East St. Louis News and Information

"If it's happening in St. Louis, it's on St. Louis Front Page."

Southwest Illinois News is
designed & hosted by the
Moore Design Group.

How To Reach Us:
St. Louis Front Page
P.O. Box 1354
St. Louis, MO 63188

Voice: 314-771-0200
Fax: 314-771-0300

To advertise, contact:
advertising@slfp.com

To submit news, contact:
editor@slfp.com

Write-in Candidates Seek Vote in Primary Election

(L. to R.) People's Team candidates Marlene Smoot, Martha Young and East St. Louis Mayor Debra Powell, held a press conference at The Committee to Elect Debra Powell Headquarters.

by Bob Moore, SWI-News.com

EAST ST. LOUIS, (SWI-News.com), February 21, 2003 - The People's Team candidates Marlene Smoot, Martha Young and East St. Louis Mayor Debra Powell held a press conference today, to discuss new developments resulting from the decision rendered by the Illinois Appellate Court in Mt. Vernon.

The candidates lost an appeal to have their names appear on the ballot for the primary election, February 25. Mayor Debra Powell stated that she does not plan on running in the general election in April if she looses this primary. "The law says that if you run as a write-in candidate in the primary and are not successful, you can not run as a write-in candidate in the general," said Mayor Powell, who lost the appeal.

"If I am not one of the top two (primary) vote-getters, we still have a campaign to run," stated the Mayor. "It is still imperative that Martha Young and Marlene Smoot are elected to the Council because the people need a voice."

After the press conference, Martha Young spoke with Southwest Illinois News about the election process. "We have had unopposed candidates in East St. Louis. But their names were always on the ballot as "unopposed." All of a sudden, it's a different ballgame. Now, if you are unopposed, no other names can go on the ballot," commented Young.

"I am really hurt by that. I'm more hurt because of the people who are doing it - the Board of Election. The people have put them there. When you're hurt by somebody you trust, you're really hurt," said Young.

Young said the primary voting ballot will have only the mayoral candidates listed, with the exception of Mayor Powell. "No city clerk, no city council, no city treasurer," stated Young, who is running in the general election as a write-in candidate.

"There is a line and a space for write-in candidates," noted Young. "That's where they'll have to connect the arrow and write her (Debra Powell) name. Now on April 1, they will list the two top vote-getters for mayor, plus the city treasurer, the city clerk, Karen Cason and Ed Russell as councilmen and two lines for write-ins. At that time, the voters need to write my name in and Marlene's name in," stated Young.

Archived Stories:
Annual Black Literary Heritage Symposium to Present 'Linkages'
Miles'Ville Meets Kwanzaa 2002
Metro East Merchants Learn How the Fusion of 'Hip Hop' Culture Is Driving Revenue and Their Businesses
Rays of Hope Community Development Conference
"Get Fit With Five" Program Features Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee
A New Cardinals Stadium Could Be Catalyst for East St. Louis Redevelopment - Interview with Mayor Debra A. Powell
Olympic Spirit Burns at Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Club
Miles 2001 Festival Draws Thousands of Jazz Fans
MetroLink Extension in St. Clair County Opens
East St. Louis Library Built Brick by Brick
Home Team Helps Two St. Louis-area Families Achieve Dream of Home Ownership
Home Team Helps Two St. Louis-area Families Achieve Dream of Home Ownership
Local Cisco Networking Academy
Habitat for Humanity
JJK B&G Grand Opening
Mayor Christens Crown Hotel
Happy Birthday, Katherine Dunham
New Library For East St. Louis
MetroLink Brings Viability to East St. Louis
JJK Youth Center Is a Dream Come True

Return to Southwest Illinois News

Southwest Illinois News & Saint Louis Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group.

Advertisers

Restaurant Guide

Gifts for all ocassions

Sports Kids