A well-intentioned effort to agree upon a consensus candidate for Democrat from North St. Louis in the 4th Senatorial District has not succeeded, which means that both Jerryl Christmas and state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed will be considered by Democratic committeepeople when they vote this weekend for the party’s candidate in the special election occasioned by the resignation of state Sen. Jeff Smith.
Two South Side candidates, state Rep. Rachel Storch and Joseph Keaveny, also seek the nomination.
It is discouraging that North City committeepeople could not come together to agree on a consensus candidate. Minorities are, by definition, at a disadvantage in electoral politics, and unity is sorely needed if we are to succeed in our efforts for equitable and effective political representation.
The committeepeople may not have been able to agree on a choice between Christmas and Nasheed, but we believe the choice is clear. Christmas is an intelligent man, with a proven concern for his community and a record of public service (currently in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill), but Nasheed is more experienced in the present political realities of the state capital. As a freshman legislator working against a hostile Republican majority, she has successfully passed legislation and earned considerable respect from veteran legislators on both sides of the aisle for her willingness to ask questions and learn the system.
To be candid, Jeff Smith will be a difficult act to follow. We have questioned his political judgment and loyalties for some time, and we were not as surprised as many to learn that he was capable of conspiring to obstruct justice in the federal investigation into petty campaign fraud he had committed. However, Smith worked hard to learn the political culture in Republican-dominated Jefferson City and he leaves behind a successful legislative record, including paternity legislation that will benefit many African Americans and tax credits that will benefit the City of St. Louis. He should not be replaced by someone who jets in from Washington after years away from local battles, but by someone who has been fighting Republicans – and finding ways to work with them – here in Missouri.
Of course, Storch also has experience in the state Legislature – more experience than Nasheed, though with less legislative success to her credit. Her independence also has earned her the opposition of Mayor Francis G. Slay, which he denies – and this alone will endear her to many African Americans. No one in the 4th Senatorial District should have any reason to regret if Storch wins the Democratic nomination this weekend. We expect she would serve the district and St. Louis well in Jefferson City. Above all, committeepeople who wish to neutralize the impact of this mayor, who has done so much to marginalize our community and its interests, will want to vote against his candidate – Keaveny – and see that he is not sent to Jefferson City to do Slay’s bidding.
However, with our editorial mission of increasing the representation of African Americans in public service and leadership positions, we urge the committeepeople in the district to support Nasheed in her effort to secure the nomination. Given the demographics of the district, even with Missouri Democrats shamed by the guilty pleas and resignations of Smith and state Rep. Steve Brown, the Democratic nominee almost certainly will win the special election in the 4th Senatorial District. So this weekend these 36 committeepeople will choose one of Missouri’s 34 state senators. This new senator will go to work with – and against – a Republican majority at a time when declining state revenues will require a large number of budget cuts and consolidations. It is more important than ever that St. Louis and African Americans have a fierce and loyal ally in the state Senate. They will find her in Jamilah Nasheed. We endorse JAMILAH NASHEED FOR STATE SENATE.