Three-way race for Lewis Reed’s seat
By Meliqueica Meadows
Of the St. Louis American
“I know yard signs don’t vote, but the amount of signs we have out indicate a great amount of support in the ward,” said Kacie Starr Triplett, a young African-American woman who has filed for alderman of the 6th Ward, a diverse district that includes the Fox Park, Tower Grove East, Lafayette Square and Downtown West neighborhoods.
Christian Saller, who resigned from the St. Louis Development Corporation to run for alderman, and Patrick J. Cacchione, a veteran lobbyist, also are vying for the seat being vacated by Lewis Reed, who is seeking the Board of Aldermen presidency.
Despite her youth – Triplett is just 27 – her supporters say she is more than capable of handling the job.
“I’m not at all concerned about her youth,” said state Rep. Jamilah Nasheed.
“She’s a well-educated woman, and often we need new leadership with fresh ideas to move the city forward.”
Nasheed also said Triplett’s election would be critical because it would help maintain minority representation on the Board of Aldermen.
“If Kacie loses that seat, we lose representation,” Nasheed said.
“We should not dilute the African-American leadership simply because Lewis Reed is running for (aldermanic) president.”
According to Triplett, the most pressing issues facing the 6th Ward, particularly the Downtown area, are “basic amenities, safety, homelessness and education.” She added that the current state of the public schools is a “big problem for attracting new businesses and residents to Downtown.”
Triplett is the daughter of John Triplett, a union organizer for Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562, who has been critical in her gaining substantial labor support.
Triplett has been endorsed by the St. Louis Labor Council, the state and local chapters of the ASCME, the local chapter of SEIU, the St. Louis City Labor Legislative Club, the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades, and the St. Louis Police Officers Association.
Triplett said at a recent debate that she is in favor of city police officers being required to live within the city limits.
She said she would also like to implement a neighborhood accountability board that would allow juvenile offenders the opportunity to apologize to the community and have peer review of cases.
There has been much ado about eminent domain, especially within the city limits where a redevelopment renaissance is in full swing. Triplett said eminent domain should be “used as a tool of last resort and not used to create wealth for developers.”
Triplett grew up in the ward she hopes to represent. A graduate of St. Elizabeth Academy, Triplett resigned from her recent position as district affairs coordinator for U.S. Congressman Russ Carnahan to run for office. She grew up in a political family. Her maternal grandfather is legendary former state Senator John Bass, who is cuurently hospitalized and “very, very” sick.
Triplett obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science at Hampton University and a master’s in international relations from Webster University.
Prior to working for Carnahan, Triplett was community outreach coordinator for former Democratic Minority Leader Dick Gephardt. In 2005, Mayor Francis G. Slay appointed her to the Affordable Housing Commission. As a commissioner, she is responsible for overseeing a $5.5 million budget for the advancement of affordable housing in the city.
At the recent debate, Triplett said affordable housing is key to attracting residents to Downtown and decried cuts to the housing budget.
Triplett is involved with Young Democrats of Greater St. Louis and the Women’s Political Caucus. She serves as vice chair of the 6th Ward Democratic Organization, which endorsed Cacchione after some controversy over Triplett’s recruitment of new members of the organization.