Thoughts on the Primary Election – UPDATED!

The polls have closed so now we wait to see how the new election devices performed. Hopefully the results will come in much sooner than in past elections and we can all get to bed at a decent hour. Here are some thoughts on a few of the races from today:

Update #1 at 10pm on 8/8/06 – 63% of city precincts reporting, 24% of St. Louis County. Update #2; 11:30pm – 200 of 203 precincts in the city reporting.

License Collector:

In November Republican Patrick L. Herod will attempt to defeat wildly popular Democratic Alderman Mike McMillan in a city that seldom votes for Republicans. I did not vote for McMillan today simply because he didn’t need my vote. I’m curious to see what percentage of voters checked off his name even though he is the only candidate.

Update #1 – 85% of the Democratic voters voter for McMillan with the other 15% perhaps drawing the same conclusion I did, why vote “for” someone that is not opposed.

Collector of Revenue:

Two Democrats are facing off in this race, current License Collector Gregory F.X. Daly and Cate Sauve. The winner will overwhelmingly be Daly who will face Green candidate Audrey M. Ruiz-Smith in November. I voted for Sauve today simply because Daly is so favored to win. I was actually surprised by the high number of Sauve signs I saw today.

Update #1 – Daly is walking away with this with over 81% of the votes.

Recorder of Deeds:

Sharon Quigley Carpenter is unopposed in the Democratic primary but will face Green Jerry S. McCaleb in November.

Update #1 – Just over 81% of those voting did so for this unopposed candidate.

Court Clerk:

Mariano V. Favazza is unopposed in the primary and the general in November. Four more years of Favazza while he tries to figure out a way to get elected to a higher office. I don’t see him getting elected to anything other than this office and not even then if someone actually challenges him.

Update #1 – Less than 79% of those voting so far gave Favazza the thumbs up.

State Senator 4th District

This has to be the most closely watched race of the day for our area. Most are predicting a win for either Yaphett El-Amin or Jeff Smith. Everyone agrees former Alderman Kenneth Jones will place last. The question will be how it all shakes out with two current state reps (Yaphett El-Amin & Amber Holly Boykins) and a former state rep (Derio Gambaro) with never before elected Jeff Smith. Two are black females with two being white males. This race is just too close to call but I will agree with others it will be either El-Amin or Smith. The winner today is the winner for the seat as no Republican, Green or Libertarian is running.

Update #1 – In the city Smith is taking the lead with El-Amin in close second and Gambaro in third. Update #2 – Jeff Smith is the clear winner with over 36% of the vote. Congratulations to Jeff Smith.

Today I stopped by Fanning School in the 15th ward where a volunteer was collecting signatures for the recall effort against 15th Ward Alderwoman Jennifer Florida. Last week I reported she was seen and heard plotting to get Gambaro elected in this race. Florida was at the polling place as well today and she made a point to show me she was standing next to a Jeff Smith volunteer and that she made no endorsements. Sounds to me like Florida was doing damage control on several fronts today. I will say her dress and hair did look quite nice…

State Representative 57th District

I have not followed closely this 3-way race with Joseph “Joe” Palm, Talibdin “TD” El-Amin, and Karla May. Like so many other races, no other parties have filed to challenge the Democratic candidate in November. Given that El-Amin’s wife is the current Rep. that should give TD the advantage but I hear strong support for Joe Palm.

Update #2 – Talibdin El-Amin has successfully won the seat being vacated by his wife, Yahphatt, due to term limits. She came in a strong second to Jeff Smith in the race for state senate.

State Representative 58th District

Professional candidate and two-term school board member William C. “Bill” Haas is attempting to unseat incumbent Rodney R. Hubbard. I don’t have an opinion on which candidate is the lesser of two evils but it is a moot point because Haas has about as much chance of winning as I do being appointed dog catcher by Mayor Slay.

Update #2 – Hubbard easily won re-election over challenger Haas.

