The 21st Ward contest has heated up more than any other alderman race this election, so far.

Valentine Day, challenger Antonio French issued a statement announcing he had filed a police report against Ronald King, husband of incumbent Alderwoman Bennice Jones King, alleging physical threats. Six days later, Alderwoman King’s campaign sent out a statement alleging French is a “Tax Scofflaw” who has not paid City earnings taxes, has no business licenses, and his residence is about to be sold at auction for back taxes. Then French came back swinging yesterday with a "People who live in glass houses" release and flyer regarding taxes owed on the house of Cizerine Ford, King's mother, and King steering block grant money to her mother's nabe association 1996-2001. French's flyer doesn't say who produced it, a violation of Section 130.031.8 RSMo, a small ethics lapse compared to the record of MEC intrigue he's achieved.

Antonio French and Fernandel French have repeatedly ignored ethics laws, MEC orders/fines, and kept Sheriff’s deputies busy for years trying to serve summonses. Reports are plagued with lateness (a year or more), inconsistencies in committee-related addresses and the committee’s name, required information often missing. Paul McKee and the VP of an anti-union company were among the donors. Myrtle French remained deputy treasurer of their ward committee after Fernandel French had been appointed conservator of her estate and she was
placed in long term care facility. Antonio French’s businesses have benefited from his political activities.

April 2000, Fernando French filed 21st Ward Regular Democratic Organization for Committeewoman Myrtle French, his mother. The committee
address and his treasurer address were both 4524 Athlone, the committeewoman’s home. Aug 2000 Primary, Fernando French (47% 753 votes) ran for 21st Ward Committeeman and lost to incumbent Arthur “Chink” Washington (53% 864 votes).

He also failed at campaign finance reporting, did not file any reports for the club in 2000.  March 2001 Primary, 21st Ward Alderwoman Bennice Jones King (47% 456 votes) was defeated by Melinda Long (53% 636 votes). Antonio French (grandson of Myrtle French, his legal guardian
after death of his mother, and Fernandel French’s nephew) was Long’s campaign manager.

May 2001, Antonio French replaced Fernandel French as treasurer for the ward club. He failed to file any campaign finance reports for 2001 and 2002. He was also an employee-lobbyist for Missouri Dept. of Corrections and failed to submit a timely May 2001 lobbyist report with MEC. He filed it in July. MEC fined him $420 in late fees, which he refused to pay.

March 2003 Primary, there was a recall vote against Alderwoman Melinda Long (62.65% Yes, 37.35% No) led by former Alderwoman King. In the April 8 Special Election to fill the vacancy, Fernandel French was the Democratic Party’s nominee. He came in a distant second (25% 465 votes) to King (39% 712 votes), Independent; with Long third (19% 353 votes), Independent; and L.L. Primer fourth, (16% 295 votes), Independent. French filed no campaign committee.

April 2003 General Election, nonpartisan at-large Board of Education races, Antonio French sought one of two three-year term positions. French came in a distant third (11% 5706 votes) to winners former Mayor Vince Schoemehl (33% 16,931 votes) and Darnetta Clinkscale (27% 13,524), of the Black Business Roundtable.

May 2003, MEC heard Case A3153 against Antonio French, treasurer for 21st Ward Regular Democratic Organization. Counts I and II: failure to file 2000 July and Oct Quarter Reports. Count III: failure to report a $1250 contribution on 2000 Nov 2 from Democratic State Committee. Count IV: failure to file 2000 8 Days Before Election Report. Count V: failure to file 30 Days Before Election Report. Count VI: failure to file 2001 Jan Quarter Report. Count VII: failure to file any reports in 2002. Count VIII: failure to report a total of $1900 received 2002 Sept 29 and Nov 3 from Missouri State Democratic Committee. July 10, 2003 MEC issued a ruling in the case against French, fined him $1000 per count, $8000 total, and ordered him to file all delinquent reports within 30 days.

June 17, 2003 MEC v. Antonio French was filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court (Case 2103AC-16387). Aug 6 MEC received ten delinquent reports for the 21st Ward from Antonio French. He failed to file any other reports for 2003.

Oct 21, 2003 MEC v. Antonio French (Case 2103AC-16387) was dismissed without prejudice after failure to serve summonses.  In reports received Aug 6, 2003, according to the Cover Pages, and contrary to state law, the ward committee was also functioning as candidate committee for Fernandel French, candidate for alderman.

March 11, 2004 MEC held a hearing on Case A3160 against Fernandel French and ordered him to pay $1000 in fines. Sept 24, 2004 MEC v. Antonio French (Case 22044-02245) and MEC v. Fernandel French (Case 22044-02247) and were filed in St. Louis City Circuit Court. Jan. 19, 2005 the cases were dismissed without prejudice after failure to serve summonses.

Jan 27, 2005 MEC forwarded Case A4202 against 21st Ward Regular Democratic Organization, Treasurer Antonio French to the Missouri Attorney General.

April 7, 2005 MEC received a committee amendment from Antonio French adding Myrtle French as deputy treasurer and noting new bank account under name “21st Ward Democrats”. Also that day, MEC received eight delinquent reports from Antonio French and April Quarter but failed to file any other reports in 2005.

Aug 26, 2005 Fernandel French was appointed guardian/conservator for Myrtle French (0522-PR00678) and she was placed in an extended care facility. "Respondent is totally incapacitated and totally disabled by reason of respondent's mental condition and is unable to care for self and financial resources."  She remained as the deputy treasurer of record for the ward club.

