City-wide. A new style?

Will the battle for President of the Board of Alderman set a new pattern for city-wide elections?

Antonio French is correct that if 6th Ward Aldermen Lewis Reed were to defeat incumbent Board President James Shrewsbury, he would be the first African-American elected as President and the first to unseat a white incumbent in 25 years (the first was former-Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr., who was elected as the city's first African-American circuit clerk in 1982. Bosley was also the first African-American Mayor of St. Louis when he was elected in 1993).

A Reed victory would be another step forward in the progress (if belated) the African-American community has made in taking seats in halls they were once banned from.

While a Reed victory would be historic, many of those watching this election are weighing the endorsements, home territories and campaign organizations more than race.

A candidate's race has not been the single defining characteristic in all city-wide races, but journalists have certainly hedged their bets based on it, and voters have cast their ballots because of it.

Both candidates have received diverse public endorsements from African-American and white politicians. 15th ward alderwoman Jennifer Florida and License Collector Mike McMillan have endorsed Reed and former alderman Irving Clay, Jr., State Senator Maida Coleman and former-State Sen. Pat Dougherty, 5th, have endorsed Shrewsbury. There are Reed signs on Skinker and Shrewsbury signs in the 21st Ward.

The candidates campaign machines are as diverse and-wide ranging as the city itself.

It could be that both candidates hail form wards south of Delmar (mostly, the 6th moves just north to MLK from 18th street to Jefferson downtown) which shifts the debate away from a north versus south battle, but there is plenty of north-side and south-side machinery at work behind the scenes, some working on potentially unfamiliar ground.

This is not to say the old divides don't exist, its more that what is being put forth both in rhetoric and in public displays of support spans the city.

There is an important debate to be had about race and representation. African-America representation on the most powerful board in the city something that must be weighed when approaching the election in this majority African-American city. Reed and Shrewsbury are both outstanding candidates whose race is only one part of the whole, and by which could not be simply defined.

This is a city-wide election that is taking on issues that touch every corner, from Fairgrounds Park to Carondelet Park and even Hudlin Park and the Ballpark in the middle.