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DEF is a non-partisan, independent political blog based in the
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On Election Day, Aldermanic President candidate Lewis Reed, License Collector Mike McMillan, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard, and Alderman-elect Marlene Davis made their way around the city on an old-fashion trolley, shaking hands from barbershops to gas stations and picking up last-minute votes.
The following is a statement from Comptroller Darlene Green on the March 2007 primary:
"Congratulations to Lewis on this historic victory. I look forward to working with him on E & A and at the Board of Aldermen to continue moving the entire city forward. I'd like to thank Jim Shrewsbury for all his years of service to the city. I wish he and his staff well. Also, congratulations to Kacie Starr Triplett and all of the victorious aldermen."
During this weekend's nationally televised fights on the Showtime network, St. Louis boxer Devon Alexander stepped into the ring wearing a Lewis Reed t-shirt. Soon after knocking out his opponent in the 7th round, the young southpaw gave shout-outs into the camera to his family, friends, and to the candidate for President of the Board of Aldermen.
The only question that remains is can the Reed team pull off another knock-out victory today?
The following is a copy of an ad that appeared in the February 21 edition of the Southwest City Journal. It touts Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury's opposition to the BJC expansion deal, saying he "won" in fighting the lease agreement. Besides being premature, the ad is interesting in that is claims to be paid for by "Citizens for Shrewsbury, Imogene Dwyer, Treasurer". However, no such organization has been registered with the Missouri Ethics Commission and no campaign finance reports detail how much money has passed through the committee.
Click to enlarge
Shrewsbury's primary campaign committee, The Shrewsbury Committee, is registered with the state and treasurer Thomas Hayes has filed reports regularly.
According to campaign finance reports just made available on the State's website, Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury collected $20,900 in two days last week, adding to his much-depleted coffers just hours before the polls open.
The largest donations of $5,000 each came from Illinois-based Market Street Bancshares and local EOI Employee PAC. Shrewsbury also received $2,000 each from Southwest Bank and the Site Improvement Association PAC, and a total of $2,400 from three different entities of the McGuire companies.
In the last few weeks, Shrewsbury has poured approximately $300,000 into his campaign to retain his position as Board President. He has had a much tougher than expected challenge from Alderman Lewis Reed who is backed by a majority of the city's aldermen and recently won endorsements from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the St. Louis American, and the Arch City Chronicle.
According to campaign finance reports filed over the weekend, Aldermanic President candidate Lewis Reed raked in almost $50,000 on one day last week, with most coming from two donors.
On February 28, George Kruntchev contributed $10,000 to the Committee to Elect Reed and Paul Weissman of New York City gave $35,000.
Reed is trying to become the first African-American ever elected President of the Board of Aldermen and the first black to unseat a white incumbent in a citywide election in 25 years.
As this ad runs on TV featuring a clip of Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury saying how he deliberately does not invest in the City of St. Louis, his latest campaign finance reports show he remains committed to that philosophy.
Of the $289,221.41 that his campaign has poured into this race in the last 30 days, more than 80% of that was paid to out-of-town firms.
Shrewsbury's mailers appear to have been printed by a Washington D.C.-based firm called The Strategy Group for $23,817.95. While his campaign commercial appears to have been produced and placed on local TV by a Denver-based company called Media Strategies. All told, more that $235,000 was paid to non-local companies.
In all fairness, much of the $190,000 (less at least the normal 15% fee for media buying) paid to Media Strategies for Shrewsbury's media buy will probably pass back through St. Louis through the three largest television stations (KSDK, KMOV, and KTVI), most of which (if not all) are owned by out-of-town companies.
But some local vendors did get a few dollars from the Shrewsbury campaign. Printer Creative Litho got $331.47 for a small job, web designer Brian Marston received $2,500 for work on the campaign website, and Aboussie & Associates, the firm of longtime political operative Joyce Aboussie received $10,000 for "voter contact".
