Jeff Smith for Missouri

Dear Friend,

In Missouri and throughout the nation, people are working two or threejobs trying to make ends meet. Some succeed; many do not.

As I heard John Edwards say when he was in town recently, we ought to be ashamed to live in a country where people working 40 hours a week are mired in poverty. Now, we have the chance to do something about that here in Missouri.

There is a group working to gather petitions signatures to put an increase in the minimum wage on the ballot this fall in Missouri. While $6.50 an hour may not sound like a lot to some people, for others, such as janitors cleaning downtown office buildings at night or workers toiling at northern Missouri factory farms, it could mean the ability to buy a winter coat for their daughter, or a decent meal for their family on Sunday night.

Jeff Smith 2006
Contact: David Poger

Today, St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Sharon Carpenter announced that she is endorsing Jeff Smith, Democratic candidate for the 4th State Senate seat.

Carpenter, the former Democratic National Committeewoman and 23rd Ward Committeewoman who remains one of the most influential figures in City politics, cited Smith’s dedication and passion for public service as reasons for her support. “Jeff demonstrated his dedication to our City long before he decided to run for office. Now, as a candidate, he has shown a tireless work ethic that will serve us well when he is elected.”

Smith said, “I’m honored to have Sharon Carpenter’s endorsement. Ever since I met Sharon, she has been a great source of wisdom about the politics, policies, and inner workings of our city. I look forward to working together on legislation that will continue making the Recorders’ offices throughout the state more efficient.”

Smith also announced the support of Joe Edwards, the businessman and civic leader best known for revitalizing the Delmar Loop, who said, “Jeff will be a breath of fresh air in the Capitol. And he’s exactly what this City needs.”

Smith said he hoped to emulate Edwards’s success in breaking down barriers. “Just as Joe Edwards has erased the line between St. Louis City and County in the thriving Delmar Loop, we are seeking to bridge the age-old divide between North and South in city politics.”

Over 140 people attended Smith’s recent fundraiser hosted by Francis R. Slay at the Cedars just south of downtown, and his campaign has already lined up over 170 volunteers who have begun canvassing the 4th district.

By Jo Mannies
STLtoday.com

St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Sharon Carpenter and University City businessman Joe Edwards announced Thursday that they are endorsing Democrat Jeff Smith for the 4th District state Senate seat.

Smith is among five Democrats competing for the post soon to be vacated by state Sen. Pat Dougherty, D-St. Louis, because of term limits.

Carpenter is the former Democratic National Committeewoman and long was the 23rd Ward Democratic Committeewoman (Mayor Francis Slay’s ward.)

Dear Friend,

Hello. I’m sorry to have been out of touch for the past month. We’ve been busy, and I want to give you a sense of what we’ve been up to.

As mentioned in my last update, our grass-roots organization continues to strengthen. With several interns at work, we have contacted over 3,000 voters. So far, we’ve amassed hundreds of committed supporters, persuaded many of them to put up yard signs we will soon distribute, had about a dozen doors slammed in our face, recruited 75 new volunteers, and been attacked by one dog. In sum, not bad, since I wasn’t bitten. If you want a yard sign, email me at jeffsmith2006@gmail.com.

The St. Louis American
Wednesday, March 22, 2006

While this is not an endorsement, the EYE sees that a black voter could do worse than voting for Jeff Smith for state senator.

Smith held a fundraiser at The Cedars, hosted by Gerald Slay, on Monday and declared that his campaign “will make it so that we don’t see St. Louis politics in the same tired prism of North Side and South Side.”

What is unique in Smith’s approach is that he is not making campaign promises, he is making promises about his campaign. In fact, his speech Monday centered more on defeating Republican opponents in Jefferson City than on the challengers for state Sen. Pat Dougherty’s senate seat in St. Louis. The African-American candidates, state Rep. Yaphett El-Amin, state Rep. Amber Boykins and former alderman Kenneth Jones, will be hard-pressed to win as many white votes as Smith will black votes.

One reason is that Smith is visible in the black community. He is the coach of a youth basketball team at Mathews-Dickey. He shared a story of what Gov. Matt Blunt’s cuts to Medicaid have done to a St. Louis family.

One of Smith’s players is slightly autistic. Unfortunately, his family was forced to choose between the boy’s medicine and paying for health-care coverage.

He said Republicans in Jefferson City should prepare for him to filibuster for “six or seven hours” to stop horrible cuts like those passed last year.

“Trust me, I can talk that long,” he said.

Residents of the city of St. Louis are painfully aware of the vital need for renewal and revitalization, having witnessed the recent effects of urban sprawl and corporate migration. Over the last two decades St. Louis has suffered the loss of multiple major corporate headquarters including TWA, McDonnell Douglas, Southwestern Bell, Monsanto, Mallinckrodt, and General Dynamics. The devastating result has been a 9.1% unemployment rate in the city, a level nearly twice as high as that of the county. Without these vital financial institutions and small business, the city will be unable to attract sufficient revenue, and will not regain its former prestige. St. Louis must once again become a prosperous economic hub, attracting businesses and investors. In order to realize the goal of urban revitalization, we must pursue several essential initiatives. We must protect the state Historic Preservation Tax Credit, continue courting of the biotech industry, increase the minimum wage, and improve worker training. Without sound investments now, the city will face a perilous future.