ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis City voters will select their top picks for Mayor at next week's primary.
KMOX's Total Information A.M. has reached out to the four candidates to talk about issues this week and on Monday, incumbent St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones was first to join.
Mayor Jones looked back at her first term in office, defended her tenure, saying the Mayor's Office 'is not responsible for everything' and changing office every four years could lead to 'a lot of chaos.'
"If I have learned anything in my first term in office, it's that people who haven't run anything, think they can change everything," said Jones. "This job is a lot harder than people think."
"We have a tri-party form of government, meaning any money we spend has to be approve by myself, the comptroller and the president of the Board of Alderman. And there are other departments that I don't control at all."
Among the topics Jones discussed was about complaints of city services, with the city recently taking criticism for its handling of plowing streets in January after a snowstorm.
Jones says the City of St. Louis has had 'these same problems in previous administrations.'
Mayor Jones says the city never plowed residential streets during snowstorms because of the size of city trucks.
"We would damage cars and (the cars) would be buried in snow," said Jones. "It's never been a policy of the city to plow residential streets."
Jones also says when it comes to rough roads, the city does fix potholes within 48 hours after they're reported, but adds aldermen can impact street conditions as well.
"Paving is the responsibility, the financial responsibility, of the alders through their ward capital budgets," said Jones.
Jones also took a dig at one of her opponents, Eighth Ward Alderwoman Cara Spencer, saying she has spent 10 years on the St. Louis Aldermanic Council and 'has had ample of opportunity to address many of the things she complains about in her campaign.'
"I would ask those who support her to ask her for her receipts," said Jones. "I have, I would say, a good body of work that I am proud of that my staff, cabinet, and I have been able to do the last four years."
"Ask Ms. Spencer what has she done in the last 10 years to address any of the things she complains about?"
Jones is facing Spencer, Recorder of Deeds Michael Butler and retired utility executive Andrew Jones.
Spencer joined 'Total Information A.M.' on Wednesday to address recent criticism thrown at her from Mayor Jones.