Several people in our neighborhood have been actively involved in Citizens for Progress in Public Education, a coalition of members of parent groups (Creative Education; Nottingham PTA), a teacher group (St. Louis Teachers Assn), and various neighborhood and political organizations (Montgomery-Hyde Park; West End Community Development; 8th Ward Democrats). Organizing a very successful petition drive in our area were Joe and Mary Boyts, Ted and Karen Bynum and Dan Schesch.
The slate of candidates picked by Citizens for Progress in Public Education was able to secure the first position on the ballot in the April election by launching a weekend vigil outside the Board of Education building. Either the candidates (Gordon Benson, Don Cross, Anna Forder, Gerry Thurman Harold Light) or someone representing each of them stood in line at 9th and Locust from noon Friday, January 3rd to Monday morning, January 6th.
The process for getting on the ballot is very different from running for other public offices. A candidate cannot simply file. He/she must have signatures of 22 of the city voters in the last general election on petitions notarized by a city notary public. (For this election that was 2,695 signatures.)
The period for filing is from 85 to 63 days before the city election.
The petitions must be presented to the treasurer of the Board of Education, Dr. Sam Lawson, who is in a unique legal position. He is an employee of the Board of Ed. and yet he alone determines whether a candidate’s name appears on the ballot.
The five candidates were very grateful to everyone who helped canvass during the hectic New Year’s week. A large portion of the necessary signatures were gotten in our neighborhood.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1975.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: The source prints signatures of “22 of the city voters” alongside 2,695 signatures; the printed threshold is preserved without inferring a percentage.
Original source: SD_Times1975_02.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
