This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 2, 2009 - Only minutes before the filing deadline on Friday, state Sen. Maida Coleman announced that she would not run in the Democratic primary for mayor of St. Louis but would run instead as an independent. She said she changed her strategy because another candidate with her last name – Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman – had filed for mayor an hour and 15 minutes before the deadline.
Coleman said it was no accident that another candidate by the name of Coleman had entered the race. Calling this "dirty politics," she said she would not take any part in it. Maida Coleman did not accuse any of the six candidates already on the ballot of being behind Denise Coleman's decision to enter the race, but Maida Coleman insisted it's no accident or coincidence that the woman with her last name decided to file. The aim, Maida Coleman said, was to dilute her voting strength.
Calls to Denise Coleman's at the law firm of Watson-Wesley Coleman were not answered. According to several sources, Denise Coleman has worked for the comptroller's office and at the Board of Aldermen. She reportedly quit her city job several months ago.
Maida Coleman said her goal now is to collect the 600 signatures needed by Feb. 17 to file as an independent. She said she was confident that she would get enough voters to support her effort, and that the race for mayor wouldn't really begin until her name was put on the ballot. The general election for mayor is in April.
As late as Friday afternoon, Maida Coleman had intended to file as a Democrat. But when she showed up at the St. Louis Election Board office at about 10 minutes before the filing deadline, she announced her change of plans.
If Denise Coleman is a stealth candidate, it's unclear who encouraged her to enter the race. Jeff Rainford, campaign manager for Mayor Francis Slay, was about to complain that Maida Coleman had accused Slay of "guilt by association" when Rainford was told that Coleman had not accused Slay or anyone else of having dealings with Denise Coleman.
Rainford then said he didn't know why Maida Coleman didn't file, and that maybe it was "because she couldn't afford to file." The filing fee is $1,205.50 or 1 percent of the mayor's salary.
Maida Coleman was poised and calm at her press conference. She said she wasn't running because she needed a job but because she felt Slay had not been an effective mayor. Irene Smith, who also has filed for mayor, couldn't be reached for comments about Denise Coleman's decision to run.
Maida Coleman's decision caught everybody by surprise, including Rainford. Shorty before the filing deadline, one of Rainford's associates had distributed a statement that said in part that Slay had changed St. Louis for the better, making it a "cleaner, safer and more fun" city.
Other City Races
The only other big surprise at the filing deadline Friday was former Alderman Sharon Tyus' decision to challenge incumbent Alderman Charles Troupe, D-1st Ward.
In addition, former Alderman Velma G. Bailey and three other candidates are challenging incumbent Alderman Freeman Bosley Sr., D-3rd Ward.
Alderman April Ford Griffin, D-5th Ward, is facing a challenge from Brenda Berry Simpson, while Alderman Marlene Davis, D-19th Ward is facing competition from Michelle Ingram-Lawrence.
In the 21st Ward, incumbent Democratic Alderman Bernice Jones-King is being challenged by Antonio French and Kerry Wilson.
But the race drawing the most Democratic candidates is in the 23rd Ward, where seven people are seeking to succeed Alderman Kathleen Hanrahan, who isn't seeking re-election.
