By Rachel Lippmann and Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Mayor Francis Slay has been elected to a third term in office.
The Democrat incumbent defeated independent, Green Party, and Libertarian challengers taking 61 percent of the vote - his narrowest margin of victory in three elections.
Slay says voters returned him to City Hall because they are generally pleased with the direction St. Louis is moving.
"There's been a renaissance going on in our city of St. Louis, the population on the increase, and a job base that has stabilized," he said. "We've been able to address a lot of issues that impact people who need us the most."
Turnout was estimated at 17 percent of the city's 222,000 voters - Slay won with just 23,0000 votes, but was unconcerned about the low turnout.
"I think a lot of people felt there wasn't much of a contest, which is why they stayed home and didn't vote," he said.
Slay's primary challenger, former State Senator Maida Coleman said she doesn't think the mayor can claim a mandate when so few peple turn out to vote. "I don't know what he can claim," said Coleman.
"I just know that its more than just the number of votes he got. It's the money, it's the people who didn't come out to vote its societal issues I think."
Slay says he'll outline more of his plans for the next four years in his inaugural address, but says the economy is at the top of his list. He would not say what he plans to do with the more than $1 million left in his campaign account.