Historical December 1996 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
On Thursday, November 17, candidates for citywide office in the March primary were invited to address the monthly meeting of the 28’h Ward Regular Democratic Club.
The Club will endorse candidates following a vote of its membership. Two candidates for comptroller spoke, Dennis Hill and the incumbent, Darlene Green. Hill said that Fie felt the city was “inefficient in everything they do.” When he was assessor, he said he was 8-10% under budget .
He wants to bring residents back and raise the value of housing stock.
He wants to create a geographic zone in poor or empty areas where income tax will be abated for new residents. (Hill was city assessor from 1993 to this summer when he was removed by the mayor.) Green, a Skinker DeBaliviere resident, was appointed comptroller by Mayor Bosley a year ago.
She won the special election primary in August and was elected to the position in November to fill the unexpired term of Virws Jones.
She is now running for the regular 4 year term. Green said that she has worked hard in the position and that she is qualified to be city comptroller.
She pointed to the city’s increased credit rating and the financing package for the new justice center.
She feels her responsibility is to “protect your tax dollars.” She wants to increase service provision and mentioned more arterial streets paved this year.
For the last several years, the city has had a surplus.
The annual operating budget is around $300 million. Three candidates for mayor also addressed the group: Bill Haas, Marit Clark, and Clarence Harmon. Haas spoke first.
He said he wants to bring this city together. Being mayor is a very tough job.
His slogan will be “If we’re not prepared to read it in the next day’s headlines, we won’t say it or do it.” Haas ran for mayor as an independent in 1993 and ran for circuit attorney in 1992.
This time he will run in the Democratic primary and he recognizes that he is an underdog. Marit Clark spoke next.
She has represented the 6’h ward in the Board of Aldermen for 12 years. Just the day before, she said she would not run in the Democratic primary but instead would be an independent candidate in the general election.
She said she was in the race because she deeply loved this city.
She is worried about where we are headed.
She said she would hire the “kind of people who can solve problems.” She said neighborhood revitalization was her strongest suit. Clark said that government can’t solve all our problems but “we need to start when they are small. Neighbors here (in the 28th) can teach other neighborhoods.” She said she had zero tolerance for nuisance crimes.
She said she would work with the police chief and not tell him who to fire or transfer.
She will also work very hard to retain businesses in our community.
She is also worried about the schools.
She said that her experience in the 6’h ward which is very diverse “prepares me for dealing with the problems of the city.” She said that she knows city hall and will not have to wait to learn the job. Clarence Harmon, former chief of police and now executive with United Airlines, was the third mayoral candidate to speak.
He began by saying that the city was in a crisis and that “the daily revelations in the Post were only the beginning.” He wants to bring back “the vision that St. Louis can be a great city again.” He spoke of his proven record as a police administrator and his experience at directing people.
He said that he decided to leave the police department because the board in place was “directing me beyond my understanding of that role.” Harmon then said he was concerned with racial divisiveness and would try to bring people together.
He spoke of deteriorating neighborhoods, places where people were afraid to go out, and of homes going up for sale.
The renewal of the city involved everyone’s participation. City government had to be responsive and accountable to the taxpayer, he added. Harmon then mentioned the lack of effective planning in the city: “Projects don’t relate to something else.” He spoke of government for all people, not just a select few.
He concluded by noting that “When I ran the police department, we were nationally and internationally recognized.
I want to bring that kind of experience to city hall and city government.” This ward meeting lasted well over 2 hours.
After brief reports from State Representative Nancy Farmer and Alderman Dan McGuire, the club elected new officers as follows: Bill Kuehling, President; Nancy Farmer, First Vice President; Anna Busch, Second Vice President; Dorothy Jackson, Secretary; and Brad Weir, Treasurer.
Original photograph caption
Marti Clark. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, December 1996.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed Thursday November17is Sunday in1996. Original weekday/date retained.
Original source: SD_Times1996_12.pdf, printed page(s) 4; PDF page(s) 4.
