Mayor Cara Spencer maintains her preference for the St. Louis City Police Department to remain under local control, instead of Governor Mike Kehoe's appointed board. However with the clock running out on the deadline to name those board members, will the city file a lawsuit?
"I'm not anticipating any action on the part of the City before the board is set," Mayor Cara Spencer tells KMOX.
Spencer cites last month's tornado changing the priorities of the City Counselor's office.
"Prior to the tornado we were in the process of evaluating any legal action that the city could take... We've been wholly preoccupied with addressing the needs of our tornado victims."
Mayor Spencer would no rule out a lawsuit down the road.
"Legal action on the part of the city could be the result of how the transition [to board control] is organized and is orchestrated."
The city filed a lawsuit on the final day of the Tishaura Jones administration with Aldermanic President Megan Green. It was admonished and tossed by Judge Matthew T. Schelp. Green eventually refiled her suit in state court without the City.
Last week, Governor Kehoe named Derek Winters, a local election official, to oversee the transition to control of a state appointed board. Mayor Spencer says she and Police Chief Robert Tracy had a productive first conversation.
"Making sure that our local priorities are heard and addressed and prioritized... I think that's going to be the case."
According to the law, the board must be set by Governor Kehoe by law next week.