This Week: Focus On The Comptroller Race

For the first time in many years, the race for St. Louis City’s Comptroller is shaping up to be competitive. Throughout the week, we’ll focus on the race for what is one of the most powerful roles in city government. As the city’s primary financial watchdog, the Comptroller plays a key role in municipal operations, especially in an era of growing public concern over corruption.

While the mayoral contest is certainly this year’s banner affair, the outcome of the contest for Comptroller will also have a significant impact on important municipal policy decisions. The Comptroller serves on the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, often casting the tie-breaking vote between the Mayor and the President of the Board of Aldermen on critical budget matters. This gives the office influence that goes far beyond the office’s core bookkeeping role.

Another essential responsibility of the Comptroller is overseeing the city’s credit rating. Years of declining ratings, which increased borrowing costs, have given way to gradual improvement. This recovery is due, in part, to efforts by the Krewson and Jones administrations to rebuild the city’s reserve fund, which had been depleted during Francis Slay’s long tenure as city mayor. These improvements to the city’s credit rating will yield long term fiscal benefits to the city.

We reached out to all three campaigns and asked them to take their pitches directly to our readers. Thankfully, all three agreed to our request. You will be able to hear from them in their own words. Over the course of the week, we will be publishing OpEds from all three candidates. They are being published in the order received.

First we will hear from incumbent Comptroller Darlene Green. A longtime citywide official, Green will argue why voters should keep her in office. Green is depending on years of service and competency to convince voters to elect her to another term. However, her challengers believe it’s time for change. Recent years have brought significant shifts to the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor’s office, and they see the Comptroller’s office as next in line for change.

Between the two challengers, former State Representative Donna Baringer is probably most familiar to city voters. Donna held her southwest city seat until hitting term limits. Prior to that, Ms. Baringer served as a member of the Board of Aldermen for 14 years. This means she has over 20 years of experience representing city voters, and she has deep roots and connections in the city’s vote-rich southwestern neighborhoods.

The second challenger, Celeste Metcalfe, is less well-known but brings extensive experience within city government, having worked for the Recorder of Deeds, License Collector, and Comptroller offices. Metcalfe also worked for the state of Missouri under former Governor Jay Nixon. Most recently, she has led the accounting firm Precise Financial Management.

This year’s Comptroller race promises to be the most competitive in recent memory. Stay tuned throughout the week to hear directly from the candidates as they make their case for your vote.