By Antonio D. French
Filed Sunday, June 11, 2006 at 11:02 PM
The candidates seeking to replace the term-limited State Sen. Pat Dougherty answered a wide range of questions tonight at a forum hosted by the Organization for Black Struggle. Labels: State_Senate, Video_Reports
Derio Gambaro, Jeff Smith, Yaphett El-Amin, and Kenny Jones were asked whether they support the City of St. Louis regaining control of its police department and where they stood on the issue of requiring cops to live in the city like other city employees.
Gambaro said that the issue should be handled like the Home Rule issue a few years back, with voters across the entire state asked whether St. Louisans should have the same right as most of them. Co-moderator Irene J. Smith, former 1st Ward alderman, quickly reminded Gambaro that this is a statutory issue, not a constitutional one, and that the legislature can decide it at any time.
El-Amin said that Gambaro has spoken at the same hearings as she has on police residency, but on opposite sides of the issue. She said she firmly believes that police -- and firefighters -- should be required to live in the city, something which Gambaro has testified against.
Smith and Jones also spoke in favor of requiring police to live in the city. The fifth candidate, Amber Boykins, was not present when this question was asked. She arrived to the forum nearly 90 minutes late.
More video tomorrow...
15 Comments:
If people spend their money where they lay their heads as Rep. El-Amin stated, then shouldn't people spend their money on the precious products from where they laid their heads! Please politicians start practicing what you preach, because many of you are so full of bull#@$& that is starting to get sickening to listen to your ridiculous attacks on each other.
The police living in the community or not, is not the problem. The problem is how the people that live in the community treat each other, and if that is solved we won't need so many police. Politicians should stop attacking police officers for every problem in the community.
6/12/2006 12:02 AM
Does Rep. Boykins use the same excuse to be late to every function? One has to wonder if she is actually interested in the job of representing the 4th district if she can't show enough respect to her constituents to be on time.
As for Mr. Gambaro, I feel bad for him. He is in a tough position. He likely knew the that the residency requirement was a statutory issue, but he has to support the FOP position on the issue, since they endorsed him in this race. He has to really differentiate himself from the other candidates since the polls don't show him doing well. This is just another issue where he can stand apart from everyone else, like he does on privatizing social security.
6/12/2006 12:06 AM
I disagree with you Travis, although it is obvious that you have a personal vendetta against anybody but Mr. Smith. Maybe the next time, the candidate forum can be at an acceptable location for you like Club Faces in East St. Louis! We know that you and all of your friends will be there on time, oops, I was suppose to keep that a secret. Sorry Travis, people srew up and make a mistake sometimes!
6/12/2006 12:20 AM
boykins is wasting her time, yours and mine by running. Search the record for anything she's done lately and let me know if she really did make a difference in her community. Trust me, she aint done nothin!
6/12/2006 12:25 AM
Boykins isn't out of the race, in spite of her inability or unwillingness to attend public events and be there on time, for one big old-fashioned reason that still matters big-time in a Democratic Primary: $$$$$$$ The handful of district residents who attended the forum or read this blog aren't impressed, but the glossy flyers that start inundating voters' mailboxes next month will make her look like the second coming to the much larger number of uninformed (but voting) citizens. Plus, she apparently has Public Eye busy doing his best to build her up and tear down the others. (Remember, he set the stage for Mayor Slay by the number he did on Clarence Harmon, a scandal-free mayor who nevertheless managed only 5% of the vote in his re-election campaign.)
The end result will depend on grassroots campaigning, and several of the contenders (including Boykins) have excellent grassroots history. The challenge to these grassroots operations is that voters this year are really apathetic and turned off and will be harder than usual to motivate to vote.
6/12/2006 1:13 AM
I'm not sure that I understand the personal attack on me, nor its relevance to this conversation. I hold no personal vendettas as anon #2 claims I do, as I've only met the candidates (at least those that showed) at the Tillis Park Neighborhood Association's debate. I would have attended the OBS debate if I hadn't been out of town. This campaign should be one about ideas, not about biggotry, racism or name-calling, as some supporters of one of the candidates have tried to make it.
The Senator representing the 4th district will have a vastly diverse constituency, and will need to be able to not only see beyond race, religion, gender, age, and other divisive issues, but also be someone that works to unite the community, as Jeff Smith has done in his work with not only Matthew Dickey, but also his ground breaking work with the Confluence Academy.
