French, Swoboda, McCowen & Others to File for Office Today
As expected, Elston McCowen has announced his intentions to run for Mayor from the Green Party. This will ensure that we all have a reason to return to the polls in April 2009 for the general election. For more information see mccowan4mayor.com.  Term limited State Senator Maida Coleman is also expected to file today for the city’s top job.
Jay Swoboda announced his intentions to run for 9th Ward Alderman in a comment on this site. Incumbent Ken Ortmann is known for being the only Alderman out of 28 that refuses to even accept communications via email. The link from the 9th Ward page to email Ortmann simply says, “This alderman prefers not to be contacted via email.” Nice. Sorry but my courier pigeon has gotten tired. My quill pen has run dry. When Ortmann was first elected in 1999 did he say things like “I refuse to accept faxes.” Do we need any stronger symbol of being completely out of touch?  Swoboda’s campaign website is here.
Blogger & political consultant Antonio French has announced on PubDef, Facebook & Twitter he is running for Alderman in the 21st Ward against incumbent Bennice Jones-King. French was elected to the position of Democratic Committeeman in the ward in the Missouri primary last August.
I’m keeping a list of all candidates in the Spring 2009 election here. Others may have filed but the most recent list from the Board of Elections is from November 25th. They have failed us by not updating the list to reflect newer filings. I assume others have filed in the last five weeks? I have emailed them requesting a newer list but received no response. I stopped by their offices on Monday but they couldn’t find an updated list. I left my card asking for a list to be emailed or faxed. Nothing. They were busy getting new carpet installed during the last week to file for office. Brilliant timing!
Congrats to those who have filed or who will file today!
Thanks for the lists and the links. It’s one of the few ways to find out about candidates that aren’t a part of the inner circle of the Democratic Party. Choices don’t offer much if people aren’t given access to them. Which raises something I hadn’t seen until this past summer, when the local party meeting (at the ward level) invited the public to a candidates’ forum, then only allowed the candidates endorsed by the local committe to speak! Yes, I realize that this is technically a private organization and they can set their own rules, but it seemed like an odd and heavy-handed way of “protecting” the designated candidates. If a candidate can’t “hold their own” in the friendly confines of a ward meeting, how effective will they be outside the cocoon?!!
Thanks Steve for keeping us up to date.
Ortmann is my alderman and I can call him anytime at his home.
If he isn’t home, he does call me back.
I don’t have a problem with that.
Just because I would rather do my communications by email doesn’t mean he has to have the same practice.
From my experience it seems like lawyers and financial professionals are the people who refuse to use e-mail.
I’ve also never communicated with a physician by e-mail, but I’ve never tried. It seems like more of them are
adopting this policy. It’s probably because they never go away, and they have helped send people to jail.
Not to surprising that a politician would also adopt this policy.
LOL i would never be awake at 3AM! If you must you could leave a message.
Let’s not pick on Ken Ortmann for his choice of communication. He is very effective at constituent services and taking care of just about anyone who calls him. In fact, he has been very helpful with my own property in BPW and other projects I’ve undertaken in the 9th.
My desire to run is based mostly on the fact that we need to begin the shift toward a more energized, connected and efficient city government and I’m not convinced someone who is part of the past with all its baggage can be an effective part of its future. Certainly more of the residents we hope to attract to the area are more and more comfortable with email yet there is a large number of folks who can’t afford regular internet access or are unfamiliar with it. Call me an optimist but I think we can have it both ways and I look forward to responding to emails and phone calls at my house or on my cell should I find a way to win this election.
The last time the 21st ward had a new alderman, Melinda Long, the North Newstead Association lost its city funding and was nearly driven out of business. Alderman Long refused to support city funding for North Newstead.
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Is Bennice Jones King planning to defend her seat? Does anyone know Antonio French’s stance regarding city support of North Newstead Association?
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As Jay Swoboda notes, targeting the use of city block grant funds is one of the most important roles of an alderman.
McCowan? Green Party? Oh my! If he’s one tenth the idiot Cynthia McKinney is (Green Party presidential candidate in 2008), it will be great fodder for local comedians!
As a 5 year resident of the 9th ward, I have seen improvements by business owners, home owners, and others. There are times where change and new ideas are stifled in the ward by the alderman. And obviously, unless you are an insider or tech savvy, you will not be able to send email to Mr. Ortmann. All email goes to his secretary who prints out his emails for him. It is true that he will call you soon if you leave a voice message – he does respond quickly.
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Bashing Mr. Ortmann is not my reason for the posting. My reason for posting is to say that new energy and fresh ideas are needed in our ward. We need a person who will engage our residents, be open-minded to suggestions, and, suggest new forward-thinking ideas.
