Incensed by Tom Bauer’s illegal use of the term “Democrat” and the donkey symbol on his campaign literature, the city’s Democratic Central Committee has sued to prevent Bauer from using the donkey and the term “Independent Democrat” on his campaign materials.
“There is only one Democratic candidate in this election, and it isn’t Tom Bauer,” said Central Committee Chairman Brian Wahby. “The Democrats in the 24th Ward voted overwhelmingly for Bill Waterhouse to be their candidate for the aldermanic seat after Bauer was recalled by the voters. Bauer filed as a non-partisan candidate and is prohibited by law from calling himself a Democrat or an Independent Democrat in his election efforts.”
“Tom Bauer is being deceptive, misleading and deliberately trying to confuse the voters,” Wahby said. “We will not tolerate his actions any longer. He is an embarrassment to the people of St. Louis.”
In special elections the City Charter provides that only one person can stand as the Democratic candidate. That candidate is selected by the City Democratic Central Committee. One person can stand as the Republican candidate and others that file as Non-partisan must accurately represent themselves.
History is on the side of the Democratic Central Committee. In July 1977, the committee sued a 10th Ward Non-Partisan Aldermanic Candidate, Loren Ramsey, who was using the Democrat logo and calling himself an “Independent Democrat,” just as Bauer is doing. A Circuit Court ordered Ramsey to stop using the term and logo in campaign literature and signs.