towards police, firefighters and other city services.
The cuts are a savvy political move for McMillan, who is burnishing his policy resume while waiting for a higher office to open up.
But it’s also an insight into the anachronistic system of city government.
State-chartered offices like McMillan’s that perform “county” functions — called “county offices,” or, just as often, “patronage offices” — are run by independently elected officials under no obligation to trim costs like the rest of City Hall, or, for the most part, turn over excess revenue in tough times.
All the mayor, the nominal head of city government, can do is what he did today: Say thank you.
I wonder if those specially printed birthday cards from McMillan to registered voters on their birthdays, complete with coupons from businesses that are chummy with Mike, are among the cuts. Though really a transparent campaign ad for McMillan, the cards have no disclaimer disclosing who paid for them, suggesting that it was indeed taxpayer funds paying for them.
Slay wouldn’t know “responsive, prudent governance” if it bit him in the posterior. Look at how much dead wood he has on that cesspool he calls a staff, not to mention the incompetents he has appointed.
I don’t believe for a second that we taxpayers are paying for the birthday well-wishes from Mike McMillan. Those come from him and his campaign, I’ll bet. And I think they are pretty nice.
Here we have two excellent examples of why the city is going down the drain. Exhibit A: Francis Slay, who might just be the most corrupt and thuggish official in the city today. Look into the Slay family’s connections with the infamous Leisures and you’ll see what I mean.
On the other hand: Exhibit B. Mike McMillan. Someone who might, just might, have a shred of decency, but as shown this last year, lacks any kind of testicular fortitude.
p.s. Here’s to a competitive and meaningful mayor’s race in 2013!
Hey, Oracle - Why are you so upset that a guy actually gets government working for the people? As a small business owner, I’m glad our officials are taking a St. Louis first attitude. And by the way, the printing on mine says they aren’t paid for at taxpayers’ expense.
But the law requires more than saying who didn’t pay for them. Since it clearly benefits the public official who is ingratiating himself to voters with the cards and coupons, the card (and maybe the coupons) are required to say who did pay for them. They don’t, and that’s a clear violation of campaign finance laws. (Worth noting that Mac’s crony stayinthecity assures us that “Those come from him and his campaign.”)