Poll: Should Vacant Seats On The Board of Aldermen Be Viewed As “White” Or “Black” Seats?
Kacie Starr Triplett has resigned her 6th ward seat on the Board of Aldermen, so talk of those who’ll run to finish her term, which expires in April 2015, is picking up. Race, it seems, is a factor. It was noticed when Triplett, who is African-American, backed white candidates in the August primary:
To be not so nice, one could say Triplett committed political suicide in the August 2012 primary by aggressively opposing African-American candidates in key historically black districts, only to see both of her chosen candidates lose and lose badly. She supported her constituent and former employer Russ Carnahan over incumbent 1st District Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay. Carnahan, who ran a nasty campaign against a former family ally, was crushed by Clay. Triplett also aggressively supported Jeanette Mott Oxford over two black opponents (incumbent state Sen. Robin Wright-Jones and Jamilah Nasheed, who won the race) in the 5th District state Senate race; Mott Oxford came in dead last. (St. Louis American)
Political suicide? Triplett defeated challenger Bradford Kessler 83-17 in the March 2011 Democratic primary to win a second tem. She was unopposed in the April 2011 general election. Triplett defeated two white males in the March 2007 primary.
From the same article in the St. Louis American:
According to the board, African Americans now enjoy a 60.44 percent majority among the 6th Ward’s 11,958 residents, and a 54.73 percent majority among ward residents age 18 or older. This was seen in the August primary, when Clay got 60 percent of the votes in the 6th Ward, beating Triplett’s candidate Carnahan 1,183 votes to 806.
Does a majority of a race within a ward make that seat an assumed for that race? Before Triplett’s resignation the 28-member Board of Aldermen had twelve African-Americans. Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, a mayoral candidate, is also African-American.
It’s thought 6th ward Committeeman Damon Jones will get the Democratic nomination for the special election, a determination by the Central Committee, and that Martin Casas, former state house candidate, will run as an independent. Casas is half Caucasian and half Latino.
UPDATE 11/18 @ 10am — I’ve been told that based on the timing of Triplett’s resignation the vacancy will be filled during the spring 2013 primary & general in March & April, respectively. That the Democratic Central Committee will not get to select the Democrat that’ll run.
The poll question this week is should aldermanic seats be a lock for a specific race based on prior alderman or demographics? The poll is in the right sidebar.
— Steve Patterson
Absolutely not! This continued focus on race is one big thing that is holding St. Louis back. I don’t care what “color” (or gender or orientation) my representative is, I care how competent, engaged and responsible they are.
A black man savvy to city politics once said to me, “if you run as a ‘black candidate’ you are finished”. The tactic might work in the small ponds of northside wards, but outside of that narrow sphere, you need to draw a broad base of support. Think of leaders like Lacy Clay, Charie Dooley, Darlene Green, and Barack Obama. They draw in everyone – black, white, women, men, straight, gay, etc. Now think of a “black” candidate”. Name one that’s won over a wide constituency in a state, national, or citywide election.
Steve, you’re not being serious I hope. Craig Schmid represents a majority black ward. (But, hmm, I can’t think of a black person representing a majority white ward…). But Lewis Reed did defeat Jim Shrewsbury in a black vs. white aldermanic election. Under the Voting Rights Act, wards maps must be drawn in a way to make it winnable for a black candidate, but that doesn’t mean the seat is a black or white seat. Jim, I take it you’re cool wit the VRA?
I haven’t taken a position, I’m just putting the question out there for discussion.
Some parts are good, some, not so much. From the 11/23/12 issue of “The Week”: “More Americans cast votes for Democratic House candidates than for Republicans, yet the GOP retained a 233 to 195 majority in the House – mostly because of favorable district boundaries set by Republican-controlled state legislatures. In Pennsylvania, for example, Democrats won only five of 18 House seats despite receiving 70,000 more votes in aggregate than Republicans.” Substitute black and white for Democratic and Republican, at the city level, and you have the same issue. No neighborhood or ward is 100% homogenous, nor will any candidate ever represent 100% of any voter’s opinions or positions. Creating “safe” seats just perpetuates an incumbent’s power, under whatever rationalization one wants to make. And, unfortunately, here in St. Louis, “black” is way too often equated with everything negative. Until we get beyond that stereotype, we are destined to continue it . . . .
The other part of the VRA equation is that in St. Louis whites are the minority (140,267 / 44%) while blacks are the majority (157,160 / 49%) with all other races (21,867 / 7%) making up a small part of the balance of our 319,294 population (2010 census). If anything, the VRA should be used to “guarantee” a minimum level of “white” representatives, not “black” ones!
The VRA doesn’t “guarantee” anything. It simply tries to level the playing field. The 20th ward was drawn as an opportunity ward for a black candidate and a white candidate won the seat.
Ahh, semantics – “opportunity” vs, “guarantee”. Yes, there are no guarantees in politics (see Scott Ogilvie’s victory), but if you tilt the table in any one direction, you can certainly influence the outcome on a consistent basis!
I live in the 6th Ward and am white. I voted for Kacie when she first ran in 2007 against two white men. Why? Not because she was black but because she was the candidate who seemed most interested and determined who was running.
If Damon Jones comes to my neighborhood association meeting, I will point blank ask him why he thinks he “deserves” to be the nominee simply because he is the ward committeeman — a position that 95% of residents probably have never heard of, even though it is elected. Additionally, I start out somewhat opposed to him simply based on the fact that he is a member of one of St. Louis’ “political dynasty” families.
I do hope Martin runs — and if he does — I will give him my full support.
“Damon Jones” a political dynasty legacy? What legacy? Never heard of him. Is he related to former Aldermen Kenny Jones or Bennice Jones King? Jones is a pretty common name, but never thought of it as an STL dynasty. Please, educate us!
His mother is Sen. Robin Wright-Jones. His father is former Alderman, and current aide to Charlie Dooley, Mike Jones.
Robin is losing her seat and Mike is no longer a city politician. Being an aide to the County Executive hardly gives a man divine right to a city ward seat. Interesting to learn, though, that Robin and Mike were once one, and produced a progeny. Given his lineage, the man would be well grounded in city and STL affairs.
Let’s discuss who has the best ideas, shall we?