Readers Want Ald Freeman Bosley Sr. Out of Office
Many people think Ald Freeman Bosley Sr. (D-3) has been a member of the Board of Aldermen longer than any other member. However, Phyllis Young & Fred Wessels hold that honor, both were first sworn in on April 16, 1985 (26 years!). Next is Joseph Roddy, first sworn in on March 11, 1988 (23 years!). Freeman Bosley Sr., and Terry Kennedy, were first sworn in on April 18, 1989 (22 years!).
In the poll last week readers picked the father of former mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. as the alderman they’d most like out of office. Where do I begin? Bosley’s plan for his 1/28th of the city has been tear down anything vacant more than a week. If not for the persistence of the staff at the city’s Cultural Resources office, and others, the third ward would have significantly fewer buildings.
As an example, Ald Bosley has mentioned for years about razing the beautiful library in Hyde Park with an IHOP. Â I like eating at IHOP but I’m a bigger fan of the historic library.
In my first weeks of blogging I spoke at a Preservation Board meeting against the demolition of a historic church on North Grand that Bosley supported. Â Thankfully they rejected the application and the church remains.
Here are the Top 10 vote getters in the poll, readers could pick up to five (those shown in bold are the ones I voted for):
- 3) Freeman Bosley Sr. 75 [14.34%]
- 19) Marlene E. Davis 60 [11.47%]
- 6) Kacie Starr Triplett 40 [7.65%]
- 7) Phyllis Young 38 [7.27%]
- 5) April Ford-Griffin 34 [6.5%]
- 20) Craig N. Schmid 32 [6.12%]
- 1) Charles Troupe 28 [5.35%]
- 18) Terry Kennedy 24 [4.59%]
- 15) Jennifer Florida 22 [4.21%]
- 9) Kenneth Ortmann 19 [3.63%]
The following are the remaining, in order. Â In the case of a tie the software placed them in numerical/alphabetical order.
- 21) Antonio D. French 16 [3.06%]
- President Lewis Reed 15 [2.87%]
- All of them 14 [2.68%]
- 13) Fred Wessels 12 [2.29%]
- 17) Joseph D. Roddy 12 [2.29%]
- 8) Stephen Conway 11 [2.1%]
- 4) Samuel L. Moore 10 [1.91%]
- 28) Lyda Krewson 10 [1.91%]
- 11) Thomas Albert Villa 7 [1.34%]
- 27) Gregory Carter 7 [1.34%]
- 22) Jeffrey L. Boyd 6 [1.15%]
- 23) Joseph Vaccaro 6 [1.15%]
- 2) Dionne Flowers 5 [0.96%]
- 10) Joseph Vollmer 5 [0.96%]
- 12) Larry Arnowitz 4 [0.76%]
- 16) Donna Baringer 4 [0.76%]
- None of them 2 [0.38%]
- 14) Carol Howard 2 [0.38%]
- Unsure/no answer 1 [0.19%]
- 24) Scott Ogilvie 1 [0.19%]
- 25) Shane Cohn 1 [0.19%]
- 26) Frank Williamson 0 [0%]
No votes for Williamson? Someone I know didn’t vote then.
Clearly many of them don’t know when to make an exit. Â Twenty-six years? Â If we want them out we’ve got to make it happen by challenging them at the next election, recall or just being so critical of everything they finally give up and step aside so younger folks can take a shot at leadership.
Odd numbered wards, seven of the top ten, are up again in 2013. Start planning your campaign today!
– Steve Patterson
2013, it’s got my lucky number in it. I will start tweeting my appreciation of the gods and numbers.
2013, it’s got my lucky number in it. I will start tweeting my appreciation of the gods and numbers.
As you know, it’s not that hard to get on the ballot. Apparently it’s very hard to beat an incumbent. But I would also argue that younger does not necessarily equal better. The voters in every ward get the chance every four years to choose their alderman. If the majority of them (us?) choose a neanderthal or a fossil, what does that really say? That voters are stupid?  Uninformed? Coerced? Misled? Or that we have limited choices? That the incumbent has been doing a good (enough?) job? That younger, inexperienced candidates don’t do a good job of getting their message out? Of getting their voters to show up at the polls? Or of just listening to the voters?
