League of Women Voters of St Louis Information Service
Saint Louis City, MO March 3, 2009 Election
	Denise Watson-Wesley Coleman Answers Questions Candidate for Mayor; City of Saint Louis; Democratic Party

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)

I served the Citizens of St. Louis as an attorney since 1985 as Law Clerk, Assistant Public Defender, Assistant Circuit Attorney, legal counsel in the Comptroller's Office, for the Collector of Revenue, Missouri Senate, Board of Aldermen, and Hearing Officer for Nuisance Properties. I have twelve years' teaching experience and in 1979 assisted in the opening of Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School.

I meet the qualifications as provided in Section 2 of Article VII of the Charter of the City of St. Louis.

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

I plan to address and eliminate the audit exceptions documented by Susan Montee State Auditor in the Department of Personnel, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, and Department of Public Service. I will meet with the Comptroller and the Treasurer to discuss ways in which the audit exceptions for their departments can be eliminated. The City is in need of an updated computer system. Addressing these deficiencies will increase the efficiency of the City, save millions of dollars and bring the technology of the City to the 21st century.

I plan to meet with the superintendent, school board members, area principals and state education officials to share with them my vision for a great teacher for every student, high graduation initiative and a science education initiative. I plan to visit the schools to address the students to let them know that their Mayor cares about their success. I will keep an open door policy on a monthly basis to hear from the community.

Concentrated poverty and family instability are conditions that lead to student dropout rate and crime. There needs to be a comprehensive effort to develop teen after school programs and incentives developed to encourage parent participation. These ideas will be discussed with the school community. I will engage the corporate community to assist with motivational incentives for the parents. I will work to enlarge the mentor program to include high school students as well.

While addressing the educational crisis, the crime crisis will simultaneously be addressed. If students are in school and in after school programs, crime will decrease. I will meet with the police chief to discuss ways in which we can improve public safety and decrease crime.

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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: February 14, 2009 06:34
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