The November 4 general election may make history in this country, and it may also set up Missouri for positive and productive transformation, with Democrats replacing Republicans in key seats and statewide offices. This makes the August 5 state primary a very important election, for this is when Democrats will choose the candidates that will oppose Missouri Republicans in November.
For the all-important position of governor, the Missouri Democratic Party already has made the decision for us by keeping the path clear for Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon, who has no serious primary challenger. Nixon would not have been our choice to top the ticket, and African Americans and other progressive Democrats have much work ahead to make Nixon the kind of leader we need. That said, we endorse JAY NIXON FOR GOVERNOR.
Sam Page has four Democratic challengers for lieutenant governor, but none merits serious consideration. A medical doctor from Creve Coeur, Page has served on the Creve Coeur City Council and three terms in the state House. He is a competent, hard-working, progressive Democrat with professional expertise in the critical area of health care, where Missouri has so many pressing needs. We endorse SAM PAGE FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
The attorney general primary has three viable candidates. We have come a long way on our opinion of Chris Koster, who has shown intelligence, political savvy and attentiveness to the priorities of African Americans. We now accept him as a promising asset to the Democratic Party, but still think his voting record as a former Matt Blunt Republican in the state Senate should be held against him in his first campaign as a Democrat. Jeff Harris is a proven leader in the state House, with strong support within the party and around the state. The state would be well-served if he is elected to this important office. However, starting from former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronnie White’s early and important support, this endorsement has been Margaret Donnelly’s to lose. She may not fit the physical profile of Missouri’s lead prosecutor, but she is as competent and tough-minded as anyone in the race, and her established progressive credentials suggest her contribution to justice in Missouri would be a great public service. We endorse MARGARET DONNELLY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Though there are other candidates in the state treasurer race, we are left with the choice between Clint Zweifel, a hard-working veteran state representative and brilliant strategist, and Andria Simckes, a lawyer with previous statewide campaign credits and executive financial experience. We think Zweifel could handle any job in Missouri government – including the top job – and that he has the skill and drive to be a party leader for decades to come. However, we must uphold our core values of pressing for greater inclusion of African Americans in leadership and public life, and Simckes’ campaign is the beneficiary of these values – even though she has little claim to involvement in the African-American community and no record of engaging these concerns. Yet, the Democratic Party needs to understand the urgency of the need to break a glass ceiling by fostering an African American to statewide office in Missouri. We endorse ANDRIA SIMCKES FOR STATE TREASURER.
Also unopposed in the state primary, but deeply worthy of continued public service: We endorse the reelection of ROBIN CARNAHAN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE, WM. LACY CLAY FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, AND RUSS CARNAHAN FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE.
Joe Palm is a veteran progressive Democratic player in North City politics. He serves as a committeeman and has worked for many important African-American politicians. His primary bid against state Rep. T.D. El-Amin (D-57, in North City) must be viewed as a long-shot, because El-Amin is an incumbent and is locked into a successful political operation. However, we have seen El-Amin make odious truces with both Gov. Matt Blunt and Mayor Francis G. Slay when neither had been earned. More recently, El-Amin spoke up in the mainstream press for disgraced Police Chief Joe Mokwa – when he had nothing to say publicly in support of Fire Chief Sherman George when he was under fire. We think voters in this North City district should send a message by voting El-Amin out of office. We endorse JOE PALM FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 57TH DISTRICT.
Margaret Donnelly’s seat in the state Legislature (District 73, representing Maplewood and Richmond Heights) will certainly be passed onto another progressive Democrat, and we have been impressed by both candidates, Stacey Newman and Steve Brown. Stacey Newman has garnered a significant amount of African-American support, with endorsements from Virvus Jones, Maida Coleman, Rita Heard Days, Maria Chappelle-Nadal and Robin Wright-Jones. We are even more impressed by her record of citizen advocacy in opposing concealed weapons legislation in Missouri. We think she can add a needed progressive edge to House Democrats. We endorse STACEY NEWMAN FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE, 73RD DISTRICT.
St. Louis City and County voters will encounter Proposition Y on their August 5 ballots, where the trustees of the Metropolitan Sewer District are asking voters to approve a $275 million revenue bond issue. The revenues from the bond and rate increases would finance a sewer improvement program costing nearly $660.9 million by June 30, 2012. If the bond issue passes, sanitary sewer rates would increase by 28 percent by July 1, 2011. The typical homeowner now pays a $25.74 a month for the service; the rate would grow to $28.73 a month in 2011. If it fails, the rates could increase by 64 percent to $36.79 a month in 2011. Though MSD is still working to regain the public’s trust after several years of poor leadership, this bond issue will benefit consumers. We endorse a vote of YES ON PROPOSITION Y.