Poll: Which Alderperson(s) would you like to see out of office?
If you follow politics in the City of St. Louis you probably have a favorite member of the Board of Aldermen. Â And conversely, you probably have at least one you think should no longer be in office. Â Through not running, defeat at the polls or even a recall, I’d like you to pick the alderperson(s) you think shouldn’t be in office.
I don’t typically vote in my own poll but I want to this week.  I realized I couldn’t pick just one , or even three, so I’m allowing you to pick up to five answers. I want more than five out of office but I felt I could fairly narrow my list down to five.  I realize this poll  isn’t entirely fair, some alderpersons have barely been in office two months, whereas others have been in office more than two decades.
Typically I have the poll software randomize the answers but this week they are fixed, presented in order of ward number. Â The poll is in the upper right corner of the blog. Â If all goes as planned on Wednesday July 13th I will be able to present a ranking of all 28 plus the citywide President. Who knows, I might even name the five I ‘m going to select in this poll.
– Steve Patterson
Is there a good source to go to to get information about what the various aldermen have/have not done for St Louis?
Is there a good source to go to to get information about what the various aldermen have/have not done for St Louis?
No, that would be very subjective.
Since we can each only vote for the alderman who represents our specific ward, isn’t this just an exercise in wishful thinking? Or, to put it another way, each of these aldermen were already elected by the majority of the voters in their respective wards in the last two elections. While we all have “buyers remorse”, does it reach the level of mounting a recall or actually running against any of these?
Since we can each only vote for the alderman who represents our specific ward, isn’t this just an exercise in wishful thinking? Or, to put it another way, each of these aldermen were already elected by the majority of the voters in their respective wards in the last two elections. While we all have “buyers remorse”, does it reach the level of mounting a recall or actually running against any of these?
We are all capable of being aware of what is going on outside our 1/28th of the city.
I agree. But there’s a big difference between “being aware” and assuming that we’re somehow more knowledegable than the majority of the voters who elected their aldermen. Hubris can be a good thing, but be prepared for push-back – most people don’t like being told that they’re wrong (or stupid or ill-informed or tools of the party machinery) by outside “experts”. There are many politicians, at all levels, that I’m less than thrilled to see in office, but I respect that they were elected by their constituents. I tend to focus my efforts on those offices where I have a direct voice and vote.
No, that is only very subjective.
We are all capable of being aware of what is going on outside our 1/28th of the city.
I agree. But there’s a big difference between “being aware” and assuming that we’re somehow more knowledegable than the majority of the voters who elected their aldermen. Hubris can be a good thing, but be prepared for push-back – most people don’t like being told that they’re wrong (or stupid or ill-informed or tools of the party machinery) by outside “experts”. There are many politicians, at all levels, that I’m less than thrilled to see in office, but I respect that they were elected by their constituents. I tend to focus my efforts on those offices where I have a direct voice and vote.
Only five? So many corrupt and self-serving, self-aggrandizing idiots from which to choose. Definitely Wessels, Roddy, and Ortmann in the top three.
Only five? So many corrupt and self-serving, self-aggrandizing idiots from which to choose. Definitely Wessels, Roddy, and Ortmann in the top three.
Term limits, folks. Term limits.
Term limits, folks. Term limits.
It is not completely fair to broadly paint alder(wo)men like that. A better approach would be to take one at a time and pose questions for blog readers and alder people or candidates to respond to.
It is not completely fair to broadly paint alder(wo)men like that. A better approach would be to take one at a time and pose questions for blog readers and alder people or candidates to respond to.
It is not completely fair to broadly paint alder(wo)men like that. A better approach would be to take one at a time and pose questions for blog readers and alder people or candidates to respond to.
With 29 including President Reed that would take a long time. But I might take the final top 5 and do something more in-depth.
With 29 including President Reed that would take a long time. But I might take the final top 5 and do something more in-depth.
With 29 including President Reed that would take a long time. But I might take the final top 5 and do something more in-depth.
This is easy. “Mad Dog” Marlene Davis.
This is easy. “Mad Dog” Marlene Davis.
Good Lord! Â No wonder St. Louis is in trouble. Â It is a relatively small city with WAY too many Aldermen. Â these 29 people vote on everything that impacts the WHOLE city. Â Do people really don’t know any others than their own?
My goodness if you think it is unfair to express an opinion on a blog, I am not really sure what has happened to Democracy. Â I have lived in Chicago for thirteen years, and I still could identify over half of the St. Louis Aldermen on sight. Â I could tell you where half or more of their wards are. Â And I could tell you some of the particular favorite causes of a dozen of them. Â If you live in St. Louis and don’t know most, if not all, of the Aldermen – look in the mirror: You ARE the problem.
Good Lord! No wonder St. Louis is in trouble. It is a relatively small city with WAY too many Aldermen. these 29 people vote on everything that impacts the WHOLE city. Do people really don’t know any others than their own?
My goodness if you think it is unfair to express an opinion on a blog, I am not really sure what has happened to Democracy. I have lived in Chicago for thirteen years, and I still could identify over half of the St. Louis Aldermen on sight. I could tell you where half or more of their wards are. And I could tell you some of the particular favorite causes of a dozen of them. If you live in St. Louis and don’t know most, if not all, of the Aldermen – look in the mirror: You ARE the problem.