Heather Navarro, executive director for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, will become the 28th Ward’s new alderwoman, after she won by a landslide in the July 11 special election.
Navarro won with 68.85 percent of the vote, beating Independent Democratic candidates Celeste Vossmeyer’s 15.7 percent and Steve Roberts Sr.’s 14.35 percent.
“What we have accomplished over last eight weeks has been incredible,” Navarro said to her supporters Tuesday night at Dressel’s Public House in the Central West End. “We have a grassroots campaign that’s going to keep on going.”
Navarro will fill the seat that was left open when Lyda Krewson was elected mayor in April. Krewson, who was the 28th Ward’s alderwoman for 20 years, was the first to give Navarro a big hug when they learned of her win.
“You have yourself a wonderful new alderwoman,” Krewson told the crowd.
Gail Farwell, 28th Ward Democratic committeewoman, said Navarro’s win represents a “new beginning.”
“The 28th Ward is ready to move forward, and she’s going to be a great leader,” Farwell said. “She going to get young people involved who haven’t been involved. She’s going to do a lot to bring the whole ward together.”
Farwell said she’s already done much to energize the ward, especially young families.
Navarro, 38, started the Central West End Families and Friends community group, which tries to attract young families to the neighborhoods and support them so they stick around when their children enter school. The group raised funds to redevelop Samuel Kennedy Park, which is a small triangle of land near Euclid Avenue and Delmar Boulevard that now has water and climbing features for kids.
“It’s right on the Delmar Divide,” Navarro told The American previously. “It’s got to be one of the greatest accomplishments of my life to develop that park. Because of the nature of the Central West End and all the education choices, you got a lot of kids who wouldn’t normally meet each other.”
Navarro moved to St. Louis in 1997 to attend Washington University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and a law degree. Before joining the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, she spent more than three years practicing as a civil rights lawyer at a private firm in St. Louis. There, she helped parents of children with special needs obtain much-needed services. She also represented those who had experienced discrimination based on their race or disability.
She now fights for environmental protection and justice. Navarro said she will now “scale back” at the coalition but still be involved at the executive level.
Navarro can’t imagine living anywhere else but St. Louis, she said, and her love for her community is at the heart of why she wanted to become an alderwoman.
One of the concerns that she hears most from residents and business owners is regarding safety, and that’s one of the first issues she intends to dive into, she said.
“And we need to have been investing yesterday in the environment, education and economic development for youth,” she said.
Equitable development is another issue at the top of her priority list. She’s interested in learning more about community benefit agreements, or contract provisions that would require developers to give back to the communities surrounding their real estate projects if the developers are seeking tax incentives. Moving the city forward using a racial equity lens and addressing the city’s disparities are also among her priorities.
Navarro was happy to see that 26.17 percent of voters in the ward came out to the polls for a special election.
“Our community is engaged, and they are ready to take action,” Navarro said.
She thanked her supporters for standing out at the polls in 100 degree heat – to which many yelled back a slightly exhausted, “You’re welcome.”
“We have a lot to celebrate tonight,” she said. “Tomorrow we rest, and then we are going to get to work doing everything we can for the city of St. Louis.”
