UPDATE on December 3, 2020: Jones turned in petitions for mayor on Monday but didn’t have enough signatures to become a candidate, said Gary Stoff, Republican director of the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners.
Jones still has time to get the needed signatures before filing closes.
The signature requirement is new, part of changes made to local elections by Proposition D that was approved by voters in August. Jones was a vocal supporter of Prop D and now has become its first victim.
Previous November 30, 2020 story below…
ST. LOUIS – The city got a third candidate for mayor on Monday, when City Treasurer Tishaura Jones filed a petition to run in the March primary election.
Jones follows Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed, who is running a third time for mayor, and 20th Ward Alderwoman Cara Spencer filing for office.
The local elections in March and April 2021 will be the first of the new system approved by voters under Proposition D in the Nov. 3 elections.
Under the new “approval voting” method, those running for mayor, board of aldermen president, comptroller and aldermen will no longer run under a party, but as nonpartisan candidates. People can vote for as many candidates as they like in the initial round, and the top two will advance to a runoff in the April election.
Proponents say that eliminates the possibility that the final winner of the March Democratic primary will get much less than a majority. Without any Republican opposition, winners of the March primaries traditionally easily win in the April general election.
Under a city ordinance, citywide nonpartisan candidates had to collect signatures equal to at least 2 percent of the vote for mayor in the last election, or 1,170 votes.
Both Reed and Spencer issued statements marking the start of the race on Nov. 23.
Krewson, who was elected mayor in 2017, announced this month that she wasn’t running for re-election.
Longtime Comptroller Darlene Green also filed for re-election.
Those filing for aldermen were:
- Ward 3, Herdosia K. Bentum
- Ward 4, incumbent Dwinderlin Evans
- Ward 5, James A. Page Jr. and incumbent Alderwoman Tammika Hubbard
- Ward 7, Shedrick R. Kelley
- Ward 9, incumbent Daniel R. Guenther
- Ward 11, incumbent Sarah W. Martin
- Ward 12, incumbent Vicky L. Grass and William Z. Stephens.
- Ward 13, incumbent Elizabeth (Beth) M. Murphy; and Anne M. Schweitzer
- Ward 15 incumbent Megan Ellyia Green
- Ward 19, incumbent Marlene E. Davis and Cleo Willis Sr.
- Ward 21, Barbara A. Lane, Tisharwa Z. Masimba, incumbent John M. Collins-Muhammad, Tavon T. Brooks and Melinda L. Long.
- Ward 23, incumbent Joseph A. Vaccaro Jr.
- Ward 25, incumbent Shane P. Cohn
- Ward 27, incumbent Pamela R. Boyd
