As the race for St. Louis Mayor heats up, the jabs are getting more pointed. The Domcratic candidates, incumbent Mayor Francis Slay, Aldermanic President Lewis Reed and former Alderman Jimmie Matthews, squared off in a second forum Monday. All three talked about crime, education and redevelopment. And then the mud slinging began.
Mayor Francis Slay chided Democratic rival Lewis Reed for not releasing his tax returns. The Aldermanic President drew a contrast between his returns and Slay's. Reed said it would be a different matter for him to release his joint tax returns since his wife was a working lawyer and the Mayors was a "stay-at-home mother."
Reed then accused Slay of creating a personal "slush fund" with more than 150-thousand dollars left over in the Citizens for a Stronger St. Louis fund -- the campaign committee aimed at keeping the city’s earnings tax intact. Slay denied that.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that committee treasurer Brad Ketcher said the campaign fund was converted into a nonprofit organization after the election.
St. Louis' Democratic primary election is March 5th. The winner will face Green Party candidate James McNeely in the general election.
