St. Louis American: As an elected official and journalist, what do you think of the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s coverage of the Lewis Reed campaign for mayor?
Alderman Antonio French: Over the course of the past year, the Post-Dispatch has let me know clearly where they stand. In an editorial by Kevin Horrigan almost a year ago, during the time we were debating the fire pension reform bill, they clearly pointed out their opinion that they don’t think Lewis Reed should be mayor. It was out of nowhere.
They wrote that his support of a different approach to the pension reform meant that he was not qualified to be mayor. They printed what amounted to an early endorsement of Slay. Then again, during the coverage of the O’Fallon Park Recreation Center and the membership fees, they again kept dragging the mayoral contest into that and pointed out again what they felt were reasons that Slay deserves another term and Reed isn’t qualified.
The American: Do you see this as a trend in the Post’s coverage?
Alderman French: Yes, it continues their trend of not being supportive of African-American candidates. In August, they had a slate of candidates that did not include a single African-American candidate. Not for Congress, not for state representative, not for treasurer. And probably most offensive was in the Sheriff’s race, when they voiced that there was no real challenger to Sheriff James Murphy. Yet Murphy was almost unseated by Vernon Betts, an African-American candidate.
The American: We’ve noticed in the Post’s coverage that you are a walk-on character in the Reed campaign.
Alderman French: Yes, it’s a reoccurring theme. Sometimes when it’s about an issue I’m fighting for, they feel the need to bring up President Reed. Twice now, in the issue of the O’Fallon recreational center, they inferred that I was fighting for the rights of my constituents because of President Reed’s race. What the Post has tried to do is put in question my motives when I hold Slay’s administration accountable when it comes to public safety and providing people access to facilities.
The American: In one article they had you titled as “Reed’s unofficial campaign manager.”
Alderman French: Yes, the next day they printed a correction. I called the political editor and he said he was apologetic and he didn’t know how that got in the story. It is telling about the slant of the paper. The effect is that African-American politicians don’t feel like we can get a fair shake if we go against the establishment. When I read their platform, it speaks of supporting the disenfranchised and the poor. Clearly, this was about a fight to provide services to people in an impoverished, disenfranchised area. Why we had to count the Post-Dispatch as an adversary in that fight, I don’t know.
The American: So what is your involvement in the Reed campaign?
Alderman French: I have no official involvement other than I am a friend and a supporter. I worked on his first campaign for President of the Board of Aldermen back in 2006. I have been a vocal opponent of a lot of the policies of the Slay administration for over 10 years. Now we have a viable candidate who has won citywide twice before and has a long list of credentials and accomplishments. The idea of working with a new mayor who values my neighborhood and public safety for my folks – that’s like night and day for me. So I am going to do everything I can to get the vote out for President Reed.
The American: State Senator Jamilah Nasheed: what is her role in the Slay campaign and why is she pushing so hard?
Alderman French: That’s a good question, and it’s one that she’ll have to answer. But I think with both U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay and Nasheed, both of them have expressed that they are endorsing Slay because Slay endorsed them. That doesn’t explain why Nasheed would so frequently attack Reed in his campaign.
I worked on behalf of both Clay and Nasheed in the election. The 21st Ward delivered more votes to each of them than any other ward. But I have an election going on right now, and neither one of them has lifted a finger to help me in my election. Clearly, it’s not always about supporting those who help you.
And just as we saw with Slay’s endorsement of Clay and Nasheed, endorsements don’t always deliver votes. Slay was not able to get any votes in his base for Clay or Nasheed. Likewise, Clay and Nasheed won’t be able to deliver any significant votes for Slay.
Both Clay and Nasheed serve one purpose in the Slay campaign, and that is to suppress and confuse the vote for an African-American candidate for mayor. And that is really shameful that they would allow themselves to be used in that matter. Don’t work against your community after they just saved your butts.
The American: And what about Jimmie Matthews, what threat does he pose in splitting the vote?
Alderman French: Matthews is an interesting character. He just ran for alderman a few months ago and got handedly defeated by Alderman Chris Carter. Then he decides to run for mayor. Did anyone put him up to that? I don’t know. I see Fred Wessels bringing him up to the Board of Aldermen as his special guest, though Alderman Fred Wessels is a vocal supporter of Slay. It is enough to put conspiracy theories in your head. It would be a shame if Matthews would take a small but decisive percentage of the vote that would cost President Reed the election. He comes to these debates and plays comic relief, but I don’t see anything funny about his candidacy.