State Representative 59th District

Mark Rice is once again trying to defeat Jeanette Mott Oxford. This time JMO is an incumbent with a strong base of support. JMO is the only candidate I have endorsed in this election cycle. She is my rep and I think she has done an outstanding job representing me in Jefferson City. She has continually informed constituents of issues through email and now through her website. Tonight’s winner will face-off with Libertarian Kevin C. Bobcock in November.

Update #1 – Looks like Rice was undercooked, JMO has over 80% of the vote within the city.

State representative 60th District

This 4-way race is another that I have not followed closely to make any informed commentary. I’ve seen Jamilah Nasheed at a number of meetings including mundane things like the Planning Commission. I’ve also seen her bright car all over town. Shaun A. Simms is the husband of the current Rep. Amber Boykins and Sharon Tyus is the former Alderwoman that got her ward moved across town in the last redistricting. If I had to venture a guess I’d say Nasheed is going to win this race but not by much.

Update #1 – As predicted earlier Nasheed is taking a strong lead so far with Tyus in close second. The others are out of the running.
Update #2 – Nasheed has won this race with 43.72% of the vote, 100% reporting.

City of St. Louis Proposition:

A city-wide proposition to raise the business license fee, defeated earlier this year, is back. I’m not holding my breath for the 60% needed to be approved.

Update #2 – With nearly all precincts in this proposition has failed to get the required 60% for passage.

St. Louis County Executive

Incumbent Charlie A. Dooley has two challengers; Charlotte Meshell and Carl Johnson. At 58 Dooley is the youngest in the race. I don’t think he’ll be staying up late worrying about the results.

Update #1 – Dooley has a commanding lead with around 79% of the vote with 24% of the precincts reporting.

City of Clayton:

A referendum on Eminent Domain; “Should it be the future policy of the city of Clayton that eminent domain should be significantly limited in conjunction with any economic development or redevelopment project?” Earlier this year Clayton blighted an entire city block and granted the right of eminent domain to Centene so they could expand their headquarters. I think the absurdity of blighting a block simply because it is not being used the way a corporation wants it to be used will cause a backlash among voters who will pass the referendum.

Update #1 – With 2 out of 6 precincts reporting the measuring has received over 70% approval. I do not know the percentage required for passage.

City of University City:

Voters in University City are considering a 1/4-cent sales tax to improve the Loop and Olive Blvd. From the information on STLtoday.com it looks like most of the annual revenue of $550,000 is intended for sidewalk replacement. Sales tax increases are difficult but most people can relate to sidewalks so this may pass. Also, many U-City residents know lots of sales tax is paid by people visiting their municipality so they’d probably rather approve a sales tax increase than a property tax increase.

Update #1 – Nearly 80% of the precincts reporting show this tax being approved with 62% so far, however, I do not know the percentage required for passage.

St. Charles County:

Voters are considering a charter amendment to require the district attorney to get the approval of the County Council prior to suing any municipalities. This may be stemming from litigation between the City of St. Peters and St. Charles County over the blighting of farm land and granting of TIFs in flood zones by St. Peters.

City of Lake St. Louis:

This municipality in St. Charles County has several bond issues on the ballot. This bedroom community is beginning to show its age and lack of sales tax revenue. Still, I don’t think voters will support the bond measures.

Jefferson County:

The City of Hillsboro is looking for passage of a bond issue for water and sewer improvements while the Town of Pevely is seeking a half-cent sales tax for capital improvements. I think in a small town like Pevely the sales tax might be an uphill battle but what do I know, I seldom get to Jefferson County.

Lincoln County:

Voters will decide on a sales tax in the Troy Transportation District. Don’t start thinking Troy is going to build a light rail system to get from the Piggly Wiggly to the Wal-Mart. This sales tax is for road improvements. According to the Post-Dispatch, “Voters formed the district in 2004, but last August they repealed the district’s authority to levy the sales tax. The district’s directors put the tax on Tuesday’s ballot. It only applies to stores within the district.” I’m just guessing that if voters last August repealed the authority to levy the tax they may not be so included as to reinstate the authority a year later, unless the pot holes have gotten considerably bigger in the last year…

I want to thank the folks at the Post-Dispatch for having an excellent voter guide on STLToday.com, I used their guide to aid in listing the above races.

– Steve