Independent day for Maida Coleman
Saying that it’s time to “get rid of the cronyism and get rid of the intimidation,” on Tuesday Maida Coleman turned in 1,000 St. Louis citizen signatures to the St. Louis election board.
She only needed 526 of them verified to make her eligible to run as an Independent candidate for mayor in the April 7 general election. Those were quickly verified, and yesterday afternoon Coleman was informed she had made the April 7 ballot.
While saying she would vote for Irene J. Smith in the March 3 Democratic primary, Coleman said she would run for mayor regardless of her opponent.
“I think I am the best-qualified candidate and the best person for St. Louis in these times of upheaval in the city,” she said.
Coleman had expected to file as a Democrat, but decided that it would be futile when – on the last day of filing – another African-American woman who had recently assumed the last name of “Coleman” filed in the Democratic primary.
“The candidate with the same last name doesn’t seem to be doing any campaigning,” Coleman said Tuesday.
“I think it was wise to remove myself from (the Democratic primary, which) I consider a farce and a fiasco.”
Coleman said she still does not think the other Coleman’s entry into the primary is a coincidence.
“People believe it’s a set up. I believe it’s a set up. Who set it up? I don’t know,” she said.
Coleman said she had garnered about 4,000 signatures, far more from the 526 needed (2 percent of voters in the last mayoral election) to meet the requirement to run as an Independent.
She said city residents want somebody in the mayor’s office “that is a consensus builder.”
As for bullying and tactics of intimidation, two charges often laid at Slay’s office threshold, Coleman said, “We don’t need this in City Hall. Those elected to lead should be helping everybody. They should not just pick and choose.”
Coleman had paid her filing fee and filled out paperwork to run last month, adding that she waited to file her signature until the deadline day, Feb. 17.
“We’ve only turned in 1,000 signatures because I’m not required to show who my supporters are,” she said.
Coleman said some business owners in the city had declined even to meet with her because they were afraid of finding it become more difficult to do business in the city if the mayor found out.
He plays one on TV
He is no supporter of the St. Louis Public Schools, but he plays one on TV – from an impromptu movie set at an independent private school.
Slay has countered the beating he has taken in the community over his handling of SLPS with a television commercial proclaiming his love for public schools.
The funny thing is, the commercial was filmed in a private school – the New City School.
A local pastor called the American to share this tip, which was confirmed by a nice woman who answered the phone at the school yesterday.
Meanwhile, a sideshow has once again diverted attention from fixing the public school system. Whether or not SLPS should sell the school buildings it can’t afford to keep open to charter school interests suddenly has emerged as the hot topic.
While it’s a legitimate question, it goes nowhere near the heart of the rot in our public schools, and is positioned in a way to encourage the public to side with the charter school interests.
Meanwhile – and no surprise – The American Federation of Teachers, Local 420 has endorsed Irene J. Smith for mayor.
Black history party month
Mayor Slay has long displayed a fondness for Mardi Gras, which just so happens to go down in the weeks before the municipal primary. He makes it a habit of throwing a lavish Mardi Gras party. It’s a good time for Slay fixer Lou Hamilton to pop on his police lights (illegally) and lead Alderman Stephen Gregali and other Slay Inc. cronies through the city streets, running red lights on the way to a gala where the liquor flows and flows.
This year, the water-swilling mayor will take a break from the purposeless Mardi Gras partying on the dime of his campaign slush fund to attend a “Black History Month” bash hosted by “Friends of the Honorable Mayor Francis Slay.”
“Refreshments served,” promises a brief announcement.
Any black folks willing to party with this mayor in the name of their own people’s history are going to need some alcoholic amnesia to forget the shameful things they are doing.
So, drink up. Drink up on the graves of your ancestors, who were willing to act beyond brazen self-interest for the common good.
Robin and Ed
The lunatic right fringe of the Missouri Republican Party has started hard on Robin Carnahan, trying to paint her as an obstructionist in her duties as Missouri Secretary of State and shrilly harping on her stance in defense of legal and safe abortions.
Carnahan is likely to face Republican Congressman Roy Blunt for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Kit Bond.
Ed Martin, former chief of staff for Roy’s son, former Gov. Matt Blunt, is the far right’s faithful servant and mouthpiece in St. Louis.
Martin does not attempt to hide his fondness and support for Mayor Slay and his chief of staff cum campaign manager Jeff Rainford.
Like Martin, Slay opposes safe and legal abortions, according to his spokesman Ed Rhode, who used the phrase “pro-life.”
Like Martin, Slay is “pro-choice” when it comes to privatizing the public school system.
Watch how cozy Slay and Rainford remain with Martin as Martin and his fellow far-right fringe dwellers continue to savage a pro-choice Democratic woman candidate for U.S. Senate.
Watch and see what – if anything – the Missouri Democratic Party does to Slay, Rainford and Lou Hamilton as they continue to flirt (and worse) with their political enemy’s most savage attack dogs while crucial elective offices are on the line.
Yaphett and Francis
The Arch City Chronicle reports that Yaphett El-Amin faces penalties from the Missouri Ethics Commission for a variety of lapses and offenses in her campaign reports.
“She was ordered to pay $50,000 on each case or within 90 days pay $5000 on each case, become fully compliant within 90 days, and commit no further violations,” ACC reported.
A number of North City political operators have observed El-Amin and her husband state Rep. Talibdin El-Amin recently canvassing for Slay.
Some wonder whether there is a connection between the El-Amins’ need for a quick fix of cash and their sudden support of Mayor Slay.
Twittering Irene
Thanks to her tough and smart communications manager Patricia Bynes, Irene J. Smith has a website (www.IreneJSmith.com), a blog (www.IreneJSmith.blogspot.com), a Facebook page and even a Twitter. .
If you don’t know what a Twitter is, it’s okay, maybe you don’t need to bother with it.
She also has a bricks and mortar Campaign Headquarters at 4919 Union Blvd. with a phone that rings to 314-381-2430.