The Politically Speaking crew welcomes Megan Ellyia Green just days after her decisive victory in a special election for the 15th Ward aldermanic seat. On Tuesday, Green took 46 percent of the vote in a four-person race, in spite of running as an independent.
Green will replace Jennifer Florida, who was appointed recorder of deeds this summer after the long-time recorder of deeds, Sharon Carpenter, stepped down in July. Florida is now an independent candidate for recorder of deeds.
Green moved into the 15th Ward roughly 10 years ago as a Coro fellow. She becomes the city's second independent candidate to win an aldermanic seat. She must run again in the March primary and the April general election for a full term.
On the podcast, Green said:
- She already has filed papers to change her political status so that she’ll be a Democrat when she is sworn in. She will then compete in the March Democratic primary. Green has been vice president of the 15th Ward’s Democratic organization.
- She said that crime has been an issue among ward residents even before this week’s protests over a fatal police shooting in the Shaw neighborhood. The protests have spread to her ward, which is around Tower Grove.
- She supports some sort of citizen review board to deal with complaints against city police.
- She will soon confer with Board of Aldermen president Lewis Reed, who endorsed her, about what committee assignments she can obtain. She also hopes to soon meet with Mayor Francis Slay, who called her soon after her victory and offered his congratulations.
Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum
Follow Chris McDaniel on Twitter: @csmcdaniel
Follow Jo Mannies on Twitter: @jmannies
Follow Megan Green on Twitter: @MeganEllyia
