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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited NOVEMBER 8 – 14, 2018
Vol. 90 No. 33 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Bell elected STL County’s first black prosecutor
Missouri voters raise minimum wage Legalize medical marijuana, reform Missouri politics By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Wesley Bell supporters gathered at the Acapulco Restaurant and Lounge in St. Ann to celebrate his victory on November 6, making him St. Louis County’s first black St. Louis County prosecutor-elect.
Been working on transition, ready to ‘hit the ground running’ By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American Given that he was unopposed, Wesley Bell’s election as St. Louis County prosecutor on November 6 was no surprise, but he celebrated making history with supporters at the Acapulco Restaurant and Lounge in St.
Ann on election night. Only now is it official: when he is sworn in as soon as the new year dawns, Bell will become St. Louis County’s first black prosecutor. Of course, Bell’s real victory came in the August 7 Democratic primary, when he crushed incumbent St. Louis County
Prosecutor Robert P. McCulloch. McCulloch had served as prosecutor – and making enemies of blacks and progressives – for 27 years. McCulloch’s notoriety went national due to his handling of the Darren Wilson grand jury and Ferguson, giving Bell’s primary campaign national attention, as well as furious local organizing. The American See BELL, A6
Clay wins 10th term 50 years after father broke state color line in Congress Says it is due time for Congress to ‘do its constitutional duty’ By Chris King Of The St. Louis American When U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis) is called a “legacy politician” in this era of disruptive political upstarts, it’s typically meant as a slight. Though for Clay, any talk of legacy merely connects him to his father, longtime Congressman Bill Clay, and emphasizes one of his tightest personal and political bonds. How is this for legacy: on November 6, Clay stood for reelection to his 10th term in Congress and won easily In the Democratic stronghold of Missouri’s 1st Congressional District with 80 percent of the vote. On November 5, the Clays and Missouri celebrated a See CLAY, A7
Bill Clay and U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay
Missourians voted to pass a minimum wage increase, improve the political process in significant ways, legalize and n “What the results and regulate the medical show is having a use of marijuana on fair wage for a hard November 6. Proposition B day of work is not to raise the state’s a Republican or minimum wage Democratic issue.” to $12 an hour by the year 2023 – Richard von Glahn, passed with about Missouri Jobs With 62 percent of the Justice vote, according to unofficial results. Constitutional Amendment 1 to “clean up Missouri politics” also passed by 62 percent. And Constitutional Amendment 2 to legalize and regulate medical marijuana passed with about 66 percent, while two competing medical marijuana measures, Amendment 2 and Proposition C were defeated. See VOTERS, A7
Kenidra Woods felt ‘empowered’ to see so many black people vote Young local leader of March For Our Lives movement casts ballot for first time By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Kenidra Woods, 18 and a leader in the national March For Our Lives movement, cast the first ballot of her life at Moline Acres Elementary School on November 6 around 10 a.m. “I felt so empowered,” said Woods, a high school student. “This is the time when I officially get to use my voice. It’s good to be an activist and doing all this stuff, but to be able to have an opinion and vote on somebody – that feels so good, and it’s so empowering.” Kenidra Her high school friends Woods who are also active in the movement studied together for the election, she said. Woods is also the founder of the Hope for Humanity Project that addresses gun violence. “It’s so exciting to see my friends in action See WOODS, A7