U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay has endorsed Jennifer Florida for St. Louis recorder of deeds, putting the congressman in the middle of a complicated contest.
Florida, a former alderman, was appointed by Mayor Francis Slay this summer to hold the office after longtime incumbent Sharon Carpenter was forced to step down over nepotism charges.
Carpenter remained in the Aug. 5 Democratic primary and won. Florida was named too late to be in the primary, and filed instead as an independent candidate on next Tuesday’s ballot
Clay said in a statement that “Jennifer Florida has restored ethics, energy and greater efficiency to the record of deeds office. I am pleased to support her.”
The release, apparently from Florida's campaign, also contends that Carpenter “is facing a possible federal investigation into bid rigging and awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars in contracts based on personal and political relationships to non-union contractors.”
Clay’s support of Florida elevates her profile and could help her among African-American voters in the city.
