By Antonio D. French
Filed Sunday, March 26 at 8:34 PM
With just days left in the campaign for two seats on the St. Louis City school board, Mayor Francis Slay is betting big money on the two incumbent candidates.
The Mayor's campaign committee made a $40,000 no-interest loan on Friday to the committee responsible for several mailers appearing in local mailboxes supporting School Board President Darnetta Clinkscale and appointed board member Jim Buford
Educate St. Louis, a committee organized in January 2005, had just $100 in the bank last month. But in just one day, on Friday of last week, the committee raised nearly $60,000. All of that money came from just two sources; the loan from Slay and a single contribution from AmerenUE of $18,750.
Just as interesting is that fact that most of that money was spent just as fast as it was raised.
The same day that Slay and AmerenUE wrote their checks, the committee wrote a $51,000 check to a PR firm in Austin, Texas. According to campaign finance reports, the firm, Gold Communications, was responsible for direct mail and PR on behalf of Clinkscale and Buford.
Slay's loan brings the Educate St. Louis' total debt to $79,000. The committee also owes $39,000 to a Washington, D.C. research firm for work performed since January.
(Thanks to R. Willis for the tip.)
4 Comments:
Well, we shouldn't beat up on Mayor Slay because he is doing what he is suppose to do. Mayor Slay has plenty of money, and he is using it wisely as a powerful Mayor. Mayor Slay may be spending the money, but he can't spend the money if people don't take the money. Some people, groups and business entities have made it clear to the Mayor that they will give endorsements for the right price! He has purchased the support of the St. Louis American, Black Clergy Coalition, NAACP, some black elected officials, and community leaders, and a partridge in a pear tree. Oh, I'm sorry, I thought were singing Christmas Carols.
Mayor Slay is very smart politically, and people should stop blaming him for the lack of integrity and commitment to principles from the leaders in certain communities!
Don't blame Mayor Slay for being a great politician, blame the people that keep supporting leaders that don't have the communities best interest at heart!!!!
9:27 PM, March 26, 2006
Check the MEC web site again
http://www.moethics.mo.gov/Ethics/CampaignFinance/CFCommitteeInfo1.aspx?MECID=C061027&Year=2006
The Educate St. Louis committee has spent over $200,000 on the slay slate. With turn out for this election at like 20- 26,000 people that’s like spending $100 a voter. School board members don’t get paid… But some corporations are looking for a pay out.
5:25 PM, March 27, 2006
Thanks to "anonymous" (2) for the heads up on the eight-day report. The list of contributors makes an interesting read. As for the comments of "anonymous" (1), the Slay contribution came from his campaign fund, not from his pocket. In case that makes any difference. Also, footnote, is there no locally-based direct mailer they could have used? why go to Texas? and who is this Miles Mooney (does he live within the school district, as the campaign finance law requires?), and why is the address and phone number of PriceWaterhouseCoopers given on the filings (though not by name) --they are not among the listed contributors. . . .
6:44 PM, March 27, 2006
Thee's no requirement for treasurer of a continue committee (PAC) that is active in a school board contest to live within the school district. I think even the treasurer of a candidate committee merely needs to live somewhere in MO.
10:30 PM, March 27, 2006
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