City Wins Latest Round in Prop R Legal Battle
Though the measure was passed in 2022, the package of redistricting and ethics reforms that were known as “Proposition R” has remained in legal limbo. The charter change was proposed and supported by Reform St. Louis, whose spokesperson Jami Cox Antwi has now joined the Board of Aldermen. The lawsuit that halted implementation was originally filed by former aldermen Jack Coatar, Marlene Davis, Carol Howard, and John Collins-Muhammad has been slowly moving toward a resolution. As previously reported in St. Louis Magazine, Ald. Laura Keys signed on as lead plaintiff in the case, after the original plaintiff left the board.
On Monday, June 30th, Judge Joseph Whyte found in favor of the city’s motion for summary judgement. In his decision, the judge found that Ald. Keys failed to show injury and therefore lacked the legal standing needed to challenge the reforms. This also means that the judge will not consider the merits of complaints raised in the lawsuit.
This paves the way for the reforms to take effect, including conflict of interest rules that have been widely panned by numerous aldermen. Many alders have complained that the conflict of interest portion of the law is excessive. As is, city aldermen fill out annual state and local personal financial disclosures, though they are significantly simplified, compared to what was envisioned by Proposition R. The proposition also barred aldermen from voting on issues where there may be a conflict of interest, something that was not previously forbidden under local ordinance. As noted in St. Louis Magazine’s reporting, the city has not been attempting to enforce the bolstered personal financial disclosure requirements. It is unclear if this court order will alter the city’s attitude towards enforcing the expanded requirements.
The mayor’s office and Ald. Keys were contacted for comment, but neither responded.
