In a landslide victory, the voters of St. Louis elected Cara Spencer as St. Louis’s 48th mayor. The mayor-to-be ran an almost flawless campaign, knocking on doors in every corner of the city and winning the support of voters across the political, racial, and geographic spectrum. She won BIG and earned every vote.
This election demonstrates that having St. Louis business leaders and residents actively involved in local politics is not only okay but necessary if we want to save our city and grow our region.
I also want to congratulate our new Comptroller, Donna Baringer. Donna outworked her opponent and simply would not take no for an answer. We need that kind of determination in City Hall, especially from our chief fiscal officer. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Darlene Green, former Comptroller and CFO, for her decades of dedication to our region and for the many outstanding achievements she was a vital part of. I hope she takes on a role as a citizen leader, as she has much to offer on our ongoing journey.
Now comes the hard part. Cara and Donna inherit a city in desperate need of reform.
Although the job is enormous, I am confident that Cara and Donna are up to the challenge. They’re committed to moving St. Louis forward by strengthening our law enforcement and ensuring our city is a safe place to live where every community can thrive. Investing in infrastructure will ignite economic development and evolve St. Louis into a premier destination, reimagining tourism with bold, innovative experiences that welcome people from all walks of life.
But first, they need our help. Instead of asking ourselves what we can get from our city, we should ask our new mayor and comptroller what we can do for THEM. Thanks to our overwhelming voice as voters, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to work together for a better future — and there is no time to waste. We need more businesspeople and civic leaders to unite to make a positive difference for all.
Cara and Donna will lead us in a “right now” strategy. Cara has the ideas, temperament, and energy to restore STL to greatness. While it has been difficult to see us passed up by neighbors like Nashville, KC, and Indianapolis due to self-inflicted wounds, they are finally solvable as Cara continues to bring everyone to the table.
St. Louis can and WILL be an incredible place to live, work, and raise our families. My support will always be for candidates who are competent, care about basic services and public safety, and have a big vision for what our city can be. Cara Spencer and Donna Baringer are the right people at the right time and for all the right reasons.
