This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Sept. 30, 2009 - T.D. El-Amin finally turned in today his resignation to the Missouri House -- almost a week after he had said he had done so.
But according to his resignation letter, his departure from the 57th District post isn't effective until Thursday. That is exactly a week after El-Amin pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting a bribe.
His letter of resignation was hand-delivered today to the offices of Gov. Jay Nixon and state House Speaker Ron Richard.
A spokesman for Nixon said despite the Thursday date on the letter, the governor views El-Amin's resign as "effective immediately."
Now, Nixon can set a special election date to pick a replacement. And he swiftly did so: It's Feb. 2.
Said Nixon is a statement:
“Today, my office received a letter of resignationfrom State. Rep. T.D. El-Amin. There is simply no place in public service for those who are involved in bribery. I have notified the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office of a Feb. 2 special election to fill this vacancy.”
So far, the highest-profile contender to replace El-Amin is 26th Ward committeeman Joseph Palm. According to calculations by the Arch City Chronicle, the 26th Ward has the second- largest bloc of votes that will be used by Democratic committeepeople to select a nominee. (Votes are weigned, depending on the number of votes cast in the ward last year for governor.)
Mayor Francis Slay also has weighed in -- to say that he's not.
Spokesmen say that the mayor won't get deeply involved in the 57th District jockeying, unlike the role he played in the earlier party maneuvering to select a nominee for the now-vacant 4th District state Senate seat. Slay's choice, 28th Ward committeeman Joe Keaveny, is now the Democratic nominee in the Nov. 3 special election.
