Jake Zimmerman, St. Louis County assessor and recent candidate for Missouri attorney general, endorsed Tishaura O. Jones for St. Louis mayor in a statement released Monday, February 13, calling her “a great progressive voice for the region.”
“The mayor of St. Louis is the leader of the region’s largest municipality. The city mayor’s authority and influence on economic development and transportation issues match that of the county executive, and affect the direction of all our lives. That makes the person city voters choose really matter to county residents,” states Zimmerman, who votes in St. Louis County and will not be able to vote in the March 7 primary in the city.
“I believe that the region is best served by the election of Tishaura Jones as the city’s next mayor. I got into politics to make sure the system works for everyone, not just the privileged and connected. I have known Tishaura for over a decade as a hard-working state legislator and as an innovative municipal executive. I know she shares my values. She will be a great progressive voice for the region. I am proud to support her today.”
Zimmerman and Jones served together as Democrats in the Missouri House of Representatives 2008-2012, when Jones became the first African American elected by her Democratic colleagues to serve as assistant minority leader.
Last week, another of their former House colleagues, Jason Kander, who narrowly lost a bid for U.S. Senate in November, also endorsed Jones. Others who have endorsed Jones include state Senator Jamilah Nasheed, St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts, Alderwoman Megan Green and St. Louis County Councilwoman Rochelle Walton Gray.
