The August 4, 2020, Primary Election will determine if Kim Gardner will continue in her position of the Circuit Attorney for the City. That’s because only a democrat can get elected in the City, and the Primary determines who the democratic nominee will be.
Filing for the August 4, 2020, Primary Election in the City of St. Louis begins today, February 25th. It ends March 31st.
As far as I know, only Mary Pat Carl has publically announced that she is challenging Gardner.
Mary Pat certainly has the ability and credentials to be a successful Circuit Attorney. Without a doubt, she would be a huge improvement over Kim Gardner. And if no better candidate steps forward she will have my support. However, her past alliance with ex-Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce and the fact she is not seen as a “reform prosecutor” by many progressives may work against her in the election.
But her biggest challenge will be in overcoming the “Poor Kim” narrative. That’s the story of how “Poor Kim” is a strong, African-American woman who is taking on the racist, old-boy criminal justice establishment in an effort to reform it, and that racist, old-boy establishment is busy trying to thwart her every move. I intend to address the “Poor Kim” narrative itself in a later post, but for now it’s simply important to realize this is Gardner’s go-to move whenever she is challenged or criticized.
While most knowledgeable persons find that narrative ludicrous, many others, particularly dyed-in-the-wool progressives, find it powerful. Tony Messenger, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist, for instance, has swallowed the “Poor Kim” narrative hook, line, and sinker.
Gardner will argue that Mary Pat, as part of the establishment, is either one of or working for “the select few . . . [trying] to stop criminal justice reform.”
I think we need a candidate for Circuit Attorney who can save the Office and the City. I therefore nominate ex-Judge and present St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards.
Judge Edwards can bring the support of the Mayor’s Office (he works for the Mayor now), the police (he hired the current Chief of Police), and the judges (he was one of them until recently) to the Circuit Attorney’s Office. He can get everyone in the criminal justice system to work together to deal with the City’s crime problems as opposed to alienating every group like Kim Gardner. Systemic problems can’t be solved single-handedly.
He can also lead and manage the Circuit Attorney’s Office in a manner to rebuild it to its past reputation as one of the elite prosecuting attorney offices in the state. Judge Edwards, unlike Ms. Gardner, exudes competence. He has been successful in every position he’s held. Past performance is the best indicator of future performance.
Judge Edwards would be a “reform prosecutor” that the progressives want. He has actual experience in successfully working to reform the criminal justice system:
Most significantly, he’d take Gardner’s “Poor Kim” narrative — her only defense — away from her. He is an African-American who has devoted his life to public service, who has worked tirelessly and effectively within the system for criminal justice reforms, who has won numerous awards for his efforts, who left the bench and took up the position as Public Safety Director to try to more effectively deal with the City’s problems, and is someone universally respected by everyone in the legal community.
As the Circuit Attorney, Jimmie Edwards could accomplish so much more than in his current position as Public Safety Director. He could save the Circuit Attorney’s Office.
I have asked Judge Edwards to run. He has demurred.
Call or write him.
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-safety/profiles/judge-jimmie-m-edwards.cfm
Urge him to run.