Slay

ST. LOUIS — Mayor Francis Slay played a pivotal behind the scenes role in tabbing the Democratic nominee to replace former state Sen. Jeff Smith, who stepped down last month after pleading guilty to a political cover-up.

But what about the contest to replace another convicted St. Louis lawmaker, State Rep. Talibdin El-Amin?

“Since no one has yet asked for my support, I can’t really answer the question,” Slay wrote on his blog over the weekend. “I can say this: I am, in general, much less interested in the outcome of the contest for a freshman seat in the minority party in the crowded House, than I am in the election of a state senator.”

Well, that could save someone a phone call.

El-Amin, whose district covers a stretch of northwest St. Louis, is poised to step down after pleading guilty to federal bribery charges on Thursday. He is the second city lawmaker in a month to plead guilty to federal corruption charges.

Earlier, Smith, whose Senate district covers about half of St. Louis, admitted lying to the FBI in a bid to conceal his involvement on a political mailer targeting U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan.

The Democratic choice to replace Smith in the Senate is 28th Ward Committeeman Joe Keaveny, who clinched the nominee in no small part due to lobbying by Slay.

Slay is correct in that Keaveny stands to have far more influence as a Senator than one of a handful of representatives in the city caucus.

It’s also, true, however, that Slay’s own influence would have carried far less in El-Amin’s district, which includes several wards where the mayor fared poorly in his otherwise successful re-election bid.