With the Primary Election behind us, let's look at what will be on your April 4th Ballot.
View Sample Citywide Ballot. but remember you'll only see the President of the Board, Ward 4 Alder, and issues on your ballot*
Important Dates:
03/14/23: Application-based absentee voting (both by mail and in-person) begins.
03/21/23: No excuse needed absentee voting begins.
03/22/23: Last day to request an application-based absentee ballot by mail.
04/03/23: Last day to vote absentee in person (both types).
04/04/23: Election day. All mail-in ballots must be received by 7 PM. All in-person voters must be in line to vote by 7 PM.
President of the Board of Aldermen
Current BoA President Dr. Megan E. Green is running unopposed.
Run-off Election for Aldermen Ward 4
Incumbent Alders Bret Narayan (Ward 24) and Joe Vacarro (Ward 23) will face off in this General Election. The Primary on 3/7 was a close matchup as only 35 votes separated Vacarro and Narayan. When you factor in the third candidate Otto with 220 votes and voters who chose more than one candidate, this race could go either way.
Narayan has broad support including endorsements ranging from the St. Louis Police Officers Association and Firefighters Local 72 as well as Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562, SEIU, and Unite Here! Plus endorsements from BoA President Green, The Sierra Club, and Pro-Choice Missouri (formally NARAL), STL Young Dems, and several elected committeewomen, including myself.
Vacarro has been heavily scrutinized in the press for egregious typos in his campaign literature and the unprofessional email address "car wash daddy" as well as his interaction with an SLMPD officer in March 2022 that most certainly led to his loss of police support this election. His popularity remains based on a promise to personally take care of constituent services (such as replacing trash cans). Still, one of the questions voters should be asking themselves is how will that level of service be sustainable when Joe has twice the number of constituents to answer to?
Here is a good summary of this Aldermanic Election under the new reduced 14 ward maps.
SLPS School Board
Two (2) positions will be filled, currently held by Board Members Hogan & Sonnier.
Watch the Candidate forum:
SADIE WEISS - Weiss holds a master's degree in social work and is currently serving as the Assistant Director of the UMSL Bridge Program, Sadie supports students across the St. Louis region as they prepare for post-secondary opportunities. Weiss has the endorsement of AFT Local 420 Teacher's union, The St. Louis Labor Council, and the Ecumenical Leadership Council.
TRACY E. HYKES - Endorsed by the AFT Local 420 Teacher's union.
Solidarity with SLPS has also endorsed Weiss and Hykes
DR. J. L. (COACH WIN) QUINONES - Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1992 to 2001. He earned a bachelor's degree from Howard University in 1994, a master's degree from American University in Dubai in 1997, and a Ph.D. from American University in Dubai in 2000. His career experience includes working as an education advocate. Quinones also ran for an at-large seat in 2021 and again in 2022, but finished in third place behind Hubbard and Jones.
Issues
Charter Commission Amendment - will empower St. Louis City residents to suggest updates to the city charter, enacted in 1914. Any change recommended from the commission to the charter would still require approval by 3/5 of St. Louis voters. I urge you to vote YES on this measure. Learn more at STLPropC.com
- Read more on Prop C from St. Louis Public Radio
Additional 3% Tax on Recreational Marijuana Sales - this issue is a proposal to impose an additional sales tax of three percent (3%) on the retail sales of adult-use non-medical (recreational) marijuana made in the City of St. Louis, as authorized by Amendment 3 of the Missouri Constitution. The money from the sales tax would go into the General Fund (it IS possible that one of the 14 BoA members could sponsor a bill with more direction on how this 3% would be spent in the future). I urge you to vote YES on this issue.
The membership of the open ward organization 4th Ward Democrats has also voted to endorse YES on both of these issues.
*Hi-Pointe (W4 Precinct 11) Only*
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