I obviously support Jeff Smith, but why is that? Do my comments come from a point of supporting Jeff Smith, or does my support come as a culmination of my thoughts about the candidates in this race. I believe Jeff Smith to not only be the best qualified candidate based on his background and experience in community development, but also his willingness and ability to work across racial and social divides to achieve greatness of which the citizens of the city of St. Louis are the beneficiaries.
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These comments are my own, and represent my thoughts alone. While I support Jeff Smith's candidacy for the 4th District Senate seat, I am in no way otherwise affiliated with that campaign.
6/12/2006 2:23 AM
I disagree that Jeff Smith's "background and experience in community development" make him the best qualified, Travis. There are other candidates for the 4th who have actual legislative experience.
And then there's "his willingness and ability to work across racial and social divides to achieve greatness of which the citizens of the city of St. Louis are the beneficiaries." What on earth is that? Jeff Smith seems like a bright, nice guy whose views are compatible with Wash. U. students and a lot of other folks who send him money but do not live in the 4th District. I respect his willingness to run for office, but his views (anti-voucher, pro-choice, anti-death penalty, pro-civilian review board, for example) don't even come close to representing the beliefs of most of the people I know in the 4th.
The Missouri legislature is controlled big time by the Republicans, and like it or not, if we elect a Senator from the 4th whose views are the most liberal of all five candidates, then we might just as well have stayed home on August 8 because he will be totally ineffective in the Missouri Senate.
Personally, I will vote for a candidate who can work with the Missouri Senate as it is today, not the way Democrats would like it to be.
6/12/2006 9:06 AM
Get real Travis, you support Mr. Smith wholeheartedly and that is why you keep attacking other candidates on this website. All you do is attack other candidates in the 4th Senatorial District race, and now you want to cry victim.
What is amazing is that you frequently focus your negative statements on candidates of a specific ethnic background, and then claim that you are not ethnically biased?
Here is an idea for you, fess up buddy! You are in denial Travis, and people that think like this keep St. Louis from coming together!
What is troubling is that you have Jeff Smith's support? Jeff Smith is the second coming of another young guy that claimed a undying commitment to the black community and we all know how that ended up, but South St. Louis still loves him to this day. Yes, the reference is to former Mayor Vince Schoemehl. Schoemehl promised to be the savior to the black community and destroyed it. Schoemehl even came back again as a school board member to give North St. Louis a second dose of total annihilation.
Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it!!!!
6/12/2006 9:14 AM
To the anno #4
Rural Republicans have no interest in working with democrats or St. Louis. They have a majority and what they say goes.
At the end of session they touted no limits on campaign contributions as their greatest achievement…. Who in St. Louis does that help?
They got rid of the amount of money a lobbyist can give or spend on them. Who in St. Louis does that help?
They got rid of medicate for over 100,000 Missourian… Who in St. Louis does that help?
MODOT wants to rip out 64-40 and close all the overpasses from Sara west. That will cut this city in half… Who is ultimately in charge of MODOT??? Republicans
Another yes woman/man for these Republican Hater’s will kill St. Louis
If you want your government to work to line elected officials pockets, have a nice day. I want the government to work in the interest of the people.
6/12/2006 9:45 AM
To Anon #4:
In the comments toward the end of your message you do sound more conservative than most of the candidates in the race for the Democratic nomination for the 4th disctric Senate seat, except perhaps Mr. Gambaro who shares some of your conservative views.
I'd rather elect someone to represent my views and give me a voice in the state Senate than someone who will merely roll-over for the Republican party or who does not share my views but can "get things done" in Jefferson City.
Further, while I do not share Jeff Smith's views completely, I do believe him to be the best candidate for the office. Not only because he shares some of my views, but more so because he has been involved in our community through the development of the Confluence Academy, his volunteer work with Matthews-Dickey, and his work with the National Conference for Community and Justice trying to fight bigotry. Jeff Smith has been working to improve our community, and that is the chief reason I support his candidacy for the state Senate.
I'd like to add that I appreciate you keeping the debate on issues, as it should be. Thanks!
6/12/2006 10:54 AM
To Anon #5:
Interesting that rather than focus on ideas and issues that effect our future and are germane to this campaign, you want to rather avoid the issues and focus on me.
