“font-family: Verdana;”>We join Adolphus M. Pruitt II, president of the
the NAACP, in calling for the Democratic Party, both nationally and
in Missouri, to ask
Brian Wahby to resign from his position as chair of the St. Louis
City Democratic Central Committee. Wahby has declared his candidacy
for Treasurer of the City of St. Louis
“font-family: Verdana;”>, and his self-serving candidacy causes blatant and unacceptable conflicts with his role as purportedly neutral party committee chair in a year with a presidential election.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“In the past, and I presume currently, the Democratic Party is conducting an coordinated campaign in the City of St. Louis with the Chair of the City of St. Louis Central Committee serving as the central point of contact and manager for such an effort,” Pruitt writes in a letter to Democratic Party officials. “Thus, in order to dispel any appearance of potential conflict of interest occasioned by the facts set out above, that Mr. Wahby may improperly or unduly influence members of the party in the performance of his official duties in support of his candidacy.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Pruitt goes on to make more specific reference to it being “in the best interest of the party’s African-American members and elected officials” for “the central point of contact and manager for the City’s coordinated campaign be someone other than Mr. Wahby.” We emphatically agree. Pruitt does not make the point explicity, but everyone in St. Louis politics knows that the Treaurer’s office has long been held by an African American, Larry Williams. As such, it is unofficially considered a “black seat.” Moreover, there is an announced, strong, reform-minded black candidate in the race, Tishaura O. Jones, a state representative and assistant minority whip with extensive experience in finance.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>We also would like to go a step further to inform or remind Democratic Party officials that the party’s black base in St. Louis has very little respect or trust for Brian Wahby and his close ties to Mayor Francis G. Slay. It would be difficult to name a party operative with less respect and trust in the black community in St. Louis than Wahby enjoys. The Democratic Party risks antagonizing its most loyal base in one of Missouri’s two urban bases if it tolerates Wahby remaining in his committee chair during a presidential election year while running for office against a highly qualified African American.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Pruitt addressed his letter to Steve Walker, Deputy National Political Director of the Democratic National Committee; Mike Sanders, Chairman of the Missouri Democratic State Committee, and Darlene Green, Vice Chairman of the Missouri Democratic State Committee. We urge them to act on Pruitt’s urging and request Wahby’s resignation, effective immediately. Susan Montee resigned from her position as chair of the state party when she announced her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor. Unfortunately, Wahby does not share her sense of propriety or recognition of the need for transparency, so the party needs to demand that Wahby do what he should have done on his own: resign from his post.
