COMPLIMENTARY

stlamerican.comVol. 84 No. 15CAC Audited

JULY 12 – 18, 2012

Walmart opens in BridgetonFriday, July 13 at 11900 St. Charles Rock Rd.

See DOLLAR, A7

Candidate with a plan – that’s legal

By Rebecca S. RivasOf The St. Louis American

All four Democratic candidates vying for Treasurerin the August 7 primary have offered plans to improvethe office. Yet, some of the candidates’ public promisescan’t be completed according to state law, said stateRep. Tishaura O. Jones, who is running for the office,which oversees the city’s Parking Division.

One of the other candidates, Alderman FredWessels, stated on his website, “Over the last 10 years,

the Parking Division has collected over $120 million inrevenues and provided only $3.5 million to the Citygeneral fund.” Wessels says he would do better thanthat – but it’s not allowed by law.

Jones said no matter how much money theTreasurer’s Office makes in parking revenue, the officeis limited in the amount that it can transfer to the city’sgeneral revenue fund by the 1980 HancockAmendment.

See JONES, A6

Tishaura Jones knows how to improveTreasurer’s Office without breaking law

Photo by Wiley Price

By Rebecca S. RivasOf The St. Louis American

Gary Dollar, 58,plans to retire as presi-dent and CEO of theUnited Way of GreaterSt. Louis after 12 yearsof leadership, theagency announced onFriday.

Dollar will remainwith the United Wayteam until July 1, 2013to facilitate a smoothtransition. He hasbeen with the organi-zation for 28 years.

Dollar said it’s theright time to identifyhis successor.

“In 2013, UnitedWay enters a majorstrategic planningprocess to lay out thedirection for our futurein serving the greaterSt. Louis community,”he said. “The person

who will see that planthrough to the end should be deeplyengaged in developing it.”

Jim Weddle, board chair of the UnitedWay, announced the news to board mem-

Gary Dollar tostep downUnited Way CEO fostered African-American leadership and giving

See BETTS, A7

Tishaura O. Jonesis a candidate forTreasurer on theAugust 7 ballot.

AllenBuckner, 12,won firstplace for best bikedecoration at the VanitaPark 4th ofJuly Paradeheld in NorthCounty lastWednesday.

Patriot on wheels

By Chris KingOf The St. Louis American

At the 2012 Maleness to Manhood eventhosted recently by the Mathews-Dickey Boys’& Girls’ Club, emcee Randy Karraker took a

moment to recognize electedofficials in attendance,including former mayorClarence Harmon andMichael McMillan, thelicense collector and formeralderman.

He also recognized oneparticular political hopeful:Vernon Betts, a retiredAmeren administrator andassistant minister at ShalomChurch (City of Peace).

“There is an election onAugust 7,” said Karraker, a sportscaster onESPN radio. “Go out and support Rev. Betts.”

August 7 is the date of the Democratic pri-mary. Betts hasfiled for sheriffagainst theincumbent, JimMurphy. Sincethe city votersare overwhelm-inglyDemocrat, theAugust 7 pri-mary willdecide who isthe sheriff forthe City of St.Louis.

Karraker was speaking to a packed confer-ence dining room, divided equally betweenyoung African-American men and their diverse,

Betts onAug. 7 ballot forSheriffMinister facesincumbent who was declared guilty of racial discrimination

By Jo Mannies Of The Beacon

While the Republican candidates forMissouri lieutenant governor already aresparring in TV ads, the crowd of Democraticcontenders is relying primarily on word of

mouth.At the moment, none of the Democratic lieu-

tenant governor hopefuls are running TV ads –and several hinted they didn’t expect to do sobecause of lack of campaign cash.

On Monday, four of the eight Democratscompeting in the Aug. 7 primary participated in

a forum in Ballwin organized by the WestCounty Democrats group. Several candidatessaid it was the only forum for the contest to beheld before the primary.

The four participants included most of thebest-known candidates: former state Rep. JudyBaker of Columbia, Bill Haas of St. Louis, stateRep. Sara Lampe of Springfield and former state

Democrats vie for lieutenant governorBaker, Hampe, Hass, Kratke, Montee on August 7 ballot

� “I fell inlove withour mis-sion, and Icould neverleave.”

– GaryDollar,departingUnited WayCEO

Vernon Betts

� Sheriff Jim Murphywas first elected in1989, when PresidentGeorge H.W. Bushwas the new president and VinceSchoemehl wasmayor of St. Louis.

Photo by Wiley Price

See BALLOT, A6