My weekly poll is completely unscientific but it does indicate how a small segment of the city’s voters will vote this year. At this point, very early in the race for treasurer, it looks like it will come down to Brian Wahby, head of the St. Louis Democrats and Tishaura Jones, my current state rep:
ABOVE: Treasurer's office oversees the city's parking revenues
Q:Â Who should be elected Treasuer for the City of St. Louis in 2012?
Brian Wahby 77 [39.69%]
Tishaura Jones 53 [27.32%]
Fred Wessels 22 [11.34%]
Unsure/no opinion 17 [8.76%]
Larry Williams 11 [5.67%]
Other: 9 [4.64%]
Another as yet undeclared candidate 5 [2.58%]
Longtime alderman Fred Wessels has his work cut out for him if he hopes to win a citywide election. Thirty-year incumbent Larry Williams would be smart to retire gracefully rather than be subjected to certain defeat. Maybe one of these candidates will run as an independent and challenge the winner of the August Democratic primary during the November general election? Or maybe another person will announce their candidacy?
The “other” answers typed in by readers were interesting:
a white person
Anyone but Larry Williams
Jeff Fisher [new head coach of the St. Louis Rams]
Les Sterman [former head of East-West Gateway and now construction supervisor with the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District]
Who cares, nothing will change with the city anyway.
not larry williams
Not that HACK Brian Wahby
[Ald Jeffrey] Boyd
Anyone other than an establishment candidate
I’m not sure what to make of #1. Why is race important to the position of treasurer? Only after the poll was finished did I learn that  alderman Jeffrey L. Boyd also plans to run for the seat.
My hope is we can get a couple of debates between the candidates so we as voters can learn more about the job, what they think the issues are and how they differ from their opponents. No matter who wins I don’t want them in office for 30+ years.
Nationally the battle for the GOP presidential nomination is ongoing but locally we will soon see a fight for the county-level office of treasurer. Monday last week I blogged that Larry Williams Should Not Seek Another Term as Treasurer. Williams has been in office over 30 years and so far he’s said he is going to run again.
This election can potentially have a big impact on the future of St. Louis. The candidates will be debating parking policy, related urban policy, financial management and possibly the idea of changing the city’s charter.
The poll question this week asks who should be elected treasurer in 2012. I’ve listed Williams and the three candidates that have announced so far: Ald Fred Wessels, City Democrat head Brian Wahby and State Rep Tishaura Jones. I’ve also included a choice for an “undeclared candidate.”
ABOVE: One of many garages owned and operated by the treasurer's office
St. Louis has had one treasurer for over 30 years. Larry Williams first became treasurer when then mayor Schoemehl appointed him to the position in 1981. Williams has since been reelected over sand over, seldom facing a credible challenger at the polls.
What does the treasurer’s office do? The following is from the city webpage:
The Treasurer’s Office controls and monitors all the bank accounts of the City. There are currently over 30 accounts under this office’s control. Through daily contact with the Comptroller’s Office and detailed reconciliations of these accounts, this office provides a check and balance for the Comptroller’s Office. In addition, this office is by ordinance the depository for all receipts of the City and provides a means for departments to make daily deposits.
The Treasurer’s Office issues all payroll checks, deposits funds for federal and state taxes, funds for savings bonds and other payroll deductions.
The Treasurer is also responsible for making all investments for the City. This includes purchasing, selling and auditing the earnings on these investments as well as ensuring that City funds are safe and secure.
Treasurer Operations
Larry C. Williams has been Treasurer of the City of St. Louis since 1981. His responsibilities include that of being the head of the City’s banking systems and parking services operation.
As head of banking operations, he is responsible for the establishment of over fifty different City banking accounts, receiving deposits and reinvesting the intake of cash from a variety of City sources.
Treasurer Williams is the Custodian for the Police and Fire Department’s Retirement System, Chairman of the Fund Committee and Parking Commission, and a Co-Chair and board member of Downtown Now.
As supervisor of parking, he is responsible for the installation and operation of approximately 10,000 meters on the street, twenty-nine parking enforcement officers, and the daily operation of the Kiel Parking Garage (home of the St. Louis Blues). Other off-street facilities run by the Treasurer include the City Hall Parking Lot and the Justice Center Garage downtown, and the Argyle Parking Facility at Lindell and Euclid.
Revenues under the supervision and control of the Treasurer exceed $1.5 billion. The Treasurer is now currently focused on the efficient and effective distribution of parking in the City, especially the Central Business District. He believes our downtown should house a larger-living, urban environment. Mr. Williams’ way of achieving maximum revitalization of our urban center is through the cooperation and intercommunication of the public and private sector.
Wow, $1.5 billion? The treasurer’s office is not overseen by anyone on city government other than the treasurer. The treasurer has no duty report to the mayor or board of aldermen. It’s past time for change but that should come this year. Three political figures have announced they will run for treasurer: alderman Fred Wessels, head of city Democrats Brian Wahby and state rep Tishaura Jones.
The partisan primary is in August and the general election is in November. Unless one of the three above runs as an independent or Republican the race will likely be decided in August. Williams, now in his 80s, can do everyone a favor and not seek yet another term in office.
Today is “Sine Die” at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. Â This Latin term is used, in this case, to mean the last day of session. Today is the last day in office for two aldermen not reelected: 32-year member Republican Fred Heitert (12th ward) and Democrat Bill Waterhouse (24th ward).
Not enough change for my taste. Â Hopefully in 2013 we can replace 3-4 long time incumbents, Phyllis Young and Fred Wessels come to mind. At the end of their current terms they will have served 28 years. They were both sworn into office in April 1985, the year I graduated high school. Give it up guys, let someone else have a chance to lead!
Tomorrow 15 aldermen elected, and reelected, this Spring will be sworn into office. Â This includes all 14 even numbered wards and one odd numbered ward. Carol Howard, elected to the 14th ward seat last fall after Stephen Gregali resigned, was elected to a full four-year term. Â Freshmen aldermen are Larry Arnowitz (D-12), Scott Ogilvie (I-24) and Thomas Villa (D-11). Villa replaces Matt Villa who resigned earlier in the year to spend more time in the family business, Villa Lighting.
The following is the swearing in of odd numbered aldermen two years ago:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7Pm1Lqx0NQ
Lewis Reed, President of the Board of Aldermen, will be sworn into his second term tomorrow. Â Thank you to Matt Villa, Bill Waterhouse and Fred Heitert for your service to the city.
I know from my reader survey that nearly 10% of you are 18-24 years old. I also know from the Board of Aldermen Seniority List (PDF) that Phyllis Young and Fred Wessels have been Aldermen your entire lives. All through your period in diapers, kindergarten, grade school, those awkward teen years, and college. Both are up for re-election next Spring. The filing deadline for candidates is 5pm Friday.
Others are not far behind. In my view the majority of them need to step aside at this or the 2011 election cycle (depending upon if they are from odd or even numbered ward). They are dead weight holding the city back, keeping an entire generation from participating. It really is very selfish of them.
In 2009/10 I’ll be working on a ballot initiative to get term limits for city offices. I know many of you say “just vote them out.” That is fine assuming they have a challenger. I’ve also heard people say without institutional memory the lobbyists take over. I hate to tell you this, but these aldermen have been buddies with the same lobbyists for decades now. Decades! If these selfish folks won’t step aside on their own we need a mechanism to do it for them.
The other high priority is reducing the number of Aldermen from the current 28. Some say half – 14. I’m thinking even less, like 9 or 10.
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Nationally the battle for the GOP presidential nomination is ongoing but locally we will soon see a fight for the county-level office of treasurer. Monday last week I blogged that 