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I wish you the best in your run Jay. Remain grounded, become positive and confident…and you will win!
No offense to the religious, but the last thing we need is more holy men in office. I don’t want any mayor coming up on the podium ranting and raving about Jesus.
Steve, thank you for writing about the Board of Elections’ incompentency on keeping people connected to the filing list. It’s inexcusable that the website is not kep updated, since they used to have a better website that was updated daily with filings. I too have sent emails that have gone unanswered. I am appalled than an in-person visit would not result in getting a list. Who do you have to be to get a complete list of filings?
Joe Vaccaro, running again in the 23rd, wants me to call him directly instead of the CSB! Talk about a reformer! How inefficient and overtly corrupt: vote for me and I’ll get your trash picked up, regardless of the fact that you fund the department. We must have aldermen who push for bureaucratic reform not those who prefer to be middlemen. The bureaucracy should respond directly to the taxpayers who fun them. But perhaps if that occurred we wouldn’t need aldermen!
Do any of you have faith that the system in the city is going to change over the course of the next election cycle? or two? or three? The city is only as good as the residents within and they continually vote in the same people, even if they have done little for their community. I know there are cases with no opposition, but there are plenty that have been opposed with little luck.
I’m excited to hear that Mr. French is stepping up, but until there in an influx of new blood that isn’t part of the old system, there isn’t that much to be excited about.
Steve… any chance you’ll run in the next election cycle???
Need some help…if anyone is out there.
I just had a meeting with Ken Ortmann & Martie Aboussie and the reason for meeting (although never directly said) was to convince me not to run for the following reasons:
1. Ken is better prepared to represent the neighborhood.
2. Ken has more seniority and access to funding.
3. Ken has built a group around him that can effectively lead the ward.
4. The ward is best served by me using my energy to support Ken.
5. I should begin a productive dialogue with Ken rather than opposing him on the ballot.
So, I had all the paperwork filled out and ready to go this morning and now there is this personal dilemma about whether or not to run. In some ways, I feel I’m being bullied to be patient and more cooperative but it other ways I agree that Ken can probably get more done for the 9th ward with more community input for folks like myself and perhaps being alderman might not be the best way to use my talents.
Confused with the clock ticking…
Jay
Then Ken should win in a landslide and they would have nothing worry about. So why the meeting?
I’m under the impression that Ken just doesn’t want to deal with the public response from an election nor the expense of campaigning. My working relationship with a downtown developer might also be misunderstood to represent my potential for fundraising…which is just not true. I think having an oppponent on the ballot just is something that draws attention to some issues that Ken would rather not deal with.
^Why was Aboussie at this meeting? What’s his stake in it?
I guess to demonstrate that there is a proud history in the ward that I haven’t been part of and perhaps to intimidate me. Didn’t expect him to be there at all.
If he does not want you to run, it means his afraid of you. If he thinks he knows what is right for the ward, he will beat any challenger that may arise. He is trying to intimidate a potential opponent. I find that completely ridiculous and he should be voted out for even having that idea. I don’t know all the details, so that may be an overreaction, but I see no reason for you to drop out. I’m not in the ward to vote for you, but you have my support if you choose to run. We actually have a few good choices this year. We can start to make something happen at the BOA level.
The 9th ward is a traditional seat of power in the City of St. Louis.
Martie Aboussie is the Honorary Chairman of the 9th ward and former 9th ward Alderman who basically helped Ken get his job. Pat Ortmann, wife of Ken, is committee woman of the 9th ward. Ted Gann, Sr. is the other committeman. Ron Auer is honorary chairman.
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I feel you are being bullied to be patient. 9th ward people have been there. I’ve heard line items 1 and 2 many times. Your platform revolves around helping others.
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Intimidation, doubt and fear rules in the 9th. You have to do what is right for you.
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Trust me buddy. You will get support. Things are changing in this ward. He is knows it.
Sounds like you’re not getting out of this one Jay!
I agree with the above. The 9th Ward has a reputation, along with the 11th, for having strong family ties. However, if he had this meeting with you (basically it sounds like he was just trying to intimidate you into not running), then I’d say he IS trying to take you out of the race before you get in. Now, since he OBVIOUSLY is going to win, why IN THE WORLD would he EVER want to do THAT? 😉
I should also say, people in my family, and a few people I know, have run before in different parts of the country. What you are describing is a time honored tactic to “sweet talk” an opponent out of running.
I’d say file. You have WAY more of a chance then they tell you.
Thanks for all the input. As it turns out pissing off the 9th Ward would really cause problems for people that have helped me make a difference to date. So, rather than throwing together a poorly organized campaign at the last minute that may be successful with A LOT of work perhaps I need to step back and think about how I can best use my time and talent to move this city forward.
