Candidates in the odd-numbered 1st, 5th and 17th wards are attempting to galvanize their base support and gearing up their campaign efforts as they close in on the March 8 election.
First Ward candidates Charles “Quincy” Troupe, Sharon Tyus and the Rev. Cleo Willis Sr. each believe they have the votes to gain the seat being vacated by Irene Smith, who is running for mayor.
Troupe believes he has the best chance to win, based on his lengthy record as state representative and his support from organized labor.
“I will probably have all endorsements from organized labor. Besides organized labor, I am supported by many community-based organizations. I have truly helped more people and supported more programs,” Troupe said.
Troupe said his greatest accomplishment for 1st Ward residents and residents citywide has been attracting jobs and economic development.
“Black people have always supported me, no matter what,” Troupe said. “I have a whole lot of support from the Missouri Legislature’s Black Caucus. I also have support from both black and white aldermen.”
Sharon Tyus, former 20th Ward alderwoman, filed on the last day to challenge Troupe and Willis. Tyus’s husband, former 20th Ward Democratic Committeeman Sterling Miller, was defeated when he tried to unseat Troupe as 1st Ward Democratic committeeman last fall.
Tyus believes she will become the next 1st Ward alderwoman because her support will come from voters displaced as a result of redistricting.
Tyus said she filed her petition after 1st Ward residents urged her to run.
“I am the former 20th Ward alderwoman, and I have never been defeated. There are two-thirds of the former 20th Ward that have been unable to vote for an alderman or alderwoman because of redistricting,” Tyus said.
“Stealing the 20th ward and tearing it up into five wards and putting the majority of it with the 1st Ward doesn’t make it the 1st Ward,” Tyus said.
“It just makes it the stolen 20th ward, with installed officials for three years. It also took the vote of the people away,” Tyus said.
Willis claims that he has the ear of the same supporters Troupe and Tyus claim in his bid for 1st Ward alderman.
“I am coming out like a sling shot. I have the ear of the constituents in the 1st Ward. They know there need to be some checks and balances on the Board of Aldermen, and I am the man that can do it,” Willis said.
If elected, Willis said he will work to shift funds and economic development back to programs in the 1st Ward after it suffered losses through redistricting.
“We need to fight for more jobs and economic development in the 1st Ward. This election will be about economic growth and getting jobs. I am the man that will do that,” Willis said.
Willis believes his primary support will come from 1st Ward residents and through the Johnson Outreach Missionary Baptist Church.
Ford Griffin vs. Nelson
Meanwhile, the aldermanic contest for the 5th Ward pits a two-term incumbent against a recently elected 5th Ward Democratic Committeewoman.
April Ford Griffin said she is running for a third term to complete a work in progress.
“I have a record to run on. I have created new development, new jobs and new hope for Fifth Ward residents,” Ford Griffin said.
Ford Griffin reports that her two terms have given her seniority and leadership positions as chairwoman of the Neighborhood Development Committee and vice chairwoman of the Streets and Refuge Committee.
Ford Griffin said her base is composed of 5th Ward residents, business owners and neighborhood organizations.
“My leadership has turned into economic development for existing businesses and creation of new businesses, which means creation of more jobs,” Ford Griffin said.
Her opponent, Cheryl M. Nelson, filed on the last day of eligibility to become alderwoman. She ran against Ford Griffin for alderwoman in 2001 and lost. She was elected 5th Ward committeewoman in August 2004. Nelson did not return repeated phone calls and could not be reached for comment.
Burchfield vs. Roddy
The aldermanic contest in the 17th Ward pits a newcomer against a four-term incumbent. Rodney Burchfield is challenging incumbent Alderman Joe Roddy Jr.
Burchfield said he received 44 percent of the vote in his August 2004 campaign for 17th Ward Democratic committeeman. Burchfield said he believes his recent effort gives him the grounds to unseat what he calls the”Roddy political machine,” whose dominance dates back to the incumbent’s father, Joe Roddy Sr.
“I am a newcomer to St. Louis politics. My dream was to come back to this ward and become alderman,” Burchfield said.
“My base is the people of this ward. I have gone door-to-door in a grass-roots effort to earn the trust of my fellow ward residents,” Burchfield said.
Burchfield said his background and education have prepared him for the seat.
“I graduated from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas with a degree in political science. I always wanted to come back to St. Louis and fulfill this dream to represent my ward by developing economic growth, job growth and opportunities from a fair playing field,” Burchfield said.
Burchfield,who noted that his ward is now reported to be 59 percent African-American, could make it ripe for the taking.
“I know that my opponent has a service-oriented politics that may help him to maintain loyalty among voters, but I am building on my base every day going door-to-door until March 8,” Burchfield said.
“Some of the residents have told me I am like the ‘Barack Obama’ of St. Louis,” said Bruchfield.
Roddy, however, said he will let his 17 years of service to 17th Ward residents speak for itself.
“I am running on a campaign of creating value, working for diversity and preserving the past,” Roddy said.
“I spent most of my 17 years making our property more valuable and adding more diversity to the ward.”
