By Antonio D. French
Filed Tuesday, August 15, 2006 at 10:53 AM
As the Democratic committee-men and -women of the City of St. Louis prepare to gather tonight to elect their officers, rumors are circulating about a possible battle for the top spot of that occasionally influential body.
Some are suggesting a challenge to the chairmanship of 7th Ward Committeeman Brian Wahby will come from the northside -- possibly from the 1st Ward.
When reached by phone, 1st Ward Committeeman Talibdin El-Amin said that he definitely would not be seeking the chairmanship. But Mr. El-Amin would not say whether his wife, Committeewoman and outgoing State Rep. Yaphett El-Amin, would be seeking the office.
Mrs. El-Amin could not be reached for comment, but her name has come up most frequently when we called around on this story. Considering some of the still fresh wounds from her campaign for the state senate, which ended last week in a loss to upstart Jeff Smith, it isn't clear if she would have enough support even among northside black committee members to stage a strong challenge.
Wahby said he isn't worried. "I'm pretty confident in my support," he told PUB DEF.
Tonight's meeting at The Cedars, 39 Lebanon Drive, at 6:00 p.m. will also try to serve as an after-Primary "coming together" to begin to heal those wounds in the name of making a strong push for the Democrats' statewide nominees -- most notably U.S. Senate candidate Claire McCaskill.
Many of last Tuesday's Primary winners have been invited to attend tonight's meeting, including: the next License Collector, Mike McMillan; the next Collector of Revenue, Gregory F.X. Daly; the next 60th District State Rep, Jamilah Nasheed; and the next 4th District State Senator, Jeff Smith.
The press, however, has been un-invited.
22 Comments:
Could Yaphett stand to lose two elections in a month?
8/15/2006 11:42 AM
The only invited guests to tonights meeting are committeepeople. This meeting is closed door session for committeepeople only. Another meeting will be scheduled for bringing people together.
8/15/2006 11:47 AM
Yaphett is preparing herself to run against Troupe for the 1st Ward Aldermanic seat. Troupe is rumored to be 75 years old and looking to step down as Alderman of the 1st Ward or not seek re-election. This would give Yaphett the 1st Ward Aldermanic seat, her husband the State Rep. seat, Yaphett the committeewomanship, and her husband the committeemanship.
This family is power hungry and will take power by any means necessary, although it is fitting that since Troupe created this situation he will succumb to it politically.
8/15/2006 12:04 PM
Yaphett cannot be Alderman and Committeewoman at the same time. It is not allowed.
8/15/2006 12:11 PM
If Yaphett runs, Brian will retain Chair. Now, someone like Harry Kennedy could pull votes from Wahby. If Kennedy and Wahby split southsiders then maybe Yaphett can win, but Dems would be more divided than ever, if El-Amin led the Central Committee.
McCaskill must be sweating some over the vote, since Claire needs to increase the margin of her 2004 win in the City to beat Talent in 2006.
8/15/2006 12:21 PM
The above post is correct Yaphett can't hold the post of committeewoman and Alderman at the same time. The committeeman would be allowed to appoint the new committeewoman.
8/15/2006 12:22 PM
Claire is sweating heavily because Jim Talent will beat her by a landslide. Since this primary election has divided North St. Louis, Claire doesn't have a chance in hell of increasing her voter turnout. Claire should drop out of the race and save herself the embarrassment, because she is through in politics after she loses this race in November. In two years, people will be saying Claire who.
8/15/2006 12:27 PM
Why would anyone challenge Wahby? Without question he has been the most active Chairman that organization has had in recent memory. Wahby has always been a go to guy for both north and south side pols. He's been one of the only pols that has worked to bring this city and this party together. Clearly the Democratic Central Committe would be taking an enormous step backward if they don't return Wahby.
8/15/2006 2:50 PM
What the heck does the recent primary have to do with Claire losing US Senate? All of the Senatorial candidates are Democrats so how does who holds the Chairman's seat play into it being a problem for Claire?
It seems to me that someone is always trying to create division. Why would anyone assume that this is bad for Claire if all of the primary candidates are working on behalf of Democrats. Stop the drama!
