By Antonio D. French
Filed Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 11:40 AM
Word is that 18th Ward Alderman Terry Kennedy will be opening his campaign headquarters next week at 4618 Delmar. Labels: Aldermen
Kennedy is being challenged by Bill Haas, who at the same time is running for a seat on the school board.
11 Comments:
Nice to see Terry taking me seriously. I'm tempted to say "about time", but actually would rather have had him wait a little longer. April or May would have been nice.
And as of yesterday, at the SEIU union schoolboard candidates debate, I officially announced my withdrawal from the schoolboard race and my support of union endorsed candidates David Jackson and Katie Wessling, and my urging of other candidates to get out also, if they oppose a state takeover of the schools, as they dont have a rat's ass chance of winning (in my opinion) and their presence only may take needed votes away from David Jackson's and Katie Wessling's efforts to defeat the Slay dogs Ron Jackson and Bob Archibald, and thus give the Board the majority it needs to sue to stop the illegal takeover. That is the overriding issue of this campaign.
My more detailed statement of withdrawal from the schoolboard race will follow shortly.
1/28/2007 1:47 PM
One of his workers called me and asked for a donation.
1/28/2007 6:38 PM
Kennedy has done a great job with housing and commercial development in the ward. I see the 100 Black Men organization moved from the county to the 18th ward, probably based on his involvement. I hope that he get re-elected.
1/28/2007 9:10 PM
WITH THIS NUT RUNNING AGAINST HIM, DON'T WORRY. KENNEDY IS A SURE WINNER.
1/28/2007 10:08 PM
one comment from me, two anonymously from Terry (anonymous posts; that's real brave and impressive).I guess this post makes us even.
yea, the 100 Black Men Organization chose their location based on the alderman; good luck with that idea; it happens to be a good location; I'm proud to have it in my future ward; not much development around it yet to speak of, but I hope to change that.
now while Terry and his band of merry, and I believe, few, supports are writing posts, I'm going back out and knock on doors.
1/29/2007 12:45 AM
Full content of my Media Release withdrawal from schoolboard:
"Haas Reluctantly Withdraws From Schoolboard Race; may not be able to get off ballot [until wins Alderman race]":
"Through a quirk of sorts in the law, the last day for getting off the ballot for school board without a court order, was January 17th or so, the day after filing closed and the ballot was certified. Schoolboard elections are governed by state law, munciple elections, city charter and ordinances, so last day to get off primary ballot was January 25th.
Ballots for General Election wont be printed until March 7th, day after the Primary.
In any case:
1. I thought I deserved the union's endorsement from my 8 years on the Board, having earned my chops, if that's the right phrase: GLBT rights Resolution and Sex and Health Education Resolution that passed, leading the fight against the taking of Waring School (for which Roberti sued me in a SLAPP/crap suit that was ulitmately dropped which no media reported), leading the settlement in 2005 of the teacher negotiations, the 9th Grade Initiative I initiated which earned us provisional instead of unaccredited in our accreditation review, suing Jennifer Joyce when she and the police wouldnt do anything about Vince Schoemehl's alleged assaults against board member (Amy, Veronica and I; personally, I think Amy or Veronica could have taken him; not sure about me), standing up to Bill Roberti, admittedly in too feisty a fashion at times, and so forth.
2. The union has never endorsed me for school board, the four times I've filed! (withdrew in 2006 for the good of the team), tho supported me for state rep last year, which meant a lot to me (I'm sure it had something to do with my friend, the voucher dog, I was running against).
3. When I asked them this time why they didnt endorse me (I was told the selections were made before the endorsement interviews - which I was sort of late for since I forgot while out campaigning for Alderman - which I take no offense at), after all the good I had done, I wont judge (which I say right before I judge), but one fool said to me , "we consider those things to be in the past". Duh, it's hard to run on things you did in the future. Plus it wasnt like they were done back in the 19th century!
4. In any case, I think the case can be made that I would have had as good a chance as the union endorsed candidates to beat the Slay dogs in a multi-candidate race, because of my favorable name recognition from my years on the schoolboard and other campaigns,
and I was tempted to stay in the race just to show them that and teach the union a lesson about the strength of my candidacy and the consequences of the ungratefulness of not going home from the dance with the one that brung you;
but I didnt want to take the chance that I was wrong, and it certainly may be true that the union-endorsed candidates would have a better chance with me out of the race, so once again (like 2006) I did the honorable and unselfish thing and have withdrawn from the schoolboard race; I'm pretty sure I dont have an obligation to withdraw from every schoolboard race the rest of my life where the union doesnt endorse me, but this election certainly is critical to the future of the district, as the Board needs 2 more votes to insure that it will decide to sue the state to block the unlawful and counterproductive (to education of our children) planned takeover of the stlouis schools.
