The EYE hopes that state Senator Maida Coleman does not decide to file for St. Louis City License Collector. Politics is a serious business, and if Coleman wants to be considered a serious politician, she does not need to become labeled a spoiler by filing for license collector after Alderman Mike McMillan (D-19th Ward) has secured the first place in line at the Board of Elections and announced his candidacy.
Filing first normally ensures a candidate anywhere from a five to 10 percent advantage in name recognition, which would be extremely important in a potential race of candidates who are relatively unknown on the citywide stage, even if, as in the case of McMillan, the candidate has solid support from his local base.
McMillan has done all the right things from both a political and policy standpoint to prepare himself to run for citywide office. He has created a proven track record as a diligent steward in the 19th Ward by working hard to serve all of the ward’s constituents. The 19th Ward has enjoyed the infusion of more than $1 billion in secured development during McMillan’s tenure. While he is not personally responsible for that entire windfall, he has been an essential player; and, where economic development is concerned, simply not messing up the money is a local politician’s first responsibility, and McMillan has handled that responsibility very ably and creatively.
The successes in his ward are by no means an accident. McMillan is a known workaholic, who actually maintains an office and staff to bring vital resources to his community. He has also developed a fundraising machine that has raised a six-figure war chest. His fundraising ability is well known to be second only to Mayor Francis G. Slay’s capacity to raise money, and mentioning McMillan’s name in the same sentence as “mayor” should come as no surprise to those who have seen him operate up close.
In addition to having a war chest to wage a successful campaign, McMillan has already received endorsements from elected officials in more than half of the wards in the city – before filing for the election technically began. He has the support of Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay, former Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr., Mayor Slay, License Collector Greg F.X. Daly and many others, not to mention this newspaper.
Despite all of this momentum, Coleman is telling Post-Dispatch reporters and whoever else will listen that she is considering dropping out of the race for state auditor and running for license collector. Coleman attempts to justify the switch, in part, by saying fellow Democrats have privately discouraged donations to her auditor campaign. Earth to Maida: Your campaign for auditor is an uphill battle in the best of circumstances. In some circles (in which you would find a familiar face or two), it’s become a running joke.
Had Coleman amassed a substantial campaign war chest (she has not); had she broad statewide support in the Democratic party (she does not); and were she scandal-free (given that she has filed for bankruptcy, she is not), the possibility of Coleman being able to run and win a statewide office is slim to none. Getting out of that race is not a bad idea. Getting into the license collectors race now, in light of McMillan’s announced candidacy, would be a very bad idea almost calculated to lose her friends and allies. Two black candidates in a citywide election spells an almost guaranteed win for a white candidate.
The EYE does not blame Coleman for wanting to find a way out of her ill-fated auditor’s race. Get out; the water is cold. Then, if you are serious about having a political career with a base in the black community in St. Louis, file for collector of revenue. The only candidate who has filed for that office is the incumbent, Greg F.X. Daly. Why give him a free ride? Unless, of course, your intentions are to be a spoiler. You would live to regret it.
