Saint Louis, Mo. — Cementing its place as the most vicious primary in the state, the race for St. Louis County Executive got even more heated today when incumbent Democrat Charlie Dooley released a new against challenger and county councilmember Steve Stenger.
The ad is intensely critical of a case Stenger worked as a public defender in St. Louis. In 2000, Stenger was one of tens of attorneys ordered by the court to defend several individuals accused of taking part in a massive human sex trafficking racket.
The ad refers to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article at the time, which quotes Stenger as saying that the prostitution ring was “a social unit they chose to live in,” and “a lifestyle they chose.”
Dooley spokesperson Linda Goldstein said the decision to run the ad was difficult, but that the Dooley campaign felt it was important that women voters in the county to know about Stenger’s past.
“Because it’s very apparent that he doesn’t support women although he now says he does,” Goldstein said. “We made the decision to go forward with this message because women need to know who Steve Stenger really is.”
The message is that Stenger blamed the victims in his defense, and that his positions on any women’s issues are more self-serving than genuine. The Dooley campaign also said the ad came as a response to Stenger’s ad blasting Dooley’s management of women’s shelters in the county.
Goldstein said Stenger should have explored another legal defense other than “victim blaming” and that his statements were not ethical.
The Stenger campaign called the ad “despicable.”
“It’s interesting you heard from a Dooley spokesperson,” Stenger told reporters in a press conference held immediately following Dooley’s. “I’m standing here today myself, and Mr. Dooley didn’t have the courage to go forward and speak for himself and his despicable ad.”
Goldstein said Dooley had “a conflict” and could not attend the day’s press event. Stenger told reporters he took no joy in defending Monroe Evans, who was ultimately convicted for his role as a sex trafficker. But he also said that defending Evans was part of a constitutional obligation he had as a public defender.
“I would in no way condone any of [Evans] activities in any way, shape or form.” Stenger said. “Frankly, there was no defense to the case. There simply was no defense…they were convicted very quickly, and there weren’t many arguments anyone could make. The defense of the case wasn’t much of a defense because their actions were despicable.”
Stenger said Dooley’s camp was misrepresenting the context of his statements about the victims.
“It was 14 years ago, and I think they are absolutely lifting from a transcript,” Stenger said. “I think they’ve chosen my words completely out of context.”
Dooley supporters are hoping the ad — which is perhaps the most explosive of the campaign — will curb gains Stenger has had in recent weeks among women voters. He received the endorsement of Planned Parenthood — which also endorsed Dooely — and former Missouri Senator Jean Carnahan, much to the distress of the Dooley campaign.
Stenger supporters say the ad is a sign of desperation and that Dooley was forced to run the piece to stop Stenger’s progress among primary voters. Carnahan joined Stenger at his press conference, saying that the Dooley ad was a complete misrepresentation and a falsehood. Stenger also said that while he has released several ads critical of Dooley, he will not engage in “character attacks” as Dooley has.
Both candidates are expected to be at a candidate forum at the Florissant Valley Community College campus tonight. Dooley only recently accepted the invitation after initially declining, and Goldstein said Dooley would be “happy” to answer press questions about the ad at the event.
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
