Home » Board of Aldermen » Recent Articles:

Upcoming 15th Ward Special Election In Three Weeks; Candidate Forum Monday September 29, 2014

September 16, 2014 Board of Aldermen, Events/Meetings, Featured, South City 6 Comments
A candidate forum will be held on Monday September 29, 2014 at the Carpenter Library, 7pm
A candidate forum will be held on Monday September 29, 2014 at the Carpenter Library, 7pm

The 15th ward seat on the Board of Aldermen became vacant in July when Jennifer Florida resigned to accept appointment as the Recorder of Deeds, which became vacant after Sharon Carpenter resigned to end investigation into charges of nepotism. Florida was reelected to the Board of Aldermen in the Spring of 2013. Now voters in the 15th ward will return to the polls next month or elect a new alderman.

Here are the four candidates, in reverse ballot order:

Rhonda Smythe

To my knowledge, the only one of the four I’ve met in person. I met Smythe through her work at Trailnet. As an independent candidate, Smythe submitted at least 106 signatures from valid 15th ward voters to be on the ballot.

Megan Ellyia Green

Green also gathered & submitted signatures to be on the ballot.

Joshua D. Simpson

  • Website: unknown
  • Facebook Page: unknown
  • Twitter: unknown

I was unable to find online information on this candidate or how the GOP nominated him. I did find the St. Louis Republican Central Committee website and Facebook page, no mention of Simpson on either.

Missy Pinkerton-McDaniel

Democratic Committeeman Tod A. Martin & nominated McDaniel, the Committeewoman, for the ballot.

So there are the four individuals seeking to become the next alderman representing the 15th ward. If you’re a registered voter in the 15th ward I urge you to look into all four and consider attending the upcoming candidate forum on Monday September 29, 2014. 7pm @ Carpenter Library, lower level, 3309 S. Grand

The special election is in three weeks, Tuesday October 7, 2014.

— Steve Patterson

 

Poll: Thoughts on Former Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett’s Personal Use of Campaign Funds

April 13, 2014 Board of Aldermen, Crime, Featured, Politics/Policy 8 Comments
Please vote in the poll, located in the right sidebar
Please vote in the poll, located in the right sidebar

Kacie Starr Triplett was elected 6th ward alderman in March 2007, after getting just over 50% of the votes in a 3-way primary for the Democratic nomination, there was no challenger in the April 3, 2007 general election.  Triplett, reelected in 2011, was the youngest elected official in city hall until her resignation in November 2012.  Many, myself included, thought she had a long future at city hall. Resigning to take a non-profit job so soon after being reelected seemed puzzling, but plausible. A month prior to her resignation news broke about the FBI looking into the finances of Jesse Jackson Jr.

Then in February 2014 her sudden resignation began to make sense:

A former St. Louis alderwoman has sent out a letter of apology, admitting to using campaign money for personal use.

Kacie Starr Triplett says her illegal use of campaign funds was done on a small-scale, but did not disclose the amount of money she used. NewsChannel 5 obtained a copy of the Missouri Ethics Commission court filing, which states she misused as much as $18,900. (KSDK)

See her February 27, 2014 email here. On Friday we learned some of the consequences she’ll face as a result of her actions and admissions:

A once-rising star in city politics avoids possible jail time but agrees to a stiff fine in a deal with the circuit attorney’s office.

The deal between Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce and Kacie Starr Triplett was signed on March 6th, but announced Friday only after Triplett made good on several payments.

In total Triplett has agreed to pay $22,000 in restitution, which that money will go to the St. Louis city public schools. (Fox2)

Jennifer Joyce, in an email reply, indicated the agreement is for 3 years, saying: “March of 2017 is when it will conclude.” Apparently she could also face a $100,000 fine from the Missouri Ethics Commission.

For the poll this week I want to know your reaction to her illegal use of campaign funds and the consequences, I’ve provided numerous answers but you can also add your own. Pick up to two.

— Steve Patterson

 

6th Ward Participatory Budgeting Project List (UPDATED)

March 31, 2014 Board of Aldermen, Featured, Politics/Policy 3 Comments

A year’s worth of hard work by numerous volunteers paid off Saturday afternoon as 6th ward residents checked out 13 projects submitted by fellow 6th ward residents, and refined into legitimate projects by volunteers, also from the 6th ward.

6th ward residents checked out the Participatory Budgeting project expo on Saturday afternoon.
6th ward residents checked out the Participatory Budgeting project expo on Saturday afternoon.

This reminded me of competing in science fairs in middle & high school, standing next to our project board as each judge stopped by, asking tough questions. Zach Chasnoff  & Michelle Whithaus have logged hundreds of hours bringing Participatory Budgeting to St. Louis, big thanks to both of them. Also to 6th ward alderman Christine Ingrassia for being open minded enough to begin her first term in office with this project.

Of the 27 other aldermen, only Scott Ogilvie representing the 24th ward came out to see the projects and process, he remains on the fence. If you think your alderman should adopt Participatory budgeting I urge you to contact them by phone or email (list or find your alderman). Don’t live in the city but like the idea of voting on projects in your community? Contact the elected officials where you live!

