The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus elected its leadership on Thursday, November 10 in Jefferson City. State Rep. Alan Green (D-Florissant) is chair, state Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin) is vice chair, state Rep.-elect Steven Roberts Jr. (D-St. Louis) is treasurer, and state Rep.-elect Bruce Franks Jr. (D-St. Louis) is secretary.
This leadership group is a mix of experience – Green and Dogan were both first elected in 2014 – and new energy – neither Roberts nor Franks have yet served a day in the legislature.
It’s also a mix of Democrats and a Republican, with Dogan, the only Republican member of the caucus, serving as vice chair. Green, the chairman, said that is critical in a state Capitol more completely dominated by Republicans than ever. Republicans maintained their super-majorities in both the state Senate and state House on November 8, while winning every statewide office on the ballot: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer.
“Shamed will be a key ingredient,” Green told The American. “He helps us get a seat at the table.”
Green is well aware that the caucus will need to work its agenda through the Republican leadership and so plans to focus on issues where Republicans have some shared interests.
“We need a more diverse workforce, we need jobs, we need more job training, we need more economic development,” Green said. “And we need an agenda that’s in line with what they want to accomplish, or we won’t get anything done.”
The caucus leadership lacks gender balance – it’s all male – and geographical diversity – all of the men are from the St. Louis region – but Green said that is because women in the caucus and members from the Kansas City metropolitan area ran for positions in the broader Democratic Caucus leadership instead.
State Rep. Gail McCann Beatty (D-Kansas City) was elected as the new minority floor leader for the Democrats, beating out another African-American woman, state Rep. Karla May (D-St. Louis).
Two male state representatives from Kansas City also were elected to leadership positions in the Democratic Caucus: state Rep. Randy Dunn is vice chair, and state Rep. DaRon McGee is caucus secretary. A black male from St. Louis, state Rep. Michael Butler, was elected Democratic Caucus chair.
Green was asked about the election of Steven Roberts Jr. to a leadership position in the black caucus when another member of the caucus, state Rep.-elect Cora Faith Walker (D-Ferguson), claimed Roberts raped her, and then Roberts filed civil suit against her for defamation when the special prosecutor said that Roberts would not be charged for rape.
“I know both Cora and Steve – I know Cora better – but I’m not thinking about the controversy,” Green said. “I am thinking about their performance at the Capitol. They both have a lot of talent; they are both attorneys. But the controversy is something I will not speak on.”
He did want to speak about the public meeting he is convening on Monday, November 14 about redeveloping Jamestown Mall. After 41 years of business and gradual deterioration, the 1.2 million-square-foot Jamestown Mall property closed in 2014, causing concern among area residents and a decrease in economic development. The closure of its major retailers – including Macy’s, Dillard’s and J.C. Penney – eventually lead to customer vacancy.
“I am bringing in a hedge fund, I am working with the county, I am working with our new council member, Rochelle Walton Gray,” Green said.
Green will host a community discussion regarding the redevelopment of the Jamestown Mall property at 6:30 p.m. Monday, November 14 at West Side Missionary Baptist Church, 2677 Dunn Rd. in Florissant. For more information regarding this meeting, contact Rep. Green’s office at 573-751-2135 or Alan.Green@house.mo.gov.