*Shrewsbury's opponent in Tuesday's election, Alderman Lewis Reed, is a client of local firm A.D. French & Associates
The following television ad is currently running on cable and broadcast television. It is part of a three-part series produced by A.D. French & Associates and paid for by the 21st Ward Regular Democratic Organization, which I am treasurer of and who has endorsed Lewis Reed for President of the Board of Aldermen.
Comment away.
UPDATE 3/3/07: A commenter has asked about the context in which Shrewsbury's comment was made. It was made at a recent candidate forum in north St. Louis in response to a direct question from the audience about why he does not have his business located in the city. Here is the complete unedited video of both candidates' responses:
And here's a little additional context for the use of negative (or contrast) advertising in local citywide campaigns. The following is a negative ad Comptroller Darlene Green ran against Shrewsbury when he unsuccessfully challenged her for that office in 1996.
Post-Dispatch Endorses Reed, Southside Journal Goes with Shrewsbury
By Antonio D. French
Filed
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 8:13 AM
From the Post-Dispatch:
"Mr. Shrewsbury has a solid 24-year record of sometimes plodding, but honest and diligent service. Mr. Reed is a bright, engaging and capable politician who would help bridge the racial gap in city politics. The choice is a close one, but the recommendation here is that voters choose Lewis E. Reed."
From the Southside Journal:
"Both are sincere, hardworking men who are devoted to making St. Louis a better place to live.
Shrewsbury has been listening to the voice of St. Louis for nearly 25 years.
Reed has a vision for St. Louis that cannot be accomplished from the aldermanic chambers. Reed's vision is better suited for the mayor's office. Shrewsbury should be retained as aldermanic president when voters go to the polls March 6."
According to a campaign press release, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (Locals #1, #2, #4, and #1439) has endorsed Jim Shrewsbury for re-election.
At last night's debate between the candidates for President of the Board of Aldermen, a question from the audience asked President Jim Shrewsbury why his personal law practice is located in St. Louis County and not in the City.
Shrewsbury said he avoids all investment in the City to steer clear of any conflicts of interest.
At last nights debate between the candidates for President of the Board of Aldermen, a question from the audience asked Alderman Lewis Reed why his yard signs can be seen on so many trees in north St. Louis.
Reed's opponent, incumbent Pres. Jim Shrewsbury said his campaign never puts signs in illegal locations. But directly across the street from the debate site, a 4-foot by 8-foot Shrewsbury sign could be seen standing on city land in Fairgrounds Park.
Fairgrounds is located in the 21st Ward, whose alderman, Bennice Jones-King, and committeeman, "Chink" Washington, have broken from every other northside ward to endorse Shrewsbury.
The two candidates for President of the Board of Alderman will meet today for a debate in north St. Louis.
The debate between incumbent Jim Shrewsbury and challenger Lewis Reed will be at Beaumont High School, 3836 Natural Bridge, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Questions will come from the audience and the four-person panel composed of radio show hosts Onion Horton and Mark Kasen, and attorneys Ruby Bonner and Robert Kenny from the Mound City Bar Association.
City Democratic Party chairman and 7th Ward Committeeman Brian Wahby has endorsed Lewis Reed for President of the Board of Aldermen.
Reed is challenging incumbent Jim Shrewsbury in the March 6th primary election. According to Shrewsbury's campaign literature, Wahby's committeewoman, State Senator Maida Coleman, has endorsed Shrewsbury.
This news comes contrary to a false report in this week's St. Louis American, which claimed Wahby was "a Shrewsbury man".
Here is Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury's campaign commercial currently running on TV. It features cameos by State Sen. Pat Dougherty, Ald. Phyllis Young, former Ald. Irv Clay, Chief of Staff Pam Ross, and campaign staffers Harold Brown and April Harris.
Shrewsbury is in the last 11 days of a close campaign with 6th Ward Alderman Lewis Reed to be decided in the March 6 primary election. *Reed is a client of A.D. French & Associates
