Election Day for Even Numbered Wards One Year Away
[CORRECTION on 3/13/06 @ 8pm – Turns out I was off by a week. The Primary election will be March 6, 2007. It is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March If you really want to be pro-active you can mark your calendars for March 3, 2009 for the odd numbered wards].
One year from today, March 613, 2007, voters in the City of St. Louis will go to the polls to elect aldermen in the even numbered wards. Will it be like years past where many incumbents go unchallenged? Or will we urbanists rise up and challenge the status quo?
I want to see all 14 incumbents challenged for their races. Not that all should be sent packing but our democracy is healthier when more citizens participate. None should be given a free ride for another four years.
Urbanism should be a major focus in this election. Talking points should include:
Here are the folks up for election next year:
Ward 10 – Joseph Vollmer (the guy responsible for the upcoming demolition of St. Aloysius)
Ward 24 – William Waterhouse (only recently elected to replace Tom Bauer)
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
– Steve
As far as the 24th I’d be willing to be that ole Tom Bauer may renter the aldermanic races again. He still has some $$ and some anger (and dare I say crazieness?) left in him so it wouldnt be that much of a shock. Other than Bauer, I dont know of anyone who would take Waterhouse on.
Bill has done a good job so far so I see no reason to send him packing. I understand with your post that running candidates against incumbents is good for democracy but if the constiuents are happy with their elected official then whats the point?
[REPLY – Simply because an incumbent is unchallenged does not mean everyone is happy or that the best person is in office. How do we really know everyone is happy until given a choice? Also, a challenged race brings out discussion topics that otherwise may not come up. – SLP]
Steve makes a good point – that elected officials shouldn’t count on being unopposed every time.
Nevertheless, it takes a great deal of time, effort, networking, and money, to make a campaign even remotely successful. The March 2007 primary is, indeed, only one year away. The advantage of incumbency can be really difficult to overcome for a challenger.
Most of the folks on that list have been smart enough not to anger too many of their constituents. So I don’t expect serious opposition to most of them.
It is fun to watch the fundraisers of unopposed candidates.
It’s like an oasis in the desert, with all the politicians showing up for a drink of water.
Every day folks almost look out of place.
Steve-
We know constiuents are happy by asking them or in the extreme cases like Bauer- they’re pissed off and let the officils know. The general feeling I have had at the neighborhood meeting’s has been positive for Waterhouse.
An open dialogue between constiuents and elected officials also leads to discussion- not solely a race to unseat an incumbent. People need to feel like their offical is approachable and will listen to each of their concerns.
Fundraisers are always a hoot- money in and money out. Checks in one hand and close conversations the next. Thing is that them direct mail pieces dont pay for themselves and neither do those fancy bumper stickers.
[REPLY – Given how recently Waterhouse was elected to replace Bauer I have no doubts most are happy with him. However, he came from the democractic ward machine which is not known for being progressive when it comes to things like breaking down aldermanic courtesy. He also didn’t run unopposed. – SLP]
Don’t forget the four citywide offices on the 2006 ballot: License Collector, Recorder of Deeds, Collector of Revenue, Circuit Clerk.
Filing ends March 28 and costs only $50. So far, only one race has more than one filed candidate, and two incumbents are unopposed. Only Democrats have filed.