Gateway Green Alliance/Green Party of St. Louis
Greens challenge anti-choice Missouri state legislators
Five Green Party candidates won ballot certification to seek seats in the Missouri General Assembly. All St. Louis Greens are challenging anti-choice incumbents, most of whom also have generally unprogressive voting records. If elected, they could be the balance of power in nearly evenly divided legislative houses.
Veteran progressive activist Mary Auer of Affton seeks the 3rd District senate seat held for 24 years by John Scott. A retired guidance counselor, Auer is active in Alliance for Democracy and other progressive organizations. She personally collected nearly 500 signatures to get Ralph Nader and the Green Party on the ballot. Scott runs on the Democrat ticket, but he has supported Big Business causes throughout his tenure.
Gateway Greens members have also filed in three contiguous districts in south St. Louis.
Patricia Turek, a professional vocalist and a substitute teacher for the Special School District, takes on Rep. Harry Kennedy (D) in the 66th District in a one-on-one contest in which no Republican or other party candidate filed. The district includes the Southtown and Bevo areas.
In a similar one-on-one contest, Jason Toon will lock horns with 22-year incumbent Pat Dougherty in the 67th District. Toon is a well-known musician, graphic designer and free-lance writer. He formerly served as chair of the St. Louis local of the Socialist Party USA and as a delegate of Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). The district includes the Shaw and Grand Oak Hill neighborhoods where many GGA members live.
In the 68th District in parts of south St. Louis and Shrewsbury, Peter Coogan joins a crowded field challenging incumbent Democrat James O'Toole. A teacher and supervisor of writing coaches at Webster University, Coogan is just a dissertation away from earning a Ph.D. He is active in environmental and animal rights causes. Republican and Libertarian choices fill out the field.
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