State Senator Angela Mosley shook up the race for St. Louis County Executive last month when she entered at the last minute, filing to run in the Democratic primary on the last day possible.
But some are speculating that Mosley, who represents a swath of North County from Florissant to Spanish Lake to Jennings, has gotten into the race less with the intention of winning and more to make sure someone else doesn’t.
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A county political insider tells SLM that as Mosley filed her paperwork on March 30, she used a four-letter word, quipping that she was doing this to “fuck” with fellow state Senator Brian Williams (D-University City), widely considered the frontrunner in the race for county executive.
Asked about the filing day expletive, Mosley sent SLM a long statement bashing Williams that didn’t address the allegation.
There’s some personal history in the expletive. Williams counts County Councilwoman Shalonda Webb among his supporters. Last September, Webb and Mosley got into a physical altercation at a Bellefontaine Neighbors town hall. The Post-Dispatch published video of the brawl. Webb filed a police report. Mosley sued Webb for personal injury.
Some observers believe Mosley has entered the county executive race as a spoiler for Williams, an assertion that Mosley’s alleged filing-day quip would seem to bolster. County political observers note that Mosley’s name recognition alone should easily earn her a high single-digit share of the vote, potentially pulling support from North County, where both she and Williams represent constituents.
“It is not surprising to me that Brian Williams is now disparaging a woman for entering this race,” Mosley wrote to SLM. “I filed for office because the people of St. Louis County deserve a leader they can trust—someone who answers to them. I am, and have always been, a servant to the community. I answer to the people—not to Republican politicians, not to lobbyists, and not to big businessmen Brian has cozied up to during his tenure in Jefferson City.”
Asked about Mosley’s entry in the race, a Williams’ spokesman tells SLM, “St. Louis County voters are tired of the petty, backdoor politics that have defined county government for too long. They want results and accountability. While others are playing political games, Senator Williams is focused on delivering real results for St. Louis County.”
The third candidate in the race is County Assessor Jake Zimmerman.
Mosley previously shared Zimmerman’s campaign launch video on her Facebook page. On March 19, she also posted “Jake Zimmerman for County Executive.”
As for Mosley’s remarks while filing, Zimmerman tells SLM, “I’ve heard rumors, but it sounds to me like you know more than I do.”
He added that he had no idea Mosley was planning to run. He says that in conversations with voters, he’s hearing strong support for “changing the conversations in the county” and that the electorate is looking for “adult leadership.”
The three will face off in the primary on August 4.
