Cara Spencer was inaugurated as mayor of the city of St. Louis today, saying that she is excited to roll up her sleeves and work hard every day on behalf of the city. Spencer began her remarks to the hundreds of people gathered at City Hall by saying, “Welcome to our city’s next chapter.”
Spencer said that her administration would focus on having an open-door policy, delivering basic city services, bolstering public safety, and creating an “inclusive economy,” saying specifically she wanted to see more development in North St. Louis.
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She made no specific policy pronouncements, but did foreshadow what appear to be her policy priorities, including figuring out what to do with the windfall Rams settlement money and reforming the city charter, which she called “archaic.” She also specifically thanked previous whistleblowers from the Refuse and Building divisions and the city jail, saying that their concerns would be addressed.
Citing her own background as a mathematician, Spencer said that under her leadership the city would better “harness the power of data to make decisions—-and get better results.” She also referenced the scourge of pedestrian deaths at the hands of drivers, promising to make streets safer.
Referring to her own son, Cy, who was seated beside her, Spencer said that she was hoping to ensure St. Louis was a place where all kids, “from the Southside to the Northside,” could grow up, stay, and raise their own families. Spencer, an avid cyclist, tied herself to the city’s history, recounting a bike ride she took a week before the election to the North City cemetery where her grandparents are buried not far from Dred Scott and James Eads.
Seated behind her as she spoke were Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, as well as former St. Louis mayors Francis Slay, Clarence Harmon, and Vince Schoemehl. During her inauguration speech, Spencer said she would welcome “advice and counsel” from now-former mayor Tishaura Jones, who was not in attendance.
Following the address, Spencer took questions from the media. One of the first was about whether she would pursue the lawsuit filed on the final day of the Jones administration seeking to block state takeover of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. “I really support local control of our police,” Spencer said. She added that she was being briefed on the lawsuit later that afternoon and that she’d speak more specifically on it Wednesday.
She promised that other specifics would be forthcoming and that initiatives related to combating reckless driving could be expected in the coming weeks. She said she’d have specific policies related to oversight of the long troubled City Justice Center “very soon.”
Spencer’s newly named cabinet members were among the other elected leaders behind her as she spoke, and that included a handful staying over from Jones’ tenure. Policy director Casey Millburg and Chief Diversity Office Johnathan Strong are both retaining roles in the Spencer administration. Deputy communications director Rasmus Jorgensen is also sticking around.
The festivities at City Hall yesterday also included a morning swearing-in of the half of the Board of Aldermen that was up for re-election this past cycle. Many ran unopposed, and the incumbents who did face opposition all won. The sole new face on the board is Matt Devoti, who was with his wife and kids for his first day. He replaces the outgoing Joe Vollmer. Comptroller Donna Baringer was sworn in directly before Spencer.
You may also enjoy this episode of The 314 Podcast: Mayor Cara Spencer reflects on first eight months in office