$100,000 of 6th ward funds have been set aside to build the winning projects, residents will select their top three. Votes will be tabulated and winning projects announced. Here is a list of the projects:

  • Neighborhood signs, $28,000
  • New landscaping & planters, $90,000
  • Trash cans, $15,000
  • Eads Park Improvements, $20,000
  • Fox Park Restroom Renovation, $30,000
  • Perk Up Buder Park, $15,000
  • Decorative Bike Racks, $17,000
  • Crosswalk Light Jefferson and Park, $25,000
  • Bike Lanes, $30,000
  • Median at Jefferson and Park, $80,000
  • Traffic Calming on Compton, $50,000
  • Street Lighting, $50,000
  • Security Cameras, $30,000

I don’t have the final descriptions of the above, I’ll update this post once I receive the text that’ll appear on the ballots.  UPDATE 3/31 @ 9:50AM: SEE SAMPLE BALLOT HERE!

Voting starts tomorrow and continues everyday for over a week:

Tuesday, April 1st

Wednesday, April 2nd

Thursday, April 3rd

Friday, April 4th

Saturday, April 5th

Sunday, April 6th

Monday, April 7th

Tuesday, April 8th

  • 6 a.m.-7 p.m. @ Heritage House Apartments, 2800 Olive Blvd.
  • 7 p.m. Lafayette Square Neighborhood Meeting
  • 7:30 p.m. Compton Hill Neighborhood Meeting

If you live in the 6th Ward, or knows someone who does, please make sure they vote!

— Steve Patterson

 

Reminder: 6th Ward Participatory Budget Project Expo Tomorrow 3pm-5pm

March 28, 2014 Board of Aldermen, Featured, Politics/Policy 3 Comments

Earlier in the week I posted about the next steps for Participatory Budgeting in the 6th Ward. This is a reminder a “project expo” will be held from 3pm-5pm tomorrow, Saturday March 29, 2014. The expo will be held at the Moulin event space, 2017 Chouteau.

Click image for PBSTL website
Click image for PBSTL website

Voting will take place next week:

Tuesday, April 1st

Wednesday, April 2nd

Thursday, April 3rd

Friday, April 4th

Saturday, April 5th

Sunday, April 6th

Monday, April 7th

Tuesday, April 8th

  • 6 a.m.-7 p.m. @ Heritage House Apartments, 2800 Olive Blvd.
  • 7 p.m. Lafayette Square Neighborhood Meeting
  • 7:30 p.m. Compton Hill Neighborhood Meeting

If you live in the 6th Ward, or knows someone who does, please make sure they can check out the project expo tomorrow from 3pm-5pm.

— Steve Patterson

 

Participatory Budgeting Next Steps: Project Expo & Citizen Voting

March 22, 2014 Board of Aldermen, Featured, Politics/Policy Comments Off on Participatory Budgeting Next Steps: Project Expo & Citizen Voting
Extensive outreach through various methods, including door knocking, resulting in a diverse group of participants. Oct 2013
Extensive outreach through various methods, including door knocking, resulting in a diverse group of participants. Oct 2013

A year ago Participatory Budgeting in St. Louis was just an idea advanced by 6th Ward aldermanic candidate Michelle Witthaus. In a poll in March 2013, readers supported the concept of Participatory Budgeting.  The idea could’ve ended with the March primary election, when Christine Ingrassia won the 3-way race. Ingrassia liked the idea, asking Witthaus to spearhead the effort. They’ve worked together on this for a year now, along with many others. I’ve had the privilege of being able to sit in on meetings, events. After months of planning & strategy meetings the 6th ward assemblies took place in October 2013, gathering ideas from residents.

I should back up and explain what Participatory Budgeting is, for those who haven’t heard of it before:

In St. Louis, each ward is allocated a yearly budget for ward improvements. The budget is spent to improve things like sidewalks, streets, lighting, parks, etc. Usually the alderperson decides what projects get funded throughout the ward each year. Through participatory budgeting residents come together to share ideas on how they think the money should be spent, they create projects, then the entire ward gets to vote on which projects get funded for the year. It is a much more inclusive way of doing democracy. Essentially it gives more power back to people and allows the community to take more control of the decision-making process than ever before. (pbstl.org)

Since ideas were gathered in October, volunteer “delegates” have been busy working with city staff to turn the ideas into real projects, with real budgets. From 3pm-5pm on Saturday March 29, 2014 a “project expo” will be held. Here residents can come see all the projects and begin to decide how they plan to vote, helping decide how their ward funds are spent. The expo will be held at the Moulin event space, 2017 Chouteau.

Voting will take place over a week:

Tuesday, April 1st

Wednesday, April 2nd

Thursday, April 3rd

Friday, April 4th

Saturday, April 5th

Sunday, April 6th

Monday, April 7th

Tuesday, April 8th

  • 6 a.m.-7 p.m. @ Heritage House Apartments, 2800 Olive Blvd.
  • 7 p.m. Lafayette Square Neighborhood Meeting
  • 7:30 p.m. Compton Hill Neighborhood Meeting

Hopefully 6th ward residents will come out in large numbers to vote.  I look forward to seeing the projects and them seeing which were selected by residents. Hopefully other aldermen will adopt this process for at least a few of the other 27 wards. Half are up for reelection next year…

— Steve Patterson

 

Advertisement



[custom-facebook-feed]

Archives

Categories

Advertisement


Subscribe