This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Sept. 16, 2011 - St. Louis Alderman April Ford-Griffin, D-5th Ward, will leave office at the end of this month to begin a new job as Mayor Francis Slay's new director of the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency.
The post has been open since Ruby L. Bonner retired on July 1.
Slay said in a statement that the agency was "vitally important,'' adding "I'm confident that April will thoughtfully and effectively carry out CREA's mission to eliminate and remedy discrimination in all aspects of city living."
"I'm honored to continue serving the city's residents as director of the Civil Rights Enforcement Agency," said Ford-Griffin. "I've long been a proponent of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all people regardless of their race, color or religious beliefs and this agency strives to achieve just that. I want to thank Mayor Slay for this opportunity and his confidence in me."
Ford-Griffin's move may take her off the short list of possible contenders in 2012 to succeed longtime city Treasurer Larry Williams, whose office is facing scrutiny after one of his employees, Fred Robinson, 69, was charged earlier this week by federal authorities. Robinson faces one felony count of wire fraud and seven felony counts of federal program theft in connection with his role as chairman of a charter school, Padeia Academy.
Authorities say that Robinson also fabricated his time sheets with Williams' office.
Williams has been in office since April 1981, attracting much attention and praise until recent years over his involvement in the city's redevelopment efforts. Williams now is facing pressure from fellow Democrats to retire and not run for re-election next year.
Besides Ford-Griffin, other names mentioned include fellow St. Louis Aldermen Greg Carter, D-27th, and Jeffrey Boyd, D-22nd Ward.
Ford-Griffin has represented the 5th Ward since 1997. Among other things she has served as chairman of the ways and means and the neighborhood development committees.