5.Finally (more or less, sort of), I call upon the other candidates in the race who oppose a state takeover to join me in withdrawing from the race and supporting Jackson/Wessling. Dont be like that horse's butt (whose name I know but wont say) who stayed in the last election, got less than 10% of the vote, I believe, was a distant 5th and almost cost Downs and Jones their election.
You dont have, in my opinion, a rat's ass chance of winning, so if you really wish to help the kids, do the unselfish thing. If not, maybe you support a state takeover, or at least your actions belie your words.
6. Finally, as I say above, the time for actually getting off the ballot without a court order has passed. But such an order show be easy to obtain for cause, which we (other candidates) have. It shouldnt be expensive, especially if we join together. Even if we cant get off the ballot, just saying we're withdrawing and supporting Jackson/Wessling and stopping campaigning, will do lots of good.
Actually, the only one who has a chance to get off the ballot without a court order is me (I), as when I win my Alderman primary, I have to choose between the two offices to be on the ballot for in April, and of course will choose Alderman and then the election board will automatically remove me for schoolboard.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Haas
Interesting (to me) postscript:
The St. Louis Labor Council for St. Louis City endorsed my opponent Terry Kennedy in the Alderman race. Fair enough; I understand about going with the incumbent and the favorite. But I was told unofficially that the reason they did was because the Teacher's Union asked them to because of Terry Kennedy's support of their opposition to the state takeover of the schools.
Let me tell you some things about that:
He did that after a supporter of his (and friend of mine) saw me at the rally against the takeover, and faxed Terry a statement to issue in opposition of the takeover. He (my friend) recommended that he do that because of my support of the union on the issue. I know this, because I was at my friend's house that weekend knocking on doors, and he showed me the fax!
Next, Nick Clement was on the Committee that interviewed candidates. If it was he that recommended endorsing Terry, I'm sure it wasnt because he's mad at me for getting into the schoolboard race and because he cant control me. Oh No! Not Nick!
But if I dont win my Alderman race, and arent otherwise able to get off the ballot for schoolboard, and I take votes away from the union's candidates and they dont win, then it's on the union not me; and for recommending endorsement of my opponent in the Alderman race, they'll have really been hoisted by their own petard, wont they? so if you see Nick Clement walking funny, you'll know why - those petards can hurt!; you hear that, my brother?"
1/29/2007 12:49 AM
Kennedy is being "challenged" by Haas? More like Haas just appears on the ballot.
1/29/2007 9:26 AM
Kennedy doesnt seem to believe that, but here's hoping he does. I'm the underdog, it will be an upset; I understand; that's fine with me. Anonymous shots always very impressive; you're mom must be so proud.
1/29/2007 9:59 AM
We Love You, Billl!! Shame on Local 420. They have turned into another bloodsucking, useless, tyrannical, political entity. It's obviously not about the kids with them.
Why??...Because Sally Says So!
***What does Nia know about that?!
1/29/2007 10:54 AM
Kennedy could do more in his ward to protect historical housing. He has a lot of vacant LRA lots therefore no reason to demolish historical housing as LRA land could be substitute.
The homes of 4011-4021 Washington are fine examples. Proposed demolition of these homes by Saaman for condos is unnecessary as the LRA owns 4008, 4012, 4016, and 4018 Enright which are all adjacent and vacant. The combined lot area is about 25,583 square feet. The combined lot size of the three Washington homes is 23,265 which is comparable to the total size on Enright. In this manner, demolition is a waste since Saaman could build on already vacant City owned property.
1/29/2007 12:28 PM
1/29/2007 10:54 AM (Sally?): thanks for the sweet words.
But dont be unkind about 420 or judge; they endorsed to fine candidates with kids in the district who will make fine board members. To endorse me would have caused problems if I had won my alderman race; they would have had to endorse 2 and a backup; too complicated. That's the reason they should have given, not that my accomplishments were in the past. A few of them I dont care for, total a-holes, even tho smart, and for the way they sometimes treat me, can go permanently f themselves, and they know who they are; not many; one or so at most. Just a couple have been mean to me, but they are still awfully smart on the issues, and usually when I dont like someone, it says as much about me as it does about them, sort of like I say about those who diss me on blogs.
And who's Nia, and what do the asterisks mean?
best, Bill
btw, I hope to have got off the ballot by Friday; now let's see some other candidates do the same thing; it seems the election board will help someone who wants to get off; kind of them; have to within next 2-3 weeks or cant at all, I understand.
1/29/2007 6:48 PM
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