ST. LOUIS (KMOX/AP) - The next mayor of St. Louis will be Tishaura Jones, as she defeated Alderwoman Cara Spencer in the April 6 election.
The unofficial results were 30,099 to 27,819 in favor of the current St. Louis City Treasurer.
Jones is the first Black woman to be elected mayor of St. Louis.
Our Kevin Killeen was covering the race from the Spencer watch party:
Related
Jones, 49, is a former state representative who has been treasurer since 2013. She has said to tackle the crime issues in St. Louis the “arrest and incarcerate” model of criminal justice has been a failure. She would bring in more social workers, mental health counselors and substance abuse counselors, rather than adding more uniformed officers.
Spencer, 42, has been a member of the Board of Aldermen since 2015. She favors a “focused deterrence” model connecting those at risk of committing violence to self-help resources, but making it clear those who cross into crime will face the consequences.
Incumbent Mayor Lyda Krewson announced in November she would not seek a second term. Krewson, 67, was the city’s first woman mayor.
The city has has also had two Black mayors: Freeman Bosley Jr. (1993 to 1997) and Clarence Harmon (1997 to 2001).
© 2020 KMOX (Audacy). All rights reserved