26th Ward Democratic Commiteeman Joseph Palm has thrown his hat into the race for the 57th District state representative seat that will be left open by the current 57th District State Representative Yaphett El-Amin. El-Amin has announced that she will run for the 4th District state Senate seat that is being vacated by state Senator Pat Dougherty because of term limits. Palm joins El-Amin’s husband, Talibin El-Amin, as the two announced candidates for the 57th District seat. El-Amin’s husband has the upper hand now because of El-Amin’s name recognition in the district. But Palm has some decent credits on his political resume – assistant to Chief of Staff Mike Jones in the Clarence Harmon administration, legislative assistant for then-state Rep. Charles Quincy Troupe, and legislative researcher for U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay. With hard work on his part, matched by some support from his past and present associates, Palm could make a run of it.
The decision by the El-Amins to run for the 4th District Senate seat and the 57th District State representative seat is puzzling to the EYE, in light of the fact that they have three young children at home. If the two of them were elected, they would have to both be in Jefferson City, at least four days a week, from January to May 15. The EYE had heard that the weekly trek to legislative sessions in Jefferson City was already difficult for Yaphett because of the recent birth of twins and a third child, who is a toddler. There is speculation in some quarters that Yaphett is not serious about winning the 4th District seat, but is using it as way to leave Jefferson City and keep the 57th District seat in the family. Just a thought.