Interim St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Florida has been officially certified to run as an independent on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Florida had submitted about 2,500 signatures from St. Louis registered voters. By Monday afternoon, workers with the St. Louis Election Board had certified more than the 1,562 that Florida needed to qualify for the ballot, said city Republican Elections Director Gary Stoff.
Florida had been named by Mayor Francis Slay on July 14 to serve the remaining six months of the term of longtime Recorder of Deeds Sharon Carpenter, who was forced to step down because she apparently violated the state's nepotism law.
Carpenter remains on the Aug. 5 primary ballot, and Slay has endorsed her. However, Slay is believed to be prepared to switch his allegiance to Florida before the November election.
Also a Democrat, Florida stepped down as the 15th Ward alderman to accept Slay’s appointment. She also has dropped plans to run for Board of Aldermen president next year, in what had been seen as a likely challenge of incumbent Lewis Reed.
