October 21, 1975, is something of a milestone in St. Louis city politics. On that date the 28th Ward Aldermanic seat left vacant by the resignation of John Roach in August, 1975, will be filled by a man chosen by popular election. This constitutes a “first.” In the past vacant seats on the Board of Aldermen were filled immediately by a process involving nomination by the ward’s committeepeople of each party and election by the Board itself.
With the passage of a Charter Amendment on Aldermanic Succession this past spring all vacant seats on the Board will be filled by Special Election until the following City Election. This means that the winner of this election will serve until the spring of 1977 at which time another election will be held to fill the unexpired portion of the term to which Mr. Roach was originally elected in 1975. That term ends in Spring 1979.
There are three candidates in the race as of this writing. They are Democrat Vincent C. Schoemehl, Jr., Independent John D. Flynn, Jr., and Republican Thomas D. Vaughn. All three are young; Mr. Schoemehl is 28, and Mr. Flynn and Mr. Vaughn are both 32. Each has lived in the ward for five years or more. The Schoemehls, Vince and Lois, own their home at 6168 Westminister. Also a homeowner, John Flynn lives at 6149 Pershing. Tom Vaughn and his wife Susan, live in an apartment at 6226 Southwood, the street where he has lived for six years.
Education and Occupation. Mr. Vaughn attended Washington University and received his B.A. degree in 1966 and Juris Doctoris degree in 1968. He is a lawyer, presently with the Brown Group, Inc. of Clayton, Mo. In the past he has been employed by a Chicago law firm, a St. Louis firm, and by John C. Danforth, Missouri Attorney General, as Assistant Attorney General in charge of an inner city consumer protection office.
Mr. Flynn received his B.A. degree from St. Louis Univ. in 1965 and his M.A. degree from the same institution in 1975. By training and experience he is a teacher and administrator, having worked in the St. Louis Archdiocesan Schools, University City Schools, Matrix Alternative School, St. Louis Public Schools, and Jewish Hospital. Mr. Flynn is presently devoting full time to his campaign for 28th Ward Alderman.
Mr. Schoemehl attended the University of Missouri at St. Louis and received his B.A. degree in 1970. His past work experience has been in sales and advertising. He is now the publisher of several magazines including Apartment Living and the Metro St. Louis Golfing News.
Political Experience. No novice in politics, Mr. Schoemehl has managed or particpated in many political campaigns including those for John Roach for Alderman and for Comptroller, John Poelker for Mayor, Ed Dowd for Governor, Larry Lee for State Senator, Steve Vossmeyer for State Representative, and Venetta Barbaglia and George Storey for Democratic Committeepeole. For a period of time in 1972 he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for State Representative from the 86th District, but he withdrew from that race. He is also a former president of the 28th Ward Regular Democratic Organization.
Neither Mr. Flynn nor Mr. Vaughn has previously sought political office of been involved actively in political campaigns; however, Mr. Flynn has been a civil rights worker, and Mr. Vaughn served as a VISTA volunteer.
The Paper extended each of the candidates an invitation to write a 200 word statement concerning his goals, priorities, platform, reason for seeking the office, etc. We received responses from all three. They are printed below in the order in which they were received.
Originally published in The Paper, October 1975.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: This October report dates John Roach’s resignation to August 1975; the September report gives July. Both printed dates are preserved.
Original source: SD_Times1975_10.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 8; PDF page(s) 1, 8.