Feb 3, 2006 MEC received Limited Activity Reports for July and Oct 2005 Quarters from Antonio French. He filed timely Limited Activity reports for 2006 April and July Quarters but failed to file any other reports in 2006.

In June 2006, Myrtle French became a party to a class action suit against Merck Co. (0622-CC05070 St. Louis City Circuit Court) which was transferred to federal court (Kincaid et al v. Merck & Co Inc et al - 2:2006cv11442), aka the Vioxx Case.

Feb. 8, 2007 Myrtle French died. April 20, Antonio French contacted MEC to remove her as deputy treasurer. In July, Antonio French renamed the committee The Myrtle L. French 21st Ward Organization.

July 23, 2007 Missouri Division of Employment Security received a judgment for $400 plus costs against AD French & Associates (0716-MC02595).

Aug 3, 2007 MEC v. Fernandel French was filed in Cole County Circuit Court (Case 07AC-AC01335) for collection of $1000 and other relief relating to MEC Case A3160.

March 11, 2008 the case was dismissed without prejudice after failure to serve five summonses on the defendant.

Aug 3, 2007 MEC v. Antonio French was filed in Cole County Circuit Court (Case 07AC-AC01336) for collection of $8,420 and other relief relating to late filing of 2001 May lobbyist report by Antonio French. On fifth summons, French was served. 2008 March 28, a hearing was held on the case and MEC received a Default Judgment against French for $8420 plus interest and cost. Case.net does not show the judgment being paid.

April 30, 2008 Distribution of Myrtle French Estate in St. Louis City Circuit Court (0522-PR00678) included $145,408.39 to Fernandel French and
$48,469.47 to Antonio French. Earlier, the Court had disallowed $1,009.38 in reimbursement for Charter Communication expenses. According to City records, 4524 Athlone remains in the late Myrtle French's name and taxes have not been paid for 2006, 2007, 2008. A credit card in Myrtle French’s name went unpaid, resulting in a suit (0622-AC06339-01) and two garnishment orders to collect $1,041.68.

July 12, 2008 MEC received a committee amendment from Antonio French and new Treasurer Dr. Jasenka Benac, same address as Antonio French and committee, Benac replacing French as treasurer. Benac is an engineer who works for Clean Earth Technologies.

Donors that stand out: April 2001- $1500 from Alderman Freeman Bosley’s 3rd Ward Regular Democratic Organization; $200 from Dougherty for Senate and another $1595 on “various dates” from either Dougherty’s committee or an oxymoron, itemized contributions from unidentified party/parties.According to Dougherty’s report, his committee made a $200 contribution to French’s ward organization and paid French $1200 as campaign staff.

April 2003- $1000 from Civic Service Inc. (GOP fundraiser Roy Pfautch). 2004 30 Days After Primary- $700 from “Amendment 1, St. Louis MO”; $3500 from Claire McCaskill for Governor, no address. 2005 8 Days Before Primary- $1000 from VHS Partners (Paul McKee). 2005 30 Days After Primary- $1000 from Anheuser Busch; $1000 from Re-Elect Slay for Mayor. 2006 Oct- $1250 and $250 received Aug. 8th with no name/address of donors, noting “info requested from bank”. 2007 April- $10,000 from Committee to Elect Reed. 2007 Oct- $1800 raised on Dec. 18 from four donors- $675 from DKW Construction; $675 from S.M. Wilson & Co.; $275 from Louis Schreier (VP, AMF Electrical
Contractors, “Leaders in promoting Free Enterprise, Merit Shop, Constitutional Government” with a “Christian world view” ); $175 from Pasta House Company. 2008 April Quarter Report- $700 from Clayco.

Expenses that stand out: Jan 2001- $700 reimbursement to AD French and Associates (Antonio French, owner); $1650 to Myrtle French for miscellaneous and “field workers”. April 2001- $165 to AD French & Associates and another $500 to the business as reimbursement. 2004 30 Days After Primary- $120 to Antonio French as campaign supervisor, $200 to Public Defender Newspaper (Pub Def LLC) (Antonio French,
owner) for campaign ads; $25 to, oddly, “Treasurer St. Louis County” for maps.

2005 April- $517.62 to Dobbs, $125 to Laurice Neal Auto Care, $31.92 C & C Auto for auto repair; and $600 to Myrtle French for campaign supplies and administrative expenses. 2005 30 Days After Primary- $400 to Worldwide Program Development for “adm./clerical” and $700 to Myrtle French for truck rental, gas, wood. 2006 Oct- $750 for “Election Day Activities” listed as Expenditures of $100 or Less. 2007 April- $8,600 to KTVI for TV ads. 2008 April- 16 bank fees totaling $229.

A very peculiar contrib/expense came in 2004 Oct- $1050 from Public Defender Publishing and $1750 total to Antonio French for “donation to community newspaper”.

Jan 2, 2009 Antonio French filed for 21st Ward Alderman. On or about that date, he converted 21stWard.org from ward site to campaign site. He added the disclaimer "Paid for by the Committee to Elect Antonio French Dr. Jasenka Benac French, Treasurer" and informed donors to make checks out to the committee name and send to his/ward committee address. Feb 3, 2009 MEC received filing for Committee to Elect Antonio French from Treasurer Dr. Jasenka Benac French, same address as ward. No reports yet from French’s ward committee in 2009, including any filing for treasurer’s new name.

As ACC previously reported, 25th Ward alderman candidate Travis Reems paid Antonio French’s candidate committee for web work instead of one of French’s businesses.

Previous story on Antonio French’s candidate committee filing here.

See Attachments for Antonio French’s press release, Bennice Jones King press release, abstract of French-21st Ward reports/cases/elections.