Someone asked me if I think Mark Mantovani will really support the issues that are important and critical to our community if elected St. Louis County executive. My response: The majority of African-American elected officials, many community leaders in North County and I have met with Mark Mantovani many times over the last 18 months. We believe he shares our concerns.
He has made a commitment to work with us to address issues that are important to us and the people we represent. I didn’t support Steve Stenger when he ran for county executive because I had a working relationship with him on the St. Louis County Council and I knew better. However, there are people who supported him because he gave them his word that he would work with them. He did not! Many of those people are now supporting Mantovani.
All you have is a person‘s word that they will do the right thing. If you find that they don’t, you replace them. It’s as simple as that. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Stenger has not done anything for our community.
Stenger never supported fairness in awarding contracts or minority inclusion in St. Louis County, but is running an ad taking credit for passing minority inclusion legislation. Not true! He closed the Office of Diversity and fired the African-American director of Diversity the minute he became county executive. He has chipped away at health services – dental services, in particular – for the last four years. He has fired most of the African Americans who worked in his administration.
The list goes on. So, we know what he will and will not do. So, it’s time for a change. I say give someone else the opportunity to do what’s right for the citizens of St. Louis County and, if they don’t keep their word, next! Plain and simple.
By the way, Mantovani knows how I feel and he respects my opinion.
Mark Mantovani faces Steve Stenger for the Democratic nomination for St. Louis County executive on the Tuesday, August 7 ballot. Two Republican (Paul Berry III and Daniel Sampson) candidates, a Libertarian candidate (Nicholas Kasoff) and a Constitution candidate (Andrew Ostrowski) also filed. Absentee voting is underway.
