Alderman Terry Kennedy was one of only two black elected officials who endorsed anyone other than Francis G. Slay for mayor in 2009. His decision authenticated his willingness to risk political payback from a well funded incumbent when he endorsed Irene J. Smith in the Democratic primary, and then did not endorse Slay (the Democratic candidate) over Maida Coleman (running as an Independent) in the general election.
Like all of the majority-black wards, Kennedy’s 18th Ward voted with him in opposing the incumbent mayor. Smith won every majority-black ward on March 3, and Coleman – without a public endorsement from one single black elected official – won every majority-black ward on Tuesday.
Politically, Kennedy had a lot to lose in this election cycle, yet his political commitment reflected the feelings of the community he was elected to serve. Along with the two women candidates who actually challenged Slay at the ballot box, Kennedy and Charles “Quincy” Troupe deserve the respect and support of their community.
Kennedy knows what he is up against in Slay’s political organization, yet he displays a brand of principled political fearlessness that is sadly rare in St. Louis in 2009. His courage is based in a deep-rooted feeling that, in the long run, time is on his side. He makes an encouraging point about the staggering amount of money Slay raised and spent on his campaign. According to a filing eight days before the election, Slay had raised more than $3 million and spent a whopping $2.6 million; transactions in the last eight days will drive those figures even higher.
“What we are seeing today in St. Louis, these incredible disparities, can not continue. In the long run it does not benefit the spirit of the city or, in my opinion, the economy of the city,” Kennedy said. “Change is going to come – inevitably, it is going to happen, when you have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few and the bulk of the people not being served. That’s why they are fighting so hard to keep what they have got.”
We expect for constituents in the 3rd, 5th, 22nd, 26th and 27th wards to ask Aldermen Freeman Bosley Sr., April Ford Griffin, Jeffrey Boyd, Frank Williamson and Greg Carter why they decided to help Slay and his well-heeled campaign donors fight so hard to keep what they have.
We think of something North City resident Norma Brooks told a reporter from the American after Smith’s loss in the primary.
“This is a sad place to live because of racism, and I can tell you all about racism. I remember when you couldn’t go down past 12th Street without having to fight our way back,” Brooks said. “But I’ve seen us come from the cotton and pig fields and now we’re in the White House, so we have to continue to pray.”
As importantly, we must begin to organize – and to hold accountable all of these elected officials whose actions do not reflect the best interests of the constituents they were elected to serve.