“I’m unbought and unbossed,” said state Rep. Robin Wright-Jones Tuesday morning, when she officially announced her candidacy for Missouri Senate in the 5th District.
She was quoting the late Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and to run for U.S. president.
She quoted Chisholm after her official remarks, in response to someone in the audience who had asked her whether she would “cut any deals” with Mayor Francis G. Slay.
“I’m unbought and I’m very difficult to boss,” Wright-Jones said, “just ask my mama about that – she’s standing right there in the back.”
She previously had mentioned that her mother, Jean Wright, age 84, taught 40 years in the public schools as a member of Teacher’s Union Local 420 before retiring.
The reference to a public educator, a family member and a senior citizen all could be considered strategic to the campaign Wright-Jones launched Tuesday morning.
Public education is a major defining issue between Wright-Jones and another African-American candidate who announced his campaign much earlier, state Rep. Rodney Hubbard.
Hubbard comes heavily funded by the school choice movement, by PAC’s like All Children Matter and those started by Rex Sinquefield. Hubbard has introduced and steered legislation that would establish scholarships for private education, in part, by diverting $40 million in public funds from General Revenue.
Black Commentator has argued that the Republican Party is using school choice as a wedge issue to divide the Democratic Party. According to this argument, promoting school choice attacks a core Democratic alliance between blacks and labor in the teacher’s union.
In the process, it creates “stealth black Republicans” who represent urban areas as Democrats but vote Republican on crucial issues. Hubbard certainly fits this profile.
Wright-Jones consistently has voted against school choice legislation. In fact, her voting record on core Democratic issues tracked by the Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition has been a perfect 100 percent.
Hubbard’s score on the 2007 Legislative Scorecard was 67 percent. Among Democrats, only state Rep. Curt Dougherty (a member of Missouri Right to Life and the National Rifle Association) scored lower than Hubbard.
A white candidate who has filed a campaign committee, state Rep. Tom Villa, voted progressive on 80 percent of the bills tracked by ProVote. Villa voted with Hubbard in favor of school choice legislation (HB 808) in 2007.
“Public education should be supported by public dollars,” Wright-Jones said.
She made her announcement at the senior living facility administered by Mt. Zion MB Church, where the Rev. Sammie E. Jones is pastor. Her prepared remarks referenced needs in senior care and funding for family issues that are of strong interest to female voters.
“Where there is no council among the elders, the people fail,” Wright-Jones said.
Wright-Jones’ campaign has been endorsed by a lengthy list of women legislators, black and white, including state Sen. Maida Coleman, state Sen. Rita Days, state Sen. Joan Bray, state Rep. Patricia M. Yaeger, state Rep. Esther Haywood, state Rep. Juanita Head Walton, state Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford and Alderwoman Bennice Jones King.
However, the group that gathered for her campaign announcement was very black and largely male, including the Rev. James T. Morris, the Rev. Douglas Parham and Chester Deanes of Father’s Support Center.
Indeed, in a move that could be calculated to attract some of the black male vote away from Hubbard, Wright-Jones announced plans to introduce legislation that would “allow prosecutors to administer fairly to fathers.”
After her prepared remarks, Wright-Jones faced the inevitable questions about dividing the black vote by joining a campaign where Hubbard already had established many political endorsements from black elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay and License Collector Mike McMillan.
“The other two potential candidates are both conservative Democrats, and one has strong Republican ties,” Wright-Jones said.
“I’m a progressive woman running against two male conservatives. This progressive voice needs to be in this race.”
Hubbard and Villa had not returned calls by press time.
Filing for the campaign is open through March, and another progressive female Democrat state representative who is term-limited, Connie Johnson, said she may yet file.
“The question is whether any of the African Americans that could run have enough crossover appeal to capture white votes in the 5th District,” Johnson said.
The 5th District includes Downtown, where as many as 10,000 new residents will have an impact on this primary that is difficult to predict, though the demographic is expected to be young, diverse and civic-minded, which means they are likely to vote.
If Villa or another white candidate does win the 5th District seat, which is being vacated by a term-limited Maida Coleman, the City of St. Louis (with a majority-black population) will be represented by three whites in the Missouri Senate. State Sen. Harry Kennedy represents the 1st District (which also extends south of the city), and state Sen. Jeff Smith represents the 4th District.
“We’re still stuck on black and white, when the diversity of our population is profound,” Wright-Jones said.
“We need a legislator who steps up and embraces other cultures and brings everybody in.”
Wright-Jones’ Host Committee is holding a Campaign Breakfast Fundraiser from 8-9:30 a.m. Saturday, December 1 at The Pasta House, 313 N. Euclid Avenue @ Maryland Plaza. Donations of $25, $50, $100 and $650 will be accepted. Make checks payable to:
Wright-Jones for senate
P.O. Box 78815
St. Louis, MO 63178.
