This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, March 5, 2013 - St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay took an early lead Tuesday over his chief Democratic rival, Aldermanic President Lewis Reed, with the mayor garnering 55.6 percent of the vote in early returns, including absentee ballots.
Of the 40 percent of the citywide vote counted so far, Slay received 11,628 votes compared to 8,962 for Reed and 323 for former Alderman Jimmie Matthews.
Slay's lead was helped by a larger edge (just under 60 percent) in absentee votes. Absentee results often signal a campaign's organizational skills, but don't always indicate who will be the eventual winner.
The St. Louis Election Board continues to count the tens of thousands of ballots cast today. Prelimary returns indicate that the board may have been correct with its estimate of a 20 percent turnout, despite the poor weather -- including snow -- for much of the day.
As the Beacon reported earlier:
St. Louis Democrats – and possibly some Republicans – are heading to the polls today to choose Democratic nominees for mayor, comptroller and 15 of the city’s 28 aldermen.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and his chief rival – Aldermanic President Lewis Reed – each voted early.
As of this afternoon, city Republican Elections Director Gary Stoff reported no major problems at any of the polling places. All opened on time, he said.
There had been some sparring throughout the day between the mayoral camps, and among some aldermanic rivals, over relatively minor issues, but all had been dealt with, Stoff said.
The board's "roving deputies'' were traveling to various polling places, and emphasizing to campaign workers that they must stay at least 25 feet away from the polling-place entrances, and cannot go inside.
Slay showed up at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church shortly after 6 a.m. He is seeking to make history, by winning election to a fourth four-year term. If successful, he'd be the first St. Louis mayor to accomplish such a feat.
After casting his ballot on an electronic voting machine, Slay told reporters that he was feeling optimistic about his prospects.
"We feel real good about it," Slay said. "We've got a very, very talented team in place working hard on Election Day. But I think we've run a very good, straight-forward campaign. The whole point of the campaign is that over the last 12 years, we've seen St. Louis make a lot of progress."
Asked if he was concerned that the gloomy weather may complicate things, Slay quipped that his campaign has purchased "every parka and poncho in the entire city of St. Louis." He also said the key to besting Reed was educating the elctorate about "results."
"St. Louis is a better place today than it was 12 years ago," Slay said. "It's healthier, cleaner. It's more tolerant. It's more humane. It's better educated. And it's a lot more fun. And there are a lot of people who are really bullish about St. Louis and its future. And I think you're going to see that in the election."
Reed voted around 6:30 a.m. at his polling place at Berea Temple Assembly of God, 3224 Russell. "I am really, really energized,'' Reed said, after casting his paper ballot. He had been accompanied by his wife, Mary Entrup.
"It's really exciting to see even the young people engaged in the race,'' Reed said. "I think we did a tremendous job of getting our message out. Voters are responding in a positive manner. People are excited about the opportunity for change and a new direction."
Reed painted a pessimistic portrait of the city. The public is concerned, he said, about "the rampant crime throughout our city. There were 17 murders just in January."
Too many people also are without jobs, he said, and see no help from City Hall.
Officials predict 20 percent turnout
Unopposed is Comptroller Darlene Green, who also is on track to become the city's longest serving official in that post.
Because no Republicans have filed for mayor, and for only one of the aldermanic posts, most of today’s Democratic winners will be largely favored in the general election April 2.
(Green Party candidates have filed for mayor, comptroller and three aldermanic seats. They will face the Democratic winners April 2.)
The city Election Board is projecting only about a 20 percent turnout overall. However, Republican elections director Gary Stoff says more voters may turn out in the wards with heated aldermanic races; he singled out the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 21st and 27th wards.
All but one of those wards are on the city’s predominantly African-American north side; that could have an effect in the citywide vote.
Reed and Slay have attracted most of the public’s attention and spent the last weekend campaigning all over the city in hopes of energizing voters – particularly each man’s key constituencies.
Slay's focus has been the middle-aged and the elderly, as well as Republicans planning to cross over. For Reed, the key groups are minorities and the young.
Reed’s campaign-night event will be at the Carpenters Hall on South Hampton. The mayor is watching returns privately with family, friends and staff.