The passion of youth sometimes obscures the fundamental reality that what you believe is right won’t be always embraced by others just because you say so. Saving old buildings may be your passion, but for others, a new IHOP could very well be a higher priority. Better services for the homeless may be your passion, lower taxes may be mine. The alderman needs to represent the people and the priorities of his or her ward. There will ALWAYS be issues where you, I or anyone else can and will disagree with our alderman – that doesn’t necessarily make them terrible people, it just shows the range of opinions that makes St. Louis the diverse urban area that it is. We continue to have elections every four years and we continue to elect the people we think are the best, for whatever reasons . . .
As you know, it’s not that hard to get on the ballot. Apparently it’s very hard to beat an incumbent. But I would also argue that younger does not necessarily equal better. The voters in every ward get the chance every four years to choose their alderman. If the majority of them (us?) choose a neanderthal or a fossil, what does that really say? That voters are stupid? Uninformed? Coerced? Misled? Or that we have limited choices? That the incumbent has been doing a good (enough?) job? That younger, inexperienced candidates don’t do a good job of getting their message out? Of getting their voters to show up at the polls? Or of just listening to the voters?
The passion of youth sometimes obscures the fundamental reality that what you believe is right won’t be always embraced by others just because you say so. Saving old buildings may be your passion, but for others, a new IHOP could very well be a higher priority. Better services for the homeless may be your passion, lower taxes may be mine. The alderman needs to represent the people and the priorities of his or her ward. There will ALWAYS be issues where you, I or anyone else can and will disagree with our alderman – that doesn’t necessarily make them terrible people, it just shows the range of opinions that makes St. Louis the diverse urban area that it is. We continue to have elections every four years and we continue to elect the people we think are the best, for whatever reasons . . .
How hard is it to get something on the ballot in the city? A term limit referendum seems like a solution. Even better if it gets on a Congressional or Presidential ballot when more than the usual Democratic party boosters show up. I can contribute money to this effort and some time as well.
The way these aldermen are elected is a sham designed to keep them in office. I’m pretty “blue” and don’t really want a Republican takeover of City politics but partisan elections for alderman is silly and keeps the real election to a few people who show up for the primaries. I also believe that holding office for too long leads to corruption. The business owners I have spoken to in my neighborhood have many stories of how hard it is to get required permits, etc without “talking to the alderman”.
How hard is it to get something on the ballot in the city? A term limit referendum seems like a solution. Even better if it gets on a Congressional or Presidential ballot when more than the usual Democratic party boosters show up. I can contribute money to this effort and some time as well.
The way these aldermen are elected is a sham designed to keep them in office. I’m pretty “blue” and don’t really want a Republican takeover of City politics but partisan elections for alderman is silly and keeps the real election to a few people who show up for the primaries. I also believe that holding office for too long leads to corruption. The business owners I have spoken to in my neighborhood have many stories of how hard it is to get required permits, etc without “talking to the alderman”.
Very interesting that Ald. Triplett received the third highest votes. What’s everyone’s beef with her? Â
Very interesting that Ald. Triplett received the third highest votes. What’s everyone’s beef with her?
I wonder the same thing. I’m in her district and think she does a very good job.
Kind of my point – those inside a ward can have a very different perspective than those outside . . . .
I wonder the same thing. I’m in her district and think she does a very good job.
Kind of my point – those inside a ward can have a very different perspective than those outside . . . .
Why do they want to kick your trouble making self out so just tell the truth
Why do they want to kick your trouble making self out so just tell the truth
I am moving back home to St. Louis after 13 years in Chicago. Â I am from Dutchtown, and I have always been a Craig Schmid fan. Â I am very interested, however, to hear why you think he needs to go. Â I love the blog and appreciate all the info and insight.
I am moving back home to St. Louis after 13 years in Chicago. I am from Dutchtown, and I have always been a Craig Schmid fan. I am very interested, however, to hear why you think he needs to go. I love the blog and appreciate all the info and insight.