On Monday St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay declined to attend The Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists association’s Mayoral Town Hall Meeting on Feb. 27.
Earlier this month, Slay’s campaign director Richard Callow told forum organizers that Slay would attend the event, which is also sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the St. Louis Business Journal and St. Louis Community College.
Organizers said Callow stopped returning their calls and emails about two weeks ago. Then on Monday, Callow mailed back the League of Women Voters’ response card with an “x” checked on the “I will not be able to attend the town hall meeting.”
Callow did not return the St. Louis American’s email or phone call.
Association members said they were shocked and disappointed because the event was primarily to give their program’s students a chance to cover a mayoral forum. Now, association members have reorganized the event into a community forum. The League of Women Voters will not be moderating the event because of the change in format.
The forum will still take place on Wednesday at STLCC-Forest Park’s Mildred E. Bastian Center for Performing Arts. Doors open at 6 p.m.
The event will feature mayoral candidates Lewis Reed and Jimmie Matthews, along with association representatives, the St. Louis Business Journal and one student from STLCC Mass Communications program Forest Park will also present the candidates with questions.