PS Troupe will leave when he wants to, who knows what will be happening in politics then, unless ofcourse the El-Amins force him out.
8/15/2006 3:00 PM
Actually, the point about Claire McCaskill, and any state-wide Democratic race candidate, needing stability in the City's Central Committee is dead on. These larger campaigns depend on the Central Committees to deliver the organization and votes for their geographic territory. With the city's being the power-base of the state-wide elected Democrats, it is even more crucial. As we saw in the 4th District race, if Yaphett El-Amin were to take control of the Central Committee, her divisive nature would erode any chance of strong support for state-wide Democratic races actually winning. What is odd is that after the primary, the party should be coming together to move forward, and not be embroiled in these divisive issues.
8/15/2006 6:31 PM
Yaphett didn't challenge Brian, but Pat Moss. She won Vice Chair. Funny how the so called advocate for African Americans challenges 1 of only 2 African American officers, but doesn't go after Brian. She will go after Troupe, she doesn't have to resign from Committewoman unless she wins the aldermanic seat. Then she must resign. That's how Troupe gave up 1st Ward Committeman which allowed Yaphette to appoint her husband.
She knew better than to go after Brian and received support across racial lines. After all, Pat Moss was only the 1st committee person to endorse Yaphette when she first ran for office. Great thank you isn't it. Is this what Malcolm meant when he said, "By any means necessary?"
8/15/2006 9:08 PM
Troupe will step down as of January when Yaphette's husband is sworn in. Alderman Troupe has made it clear he doesn't want this fight and will hand it over to Yaphette immmediately. Yaphette will be the next Alderman of the 1st Ward and Ald. Troupe has stated he will retire. Expect a press conference from Ald. Troupe around mid-January to announce his retirement from politics.
The El-Amins are the new kings of North St. Louis and no will stop them!
8/15/2006 10:03 PM
If Troupe steps down, expect Tyus to fight El-Amin for 1st Ward Alderman. In fact, even if El-Amin challenges Troupe, Tyus will be right behind her.
8/16/2006 8:29 AM
Sure, stepping down allows Troupe to initially pick his successor, but Tyus could still run as an Indy in a special election, if not waiting for the next primary.
8/16/2006 8:30 AM
Actually, if Ald. Troupe were to resign during his term, a special election would be called for within 100 days. The ward's party organizations would nominate the candidate for the party, which means that the 1st ward Democratic committee would pick the Democrat, who would very likely be the next Alderman for obvious reasons.
Now, I don't know if the 1st ward committee is "open" or "closed." If it is open then there will be a vote for the nominee by the members, who will likely follow the lead of the committeepeople. But, if the ward is closed, the selection will be made by the committeepeople, themselves. So, for all practical purposes, TD and Yaphett El-Amin would pick the new Alderman for the 1st, IF Ald. Troupe were to step down.
8/16/2006 9:00 AM
Inter fighting in one of the most prominent areas to support Claire would get me nervous as well if I was her.
Not to be rude about it but, what exactly has the DCC done under Wahbby? Have they organized a GOTV program to combat the Voter ID bill? Have they started recruiting and training better candidates? Have they raised money and volunteers for state wide offices? Seriously, I would like to know what my democratic party of st.louis is doing to beat the Republicans in November.
8/16/2006 9:05 AM
Ald. Troupe is doing a fairly good job. Yaphet is a self-obsessed ideologue who was useless in Jeff City. Why does she need to be an elected official? Lizz Brown and Zaki Baruti will take her as a guest on their shows without such credentials!
8/16/2006 10:17 AM
Yaphette El-Amin is the most powerful black woman in North St. Louis and can get anyone elected to whatever office that becomes available in North St. Louis. She beat everyone that has been mentioned above. Nobody can stop the El-Amin train!
8/16/2006 12:29 PM
I know this is hard to believe, but there is a Republican City Central Committee too.
8/16/2006 12:44 PM
^What's hard to believe is if there are enough City Republicans in each ward to serve as committeeman and committeewoman.
8/16/2006 3:19 PM
The El-Amin train?...Please.
8/16/2006 3:53 PM
There are not enough to fill all of the positions.
http://www.stlouiscitygop.org/?page=leadership&lvl=5
8/17/2006 10:12 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home