League of Women Voters of St Louis Information Service
Saint Louis City, MO April 7, 2009 Election
	Maida Coleman Answers Questions Candidate for Mayor; City of Saint Louis

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Saint Louis and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What are your Qualifications for Office? (50 word limit)

During my tenure as State Senator and Representative, I've also served as Minority Floor Leader. I've worked as Director within the Secretary of State and at the St. Louis Housing Authority. My legislative background includes successful passage of bills in education, crime prevention and control, healthcare and the economy.

2. What plans do you have to address your top three priorities? (50 word limit)

1. My first initiative is to work on our local economy and bring jobs to St. Louis by investing in infrastructure and working with private and public partnerships in redevelopment. I will invest in infrastructure, increasing performance and administration of our schools and will work to help small businesses grow and flourish + all of which will directly contribute in creating jobs. In an increasingly competitive economy, St. Louis's ability to stimulate growth will take a detail-specific, comprehensive plan.

2. Our city ranks in the top 5 most dangerous cities in the country. Assaults, robberies, murders and violent crime surged 20% between 2004 and 2005, and the national perception of St. Louis as a dangerous city is negatively impacting tourism, companies locating here, and threatening our safety. I will increase the number of officers and increase their salaries. I'll establish a collaboration between police safety workshops and crime alert bulletins.

3. I will develop and implement a sound, accountable educational system. My plan will invest in education at all levels, yielding dividends to our city. Charter schools can be a promising alternative to our current public education struggles, but there must be a balance. I will create a thorough and accountable educational system best utilizing our tax dollars. It is critical that we work together as citizens, parents and with the board of education to improve and maintain our public schools.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits apply for each question. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 22, 2009 13:21
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