This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 18, 2011 - St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay has more than a year before the city's 2013 elections, but he already has accumulated a huge bankroll -- $823,887 -- that could discourage any potential challengers to his expected bid for a fourth term.
Slay's campaign report, filed by Monday's deadline, showed that he'd raised $254,799 during the last three months ($1.3 million overall) and spent only $36,085 ($768,535 since his last election in 2009).
Slay's bank account is more than twice as fat as it was at the same point four years ago ($320,000) when he was contemplating a third term.
Meanwhile, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley has yet to recoup from his 2010 expensive -- and close -- re-election. Dooley reported raising only $51,008.83 during the last quarter, and his bank account had only $39,915.02 as of Sept. 30.
Compare that to County Council president Steve Stenger, D-south St. Louis County, who reported raising $61,475 during the past three months and amassing $117,319.82 in the bank. Stenger has been talked about as a possible 2014 rival to Dooley but notes that he first needs to win re-election in 2012.
The other talked-about potential rival to Dooley within his own party -- new county Assessor Jake Zimmerman -- also hasn't spent much time lately raising money. Zimmerman reported raising only $3,752.91 during the last three months; he has $28,828.25 in the bank.
Back in the city of St. Louis, Comptroller Darlene Green -- who also faces a 2013 election -- didn't raise any money during the past three months, according to her newest campaign-finance report. She has $200,764.76 in the bank.
Aside from Slay, the city official with the fattest bank account is Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly, who will face voters in 2012. Daly hasn't raised much lately, but he still has accumulated $531,863.25 in the bank.
