The Fraternal Order of Police has successfully politicked to gain their primary goal over The St. Louis Police Department. The force is under state supervision in Jefferson City. Now the St. Louis police officers will no longer be required to live in the city.
Mayor Slay has expressed great ire and frustration over the action. Will Mayor Slay and Mayor York still remain good friends? Since politics make strange bedfellows, that is anybody’s guess.
Mayor York was harshly criticized by Republicans for hosting a fundraiser at Bogey Hills Country Club for Democrat Mayor Slay. York also campaigned with St. Charles Police Officer and FOP president, Tommy Mayer, to do away with the residency requirements for St. Louis Police officers. While Governor Blunt was Secretary of State, York sought his assistance on several occasions such as the dedication of the new St. Charles Justice Center
In the same time frame York was lobbying in Jefferson City on behalf of Tommy Mayer and the FOP, Secretary of State Blunt, wrote a letter endorsing the St. Charles City Council to pay Tom Mayer for 200 hours per year to do FOP work. The rescinding of those 200 hours by the current city council is rooted in the $100 million lawsuit filed against our city and all our elected officials, except for Mayor York.
In the 2004 governor’s race, Tommy Mayer and the FOP endorsed Matt Blunt for governor. Now that Blunt is in charge of the state, is it surprising our state body would satisfy the FOP and rescind the residency requirement?
If Mayer has the governor of the state helping and protecting him, is that why city officials have dragged their feet in taking any action against Tommy Mayer for pursuing our city administrator and putting him face-down on the concrete at gunpoint?
If Mayer had previously been warned and told not to visit his friend on duty and he was again caught doing just that, why was he not immediately terminated? Is the Chief of Police afraid of him? Does he have the mayor beholden to him or could she fear him? What role does the governor play in all this?
Since assuming office in January, Governor Blunt has been chewed on and chewed up in news publications and on talk radio for what is perceived as radical cuts aimed at the handicapped and the needy. With a Republican majority to carry out the legislation, it appears he is doing as much as he can as fast as he can. He does not appear to be concerned many Republican legislators may lose their seats next year due to his “radical, ruthless and self-serving” actions.
The Governor’s appointments are also creating a good deal of alarm. It seems the appointments are directly tied to the amount of the donations to his campaign, rather than who is truly qualified to run the business for our state. An ethics violation has been filed against him for using a Jefferson City car dealer’s van, painted with his name, but never disclosed as an in-kind donation. That car dealer also received a plum appointment from the governor.
Many are reminded of former Attorney General Bill Webster as we watch Blunt’s rapid political rise. Former Senator Dick Webster, Bill’s father, was considered the most powerful man in the state of Missouri. Bill Webster rose rapidly also, was very young, and had the way paved for him without earning his stripes and struggling. During his tenure as attorney general, the state’s Workman’s Compensation Fund was exposed for being riddled with corruption. Amidst this scandal, Bill Webster was a candidate for governor. His father was deceased and could not make this go away.
This scandal which involved many attorneys who were “friends of Bill” resulted in the Republicans losing and Carnahan being elected Governor. Webster then served some prison time for using state employees for personal service.
Blunt’s father is Congressman Roy Blunt, who was a former Secretary of State for Missouri. Congressman Hulshoff was to be the candidate for governor in 2004. Hulshoff is experienced, seasoned and well-respected in Washington, as well as Missouri. Most republicans preferred Hulshoff, but allowed big money to choose their candidate, rather than common sense. Blunt was put on the fast track, elected governor, and the republicans may suffer great losses for the next 12 years—just as they did by endorsing Webster in the middle of a scandal. Webster’s primary opponent was none other than Secretary of State Roy Blunt. The republican’s hung in there with Webster and Blunt lost. Even if many republicans have forgotten that episode, it should still be fresh in Roy Blunt’s mind. Did it ever occur to him he was moving his son too fast and too high and that he was too young and inexperienced?
The webs we weave as we pass trespass and transgress while traveling through life can impact all far and wide; sometimes with devastating consequences.
