Darlene Green for Comptroller
The City of St. Louis faces many daunting challenges but despite some significant progress and needed changes in direction made by its current leadership, much remains to be done. Crime, though reduced, remains too high, decent jobs are still too scarce, and the population exodus, though slowed, continues its years-long trajectory.
Vast racial disparities still impact many aspects of city life. As much as we admire the commitment and hard work of Mayor Tishaura Jones, Comptroller Darlene Green, and many of our other elected officials to fix these problems, we know much remains to be done.
The simple truth is most of them cannot be fixed in one term. They’re generational projects, which require executable visions of bold leaders, long-term strategies, and consistent carrying out of small steps forward. Now is not the time to give up or slow down. Our best option is to keep going.
In these last few couple weeks leading up to Tuesday’s election, some powerbrokers who miss the good ol’ days have spent a fortune to convince city voters to give up on progress and replace some of these seasoned incumbents with their chosen candidates for the most powerful positions in City Hall, no matter how untested, unqualified, or regressive their choices maybe. As their presumptuousness in the mayor’s race grows, they have turned their attention to unseating the incumbent comptroller, Darlene Green.
With much of the public attention focused on the mayor’s office, we have long tried to remind our readers that the total center of power in City Hall is not the mayor’s office but is instead the three-member Board of Estimate and Apportionment, consisting of the mayor, the comptroller, and the aldermanic board president. Often called simply “E&A,” the board was first desegregated nearly forty years ago. At least one seat has been held by a Black person on that board since then.
Tuesday’s election will decide whether the Black community will retain at least one seat on E&A. For many of our readers, protecting Black representation will be reason enough to vote for both Tishaura Jones and Darlene Green. We too fear what an all-white E&A would signal to the Black community and what it would say about the future direction of the City of St. Louis.
We know too how critical it will be in the coming years for the city to have a seasoned Comptroller it can count on. Darlene Green doesn’t make many headlines or generate the most excitement, but City Hall has enough people doing that. What the city needs in its Comptroller is a steady, thoughtful and trustworthy leader. Darlene Green has proven herself to be a source of stability through the ups and downs of five mayors. We are endorsing Darlene Green for Comptroller because we know the City of St. Louis needs her experienced and effective leadership over the next four years.
Re-elect Alderpersons Cohn, Sonnier
The St. Louis American feels that two alderpersons have stood out as representatives of their respective wards and the city as a whole. Both deserve re-election.
3rd Ward Alderman Shane Cohn, who ran unopposed in the previous aldermanic balloting, has served his diverse ward well. He has been a voice of reason, yet also a warrior for social and political causes not favored by conservatives and many Jefferson City legislators.
His five terms as 3rd Ward Alderman make him the second-longest-tenured active member of the board, and his experience is invaluable.
Cohn says his ward is a representation of the city, and its needs are the same. He champions public safety and economic development and has proven to be effective in delivering on his promises.
7th Ward Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier is seeking re-election after a masterful first term serving on the Board of Aldermen.
Sonnier was instrumental in crafting the TRANSFORM STL Act, which could appropriate the Rams Settlement Funds for major investments in infrastructure, development, and families and children.
The Board of Alderman has tabled discussion of the bill, making it vital for Sonnier to return to her seat. She will protect the many aspects of the bill that would serve all St. Louisans, not a select few residents, developers and financial backers of her opponent who wish to see her defeated.
Sonnier is a familiar face in her ward and throughout St. Louis. She has proven she is up to the challenge of St. Louis politics.
The St. Louis American endorses for re-election 3rd Ward Alderman Shane Cohn and 7th Ward Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier.
So you are asking voters to vote based on race rather than performance?
You keep stating we can’t go back but yet isn’t voting basically on race taking us back?