As to your point about my comments being slanted to candidates of one ethnic background, or another, I would point out that I have made comments about all of the candidates. I do admit that my comments about Kenny Jones have been sparce, but that is because I'm not sure he is actually running. Please note that I made no comments about the El-Amin "baby mama drama," which could be drawn into personal attacks. But I have rather than make personal attack, have focused on issues that are at issue in this race--candidate's positions on issues, candidate's absence or tardiness to community events, etc.
The fact that 3 of the candidates are black and one of which practices the Islamic faith is no more relevant to this campagin than the Italian-American decent of Mr. Gambaro, or the Anglo-American decent of Jeff Smith (I suppose by his last name). What is relevant to the campaign are where these candidates stand on issues, and their background and experience, either as a part of the ineffective machinery in Jefferson City, or rather as a positive force in our community.
In fact, Jeff Smith's work the National Conference for Community and Justice to end bigotry and his leadership role with the Confluence Academy to put working schools in north city show his passion, resolve, and dedication to working across ethnic, racial, and socio-economic lines.
So, can we please have public discourse about the issues, and not personal attacks? In the end, we all want the same thing--god governement, and good representation.
6/12/2006 11:06 AM
From Anonymous #4:
Travis, you and I probably disagree on most issues, but your willingness to stand up for a candidate you believe in and to try to discuss issues is commendable.
To Anonymous #5:
Regardless of which party is in control there will always be differences in rural and urban priorities. I live in the city, too, but St. Louis City is not the center of the universe, and while we need to look after ourselves, we can't view every single issue as though our interests are the only ones that are important.
As a Republican myself I am getting just a little tired of the "Republicans are all haters" and "Democrats are the saviors of the people" babble. Party politics is too often all about getting power and then grinding the other side's face in the mud. No party is innocent.
Here is what many years in politics has taught me: it is much easier to spout meaningless political rhetoric or make personal attacks than it is to thoughtfully research issues and candidates. Until voters get off their backsides and make informed choices based on issues rather than race or who has the most tv ads, they will get exactly what they deserve: mediocre elected officials who put politics before people and principles.
6/12/2006 9:24 PM
Since you have been out of town Ebony and Ivory, some things happened behind the smoke screen that you referenced, which led to Rep. Boykins missing some votes during the last week of the Legislative session of 2005.
However, I first want to say that I honor you for fighting for our country in the U.S. Armed Forces. This is the greatest country in the world!
Ebony and Ivory, the bottom line is that many votes are made during the last week of session in the legislature, and the votes that you are referencing to that were missed by Rep. Boykins were due to the illness of her MOTHER. Her MOTHER is a heart transplant recipient, and breast cancer survivor. Rep. Boykins made a choice to be by her MOTHER'S bedside in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) during the alleged missed votes, and she had no control over when and how often her MOTHER would become ill.
I think anyone would be there for their MOTHER in a situation such as this, and other members of the State Legislature that are running against her are well aware of this fact.
However, I am disgusted that anyone could ever be so politically motivated to win, that they would attack someone about their voting record knowing behind the "SMOKE SCREEN" that they are manifesting concerning the illness of a their colleague's MOTHER-which is the "BOTTOM LINE!!!!!!"
Ebony and Ivory, I don't fault you for lacking knowledge of this because you were out town fighting for our country (U.S.A.), however I do fault anyone that attacks another for being there for their MOTHER at a critical time and that would misrepresent the facts for political gain!!!!
6/13/2006 10:34 AM
EbonyandIvory said...
"Rep Boykins record was a little unnerving, how do you represent someone and miss almost half (48%) of the voting issues.
...
Then my research on Gambaro suggests a Republican dressed in Democratic clothing. And who is Kenny Jones?
...
The one major characteristic that I see that St. Louis lacks is racial unity."
You are dead-on with those comments, but your conclusion needs a little work. Seeing that Jeff Smith is someone able to not only see beyond race, religion, gender, age, and other divisive issues, but also someone that works to unite the community, as Jeff Smith has done in his coaching for Matthews-Dickey, his ground breaking leadership of the Confluence Academy, and his work with the National Conference for Community and Justice to fight bigotry.
Give Jeff Smith another look, and you will find that this breath of fresh air will do wonders for Jefferson City over promoting a candidate that works to divide the city into north and south, black and white, rich and poor.
6/13/2006 1:12 PM
No one has destroyed the black community except the black community ! Period!
6/19/2006 10:41 AM
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