A well-connected incumbent seeking re-election is hardly a scoop or even news. Since your default page only shows the three most recent blog entries, this one about Carpenter only sent more newsworthy entries to the bottom, or thus made other more interestingly entries less readily visible.

Not so fast, Brian. This might be news. If you keep your ear really close to the ground you will hear a rumbling that a couple aldermen from central St. Louis who have a large war chest may be looking for a city wide position soon. With Greg Daly making a sly move in for Larry Williams position, there may be a lot of city wide switch around soon. Stay tuned, I think it will be interesting.

Wow! Dave starts out with something humorous and suddenly we receive quite the scoop.

City Beat, so we are all clear, are you saying that Treasurer Larry Williams is resigning and Governor Blunt is appointing License Collector Greg Daly to fill term till 2008 election?

Is this happening before new License Collector is sworn in after next year's election? If so, then Blunt also gets to appoint a License Collector for the interim, and who is the rumored favorite for that?

mcmillan has a very good chance at a citywide office. lyda krewson, on the other hand, flopped before and will flop again. just watch -- if she tries.

Actually, Daly's likely target is Ron Leggett, Collector of Revenue, not Williams.

Revenue Collector, not Treasurer. Sure, that's what they want us to think.

Lyda's Board President flop was 45% of the vote. Howard Hayes' Revenue Collector flop, same election, was 41%.

NewsTiger why would Lyda "Flop again"? She ran up against a very popular, widely know politician named Jim Shrewsbury. That doesn't mean in the future she couldn't win a city wide seat. She is more than capable of a city wide office and as more people get to know her they seem to like her. I don't know if she will run for higher office but I hope she does.

Has anyone heard this one? Chip Robertson is not running for Circuit Clerk.

How long has Carpenter been in office? Anybody know? Yeah, she's a popular incumbant, but is she up for stiff competition? Her challenger would be well financed and energetic. I wonder how far name recognition really goes in this town.

Who is Ms. Carpenter's "well financed and energetic" opponent?

Didn't she come into office about the time the mimeograph was invented?

If you have to ask how far name recognition really goes in this town, you are not from around here and in for a real treat.

In a who can record a deed faster contest, because of the minefield of laws, the contestant with experience wins over the contestant with more energy.

I am glad Sharon decided to seek re-election.

There are two things no successor is going to have: (1) Sharon's quirky love for the documents she records and preserves; and (2) Sharon's vast network of statewide contacts -- often useful for St. Louis issues in outstate counties in which the recorder is the most influential public official.

IOW, hizzoner, a former alderholser of the 23rd, and his lead political consultant, both support the current Recorder and committeewoman of the 23rd.

the endorsements are nice, and expected, but take a look at her last financial report. Cash on hand was $4863.59, and there's a debt of $4000. Hardly enough to mount a city wide campaign, no matter what your name is.

Carpenter retired as committeewoman last year. That is the likely origin of the rumors she was retiring as Recorder, wishful thinking by someone that the office was up for grabs in 2006.

Her office has a fan club of people with the same quirky love of old records. She and the Boone County Recorder have been competing for years in who can do this or that first in the state technology-wise, have quite a reputation across the state. Those are some of the other things that an opponent has going against him.

If Carpenter borrowed money, from herself or other, and it went to fight the charter amendments, there is a large group of people that might recommend her for beatification.