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I feel like a schmuck for bending to the very establishment I want to replace but people that have supported me and individuals with a lot more experience feel there is little upside to me running and only a lot of headache.
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Perhaps this is why St. Louis fails to move forward. I guess I’m a bit naive to think all this wouldn’t come up.
Again: Trust me buddy. You will get support. Things are changing in this ward. He knows it.
Don’t feel bad dude. Doing so would only set you back more. I don’t mean to sound patriarchal, but you learned what kind of opposition one faces when daring to go against an entrenched candidate. It will only make you stronger. 🙂
Or wait your turn. We need to dismantle this machine of suppression and stagnant, selfish power mongering!
File Jay, if it’s not too late.
OH MY GOD. HAS ANYONE CHECKED THE PD “POLITICAL FIX” PAGE? THAT IS SOME DIRTY SHIT THEY ARE PULLING!
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2009/01/surprise-another-coleman-files-to-run-for-mayor/
Ohhhh, dear. Maida Coleman has bowed out of the race.
Update: She is NOW running as an independent.
I’m at a loss for words here guys. I hope Slay won’t just get away with this. It’s gonna be a bad night for me. 🙁
Jay should have filed. One way for Jay to use his energy to improve the ward is to run a campaign on ideas & force Ken to be a better alderman. Sitting out won’t give Jay any influence. In this town, those who step aside to be graceful get sucker-punched. Those who keep bouncing back force the powerful to get their shit together.
I’ll be renaming the site soon and getting more organized, but here is what has come out of my decision to not run for office. Glad to have gone through the hand-wringing and exploration and I’m looking forward to some productive conversations in the days and months ahead. Perhaps what we see as our biggest challenge may be the best opportunity for all of us to learn and prepare ourselves for more effective leadership when the time IS right to run.
http://jayswoboda.wordpress.com/
I had every intention of filing for public office AND was excited about the challenge ahead of me. However, after a lot of time thinking about what I could bring to the office and what can only be described as backroom intimidation that made the choice a bit hairy for me I have decided to NOT challenge Ken Ortmann this election.
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My motivation was simple: I wanted to see my neighborhood and all those around me in better shape in four years and I wanted to be part of the process of change toward a more steamlined and effective city government. Sadly, my plan to run was not as well explored and thought out as it should have been and for that I apologize.
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Rather I plan to channel my energy and passion toward helping shape the goals for the 9th Ward and the City of St. Louis at-large. I definitely DON’T like the way things get done in this city and I’m not quite sure what is so important to preserve that an opponent in a primary needs to be scared out of the race, but I am confident that I may be more effective working to address larger, systemic problems if I am not distracted with all the day-to-day responsibilities of being an alderman.
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While I may not always agree with his approach, Ken Ortmann offers a seasoned approach to addressing the challenges facing the 9th Ward. He is willing to listen if you call and genuinely has the best interests of the 9th Ward in mind. However, after ten years without a challenger, he may be getting a bit rusty and we need to keep Ken plugged in and connected to ALL the issues of the ward AND to other city-wide issues that could help everyone. I know a lot of folks wanted to see some change and some new energy BUT that is going to have to come from all those commited to change and improvement. So, for the next four years let’s do all we can to help Ken do his job effectively with our support and input.
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For that to occur, we need a real plan for how to get there, a willingness to consider new ideas, a commitment to empowering the voices of the residents and the energy to make it happen. We need a vision for a more regional & city-wide approach to leadership. I am convinced with neighborhood support and engagement that WE have great opportunities ahead of us and the collective concern and engaged passion that drives us all to seek better, stronger communities can still be harnessed with Ken as our representative.
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I have started a list of several goals on this site that need to be better focused and sharpened and let’s start the process. While there may be a desire for change, and the rebel within me wants to fight the system…I have to believe that we can still effect change working within the system – albeit slowly.
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I will be working over the next couple of months to organize leaders in the 9th Ward to be part of the process for developing a vision of the ward and I welcome your help and support. This whole process has been very educational and awakening and has really turned me on to taking a more active role in solving the challenges we face in our neighborhoods and across the city.
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Happy New Year and let’s ALL commit to get off the sidelines in 2009!
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Jay Swoboda
http://9thwardstl.com/
Gotta love the internet…
Hey!
Can we have some help over in the 3rd ward?
We are long over do for change in leadship.
We Can Change. But it takes more than a few
people to get the job done. Can we come together
and let our voice be heard?
Oops
A change in Leadership
Northside neighbor,
Remember What Margaret Mead had to say:
“Never doubt that the committed few can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Good Luck