In late August 2008, during the Democratic National Convention in Denver, St. Louis Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett took part in a panel discussion that included several up-and-coming African-American politicians from across the nation. She was the star of the show that morning. I remember thinking it would just be a matter of time before she ran for the Missouri House of Representatives or Senate. Her future in politics seemed unlimited, and my thoughts were echoed by other media members and politicos.
I had first heard Triplett speak at the funeral of her grandfather, the late John Bass, in November 2007. Bass was the city’s first African-American comptroller and served as an alderman and state senator. Triplett was eloquent in her tribute in front of a packed St. Elizabeth Mother of John the Baptist Catholic Church in north St. Louis. It was a watershed moment during her successful campaign for alderman.
After winning re-election in 2012, Triplett was poised to become one the city’s most influential politicians. It seemed as though everyone in city politics was a Triplett fan.
Then, suddenly, she announced she was leaving politics to take a job as a consultant with the nonprofit Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis. The death of a homeless woman in the Richmond Heights jail had prompted her decision, she said. Her social-media posts began mentioning more about her faith. Triplett told the Post-Dispatch, “After a lot of self-reflection, and looking inward, I wanted to make sure I was doing everything I can to be of service to the community.”
We didn’t know then that Triplett had reportedly been serving herself with campaign funds.
She apologized last week, after receiving a $100,000 fine from the Missouri Ethics Commission for using almost $20,000 on clothes, spas, meals, student loan, and mortgage payments. She even copped a few bucks for hair extensions. Need was not the cause, she explained. It was greed.
While tapping campaign coffers for personal use is wrong for any politician, it seems even worse that it took place in an urban area with a limited budget. The city of St. Louis gets so little respect that the last thing it needs is one of its elected officials—especially a popular, young African-American woman—getting caught stealing from her own constituents and financial backers.
Was it her faith that drove her away from politics, or was it the fact that she knew the truth was going to come out about her unethical spending? I guess we’ll never know for sure.
If she pays $10,000 of the fine, gets the campaign-finance books in order, and stays out of trouble for two years, this rocky part of her life shall pass. But Triplett also could face criminal charges for her actions.
The real crime was wasting a chance to become a real force in city government—either while serving in Jefferson City or City Hall.
Triplett’s constituents deserved better and so did the entire city.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
