St. Louis County Councilman Steve Stenger presented himself in the new offices of The St. Louis American on Tuesday morning for an editorial board meeting. Stenger, 42, who is in his second year of his second term representing parts of South County on the council, has filed in the Democratic primary against incumbent County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. Stenger came alone, which the EYE scores in his favor for the first visit of a non-black candidate. The EYE knows that in 2014 any white candidate has a black friend he can get to accompany him to an editorial board meeting at a black community newspaper. It’s appreciated when a white candidate comes in alone prepared to explain – candidly and on the record – why black people should vote for him (or, at least, not vote blindly against him before scrutinizing his candidacy).
Stenger brought a story to tell. He talked about growing up in relative racial isolation in the southwestern fringe of the city that votes so heavily for Mayor Francis G. Slay (and voted so heavily against Barack Obama). He talked about expanding his experience of racial diversity during his college years in North County at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where he studied accounting. He became a CPA and went to work at Ernst & Young in St. Louis. After studying law at Saint Louis University, he threw aside his first career in transactional law to establish his own practice, wanting to practice law for people, rather than corporations.
The EYE understands that this is probably not the same story the corporate community hears when Steger visits with them, but no foul there. We are talking about a politician. He is expected to speak to the concerns of the people in the room.
Stenger’s story started to get more interesting when he spoke of his work as a litigator in private practice taking spillover defense cases that the federal public defender can’t handle. (For example, the federal public defender might be conflicted out because a client is testifying against another indigent defendant. In this case, outside counsel is needed for the other defendant.)
Stenger said it was eye-opening to sit on the same side of the courtroom with the poorest, socially expendable defendants, many of them black, accused of federal crimes. A defense attorney needs to learn the most disturbing and pathetic facts about a client’s life, especially in the sentencing phase, in an effort to conjure some sympathy from the jury and judge. Stenger talked about being a white Catholic boy from South St. Louis who suddenly became deeply acquainted with the worst horror stories of the poorest black people in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
This did not come across as Bill Clinton-esque “I feel your pain” pandering. Rather, it came across as a lawyer from South County making a convincing case for why he understands some of the issues in the poorest areas of the county, which are the special concern of a black community newspaper.
Not being a fool, Stenger was neither claiming nor implying that all black people in the county are criminals or so poor that they require a public defender if accused of a crime. He also discussed having a black friend who underwrites bonds and is not happy with the Dooley administration because he feels he has not been able to compete for contracts from county government.
This brings us to the crucial consideration of minority inclusion in county government workforce and contracting. Stenger said on the record that he is all for M/WBE inclusion and is prepared to insist on it, no matter what his new friends and funders in the construction trades say.
The EYE understands that this may not be the same story that Stenger’s current friends and funders in the construction trades hear when Steger visits with them, but we are talking about a politician. If he wins, of course, he will need to be pressured by the community to keep any of the promises he makes on the campaign trail.
Stenger was dead right when he said the Dooley administration was a Johnny come lately to the importance of minority inclusion goals, showing the first sign of life on this issue on the campaign trail during a downtime when there are no millions or billions in contracts on the table.
And this led to Stenger’s sharpest point, which could resonate with black voters if he has the courage to take the message to them directly – and it would be a risky move that could backfire. Not in these exact words, but Stenger implied that Charlie Dooley is a black man and politician, but you wouldn’t necessarily know that by looking at his administration and how it does business.
“Having watched Charlie from the beginning of his career,” Stenger said, “I don’t think the problem is Charlie but the people he has surrounded himself with.” The EYE put some names on the table: John Temporiti and Gary Earls. Stenger agreed, those would be the names. He described Earls as “a tank that doesn’t move in reverse” – a good image for the Jeff Rainford chief of staff type. Of Temporiti, Stenger said, “At this point, I think he is only in it for himself.” Of course, you can read these sentiments in almost any edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, whether expressed by Stenger or the Post’s editorial board, whose positions are often indistinguishable.
Where does this leave Mike Jones, the African-American political veteran who still has a position, at least officially, in Dooley’s inner circle? Stenger – who surely knows Jones has a good relationship with The American – chose his words carefully. He said Jones seems independent of Temporiti and Earls, though Stenger was unsure of any influence Jones has on Dooley. “He seems to work behind the scenes,” Stenger said of Jones. This was a very savvy handling of that matter.
Let’s hear from Mike Jones himself, speaking to The American in October 2010, the last time Dooley defended his office. This was a general election, where Dooley faced a Republican, Bill Corrigan. Then as now, Dooley was defending himself against the accusation that not very progressive white men, rather than Dooley himself, were running his administration.
Jones said, “My observation from working for county government is, from a black perspective, the political culture of county government is somewhere between hostile and indifferent. I don’t think we have done anything to change that culture or the perception of it.”
It’s four years later, and Dooley’s opponent – this time, a Democrat – still has the same potential campaign issue against him. Unlike Corrigan, a Republican with no hope of competing against Dooley at his base, Stenger might be able to use it.
Expanding Medicaid
Gov. Jay Nixon and state Rep. Tommy Pierson will host a community meeting at Greater St. Mark Family Church, 9950 Glen Owen Dr., 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13 to discuss reforming and expanding Medicaid in Missouri. They will discuss how strengthening Medicaid will provide affordable health coverage to 300,000 working Missourians and bring the tax dollars Missourians send to Washington, D.C. back to Missouri. State Budget Director Linda Luebbering will provide an analysis of the budgetary implications of Medicaid reform and expansion, which would bring $6.1 billion back to the state over the next three years.
Candidates forum
North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice is holding its first candidates forum 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 at St. Marks United Church United Methodist Church, 315 Graham Rd., Florissant. All candidates running for office this year in North St. Louis County are welcome to participate, especially for Ferguson-Florissant, Hazelwood School Boards, St. Louis Community College Board, St. Louis County Council and the St. Louis County Executive positions. Each candidate will be allowed to speak for five minutes and will be asked to respond to questions. All candidates who wish to participate, please contact President Rance Thomas, at 314 238-6828. The public is invited to attend and participate.
