Francis G. Slay
Encyclopedia
Francis G. Slay is the forty-fifth mayor of St. Louis (from 2001 to present).
in 1973. He received a degree in political science
from Quincy College
and a law degree
from Saint Louis University School of Law
. After graduating from law school
, Slay served as a law clerk
for Judge Paul J. Simon of the Missouri Court of Appeals
for the Eastern District. In 1981, he joined the law firm
of Guilfoil, Petzall, and Shoemake where he specialized in business law and commercial litigation. Slay was elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 1985, representing the 23rd ward. In 1995, he was elected President of the Board of Aldermen, in a contested Democratic Party
primary race with seven candidates. In 1999, he was re-elected without opposition.
mayor Clarence Harmon
and former mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr.
in the Democratic Primary. A great deal of residential re-development took place within the city during Slay's first term in office, including increased redevelopment in the Washington Avenue Loft District. During his first term in office, Slay was also involved with a number of controversial proposals, including construction of a new St. Louis Cardinals
baseball stadium in downtown St. Louis and the redistricting of alderman
ic wards required after the 2000 census
. Slay also supported a controversial plan to redevelop the historic Old Post Office, which included the demolition
of an adjacent historic office building, the Century Building for a parking garage. Slay was re-elected to a second term as mayor in 2005 and to a third term in 2009. He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Mayor Thomas Menino
and New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
. On April 19, 2007 he endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. On June 9, 2008, however, after Clinton ended her campaign, Slay announced his endorsement of Barack Obama
. Slay is a member of the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners
. During his term, St. Louis was named the most dangerous city in the country in 2006 and 2010, as well as the second most dangerous city in 2007. After the release of the 2010 census Slay stated that he was surprised to learn that St. Louis had lost more than 29,000 residents since the year 2000.
Slay and his wife Kim have two children. Francis G. Slay is Catholic and of Lebanese
ancestry.
Education and early career
Slay graduated from St. Mary's High SchoolSt. Mary's High School (St. Louis, Missouri)
St. Mary’s High School is an all-boys' Catholic high school located in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri. A part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, St. Mary’s High School serves young men in the Marianist tradition. - History :St...
in 1973. He received a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Quincy College
Quincy University
Quincy University a private liberal arts Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition. It is located in Quincy, Illinois and currently enrolls around 1,300 students.-History:...
and a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from Saint Louis University School of Law
Saint Louis University School of Law
Saint Louis University School of Law , also known as SLU LAW, is a private American law school located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is one of the professional graduate schools of Saint Louis University. Opened in 1843, it is the first law school west of the Mississippi River. The school has been ABA...
. After graduating from law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
, Slay served as a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
for Judge Paul J. Simon of the Missouri Court of Appeals
Missouri Court of Appeals
The Missouri Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state of Missouri. The court handles most of the appeals from the Missouri Circuit Courts. The court is divided into three districts: Eastern The Missouri Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state...
for the Eastern District. In 1981, he joined the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Guilfoil, Petzall, and Shoemake where he specialized in business law and commercial litigation. Slay was elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 1985, representing the 23rd ward. In 1995, he was elected President of the Board of Aldermen, in a contested Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
primary race with seven candidates. In 1999, he was re-elected without opposition.
Term as Mayor
Slay was successful in his first campaign for mayor in 2001, defeating incumbentIncumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
mayor Clarence Harmon
Clarence Harmon
Clarence Harmon was the forty-fourth mayor of St. Louis , and the city's second African-American mayor.Prior to serving as Mayor, Harmon had served as St. Louis Police Department police chief. He defeated incumbent Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr. in the Democratic Primary in 1997 and went on to win...
and former mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr.
Freeman Bosley, Jr.
Freeman R. Bosley Jr. was the forty-third mayor of St. Louis , and the city's first African-American mayor.-Early life and education:...
in the Democratic Primary. A great deal of residential re-development took place within the city during Slay's first term in office, including increased redevelopment in the Washington Avenue Loft District. During his first term in office, Slay was also involved with a number of controversial proposals, including construction of a new St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
baseball stadium in downtown St. Louis and the redistricting of alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
ic wards required after the 2000 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
. Slay also supported a controversial plan to redevelop the historic Old Post Office, which included the demolition
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
of an adjacent historic office building, the Century Building for a parking garage. Slay was re-elected to a second term as mayor in 2005 and to a third term in 2009. He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition
Mayors Against Illegal Guns is a coalition of over 600 mayors who support a number of gun control initiatives that the group calls "commonsense reforms" to fight illegal gun trafficking and gun violence in the United States...
, a bi-partisan group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Mayor Thomas Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
. On April 19, 2007 he endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. On June 9, 2008, however, after Clinton ended her campaign, Slay announced his endorsement of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. Slay is a member of the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners
St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners
The St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners is responsible for the operation of the St. Louis Police Department. The Board sets policy, makes promotions, holds both closed and open meetings and coordinates with the Chief of Police in providing police services to the citizens...
. During his term, St. Louis was named the most dangerous city in the country in 2006 and 2010, as well as the second most dangerous city in 2007. After the release of the 2010 census Slay stated that he was surprised to learn that St. Louis had lost more than 29,000 residents since the year 2000.
Family
Slay comes from a family that has long been active in St. Louis politics. His father, Francis R. Slay, was affiliated with St. Raymond's Maronite Catholic Cathedral in St. Louis, and was the longtime Democratic Committeeman in the 23rd Ward. He once served as Recorder of Deeds. He died on March 16, 2011, at 83.Slay and his wife Kim have two children. Francis G. Slay is Catholic and of Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
ancestry.