Blogger Turned Elected Official Debuts New PubDef
Tuesday Antonio French was sworn in as the newest alderman from the city’s 21st ward. French’s wife, Dr. Jasenka Benac French, was with him taking pictures. Benac holds a PhD. in electrical engineering from Washington University.
Antonio French is the man behind the popular blog PubDef.net.  French would regularly report on goings on at city hall. But now French is an elected official. As expected the site was to change. For the past few days readers saw the following message:
But yesterday Ald. French unveiled the new PubDef — going from dot net to dot org in the process.
So check out PubDef.org. Also check out French’s well organized but still developing ward site at 2stWard.org. Of course Antonio French is on Twitter. You can follow him @PubDef or me @UrbanReviewSTL.
The freshman class of aldermen, Alderman French, Alderman Vaccarro, and Aldeman Cohn, are a great representation of the diversity of St. Louis. Cohn, openly gay representing Dutchtown; Vaccarro, old school business owner representing Southwest City; and, French, private school educated, young black professional representing North City.
Not only do these three men represent very different demographic groups, their wards are also all very different. It will be very interesting to follow the work of these three new aldermen.
It will be especially interesting to follow the Twittering of Alderman French. So far, Alderman French has been extremely transparent in his offerings. Given the close, insider culture of most politicians, Alderman French’s twittering will be enlightening to the world around St. Louis.
There is an odd, Truman Show-esque quality to the whole twittering thing. Alderman French has already twittered about a drive by shooting in his ward, and how the police department failed to notify him about it. So he was calling the captain about it. How will such play by play updating of his ward’s activities play out against the more close, insider tradition of St. Louis politics? The other thing that will be interesting to follow is the evolution of PubDef.
As an elected official, with power in his hands to advance causes, French can be a dynamic leader. Over the years, St. Louis has been chided for failed leadership. Alderman French appears to be jumping out in front on issues, supporting historic tax credits and questioning the Mayor on City/County consolidation.
When it comes to the day to day quality of life issues facing his ward, between his twittering and blogging, Alderman French may be on the cutting edge of changing the way the north side works in the larger region. At a minimum, it looks like he will keep everyone informed about his efforts.
Where is this morning’s 21st ward meeting? It would be good if Urban Review readers started attending these meetings.