Tishaura O. Jones has received endorsements for St. Louis mayor from two progressive groups in the city, the St. Louis Young Democrats and Mobilize Missouri, as well as Jake Zimmerman, St. Louis County assessor and recent candidate for Missouri attorney general.
The St. Louis Young Democrats, a group of 18-40 year olds dedicated to electing Democrats to office and promoting the concerns of young people in the political arena, voted on an endorsement after the group’s mayoral forum on February 7. Jones won a clear majority – 58 percent – of the 59 St. Louis Young Democrats members who voted, distantly followed by Lyda Krewson (25 percent), Lewis Reed (9 percent) and Antonio French (7 percent).
“Tishaura is the candidate working hard to bring all sections of St. Louis together,” said Sergio Haro, St. Louis Young Democrats’ director of local politics & grassroots organizing. “As a Latino in this city, it is exciting to have a candidate that will look at policy decisions through a racial equity lens.”
The St. Louis Young Democrats, which has 136 members, will participate in a canvassing event for Jones.
Mobilize Missouri – a grassroots coalition of progressive organizers and volunteers founded by the former state leadership of the Bernie Sanders campaign – said Tishaura Jones “has the vision, passion and understanding of the issues that will help move our city forward.”
“After four years in the Treasurer’s Office, she has brought fresh ideas and programs to the city, modernized our parking systems, and created a nationally recognized program helping our children save for college,” Mobilize Missouri stated in a lengthy endorsement.
“She speaks about being smart on crime, not just tough on crime, and wants to bring social workers on to assist the police department and close down the workhouse; a symbol of what’s wrong with our justice system today. She knows development cannot just focus on the wealthiest neighborhoods if we want to improve the lives of all of our citizens and she has bright ideas about how to address those inequities.”
Zimmerman – who served with Jones 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 – called 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,” stated 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.”
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.
The municipal primary election is Tuesday, March 7. Absentee voting is underway.
