ST. LOUIS • If there are any doubts that Francis Slay intends to be the longest-serving mayor in city history, his latest fundraising totals should go a long way toward dispelling them.

His quarterly campaign report filed last week shows Slay raised $228,000 the last three months of the year, giving him a total of just under $1 million cash on hand. 

Slay is already in rare company as one of four St. Louis mayors who have been elected three times. Winning a fourth four-year term would give him the longest lease ever on Room 200.

His next election, the March 2013 Democratic primary, is more than a year away, but, true to form, the politically cautious Slay has been busy raising money, and retaining a cadre of aides that keep his campaign machine humming all year round.

Slay's campaign payroll features two fundraising consultants, a media consultant, three new media firms, a bookkeeper and a photographer.

Potentially standing in their way of making history is Lewis Reed, Board of Aldermen president, the same position that Slay held when he made the leap to mayor in 2001.

Reed is thought to be working towards making the same jump next year. His fundraising, while not nearly as strong as Slay's, shows some vibrancy, namely in the form of union support.

While labor cash doesn't hurt, it's their organization, rather than money, that stands to benefit Reed the most. 

Reed has $163,000 on hand, although $25,000 of that is a loan Reed received from a relative on Dec. 30, the penultimate day of the fundraising quarter. It was likely meant to boost his end-of-year cash total, though, at 5.5 percent interest, its unclear who's doing who the favor.

Either way, Reed will certainly have less money than Slay, although that does not necessarily put the challenger at a terminal disadvantage.

In 2007, Reed's patchwork coalition of disgruntled progressives, fire fighters and northside voters emerged to oust incumbent Board President Jim Shrewsbury, who was perhaps the most experienced campaigner at City Hall.

Should he decide to run against Slay, Reed will have an even more daunting task in 2013.

But there is a reason that no St. Louis mayor has served more than a dozen years — it's not easy to stay that long.