In Missouri politics, familial relationships often pave the way for positions of power — a trend clearly visible in the case of figures like St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and ex-U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay. Nonetheless, the Walton family in northern St. Louis County has taken ‘dynasty politics’ to the extreme. In the recent Democratic primary, an astonishing seven Waltons have thrown their hats into the ring for a total of nine electoral positions.
Heading the Walton tribe is Elbert Walton Jr., an ex-state representative and subsequent disbarred lawyer who’s notorious for his numerous scandals over the past half-century. He’s currently in a three-way contest for Democratic committeeman in Norwood Township and is the rudder steering his family’s many political campaigns. Walton, a political relic of the St. Louis scene since the 1970s, devoted his efforts to the representation of the rapidly expanding Black population in North County following his move there in the 1990s.
Leading the Walton family’s electoral charge is the re-election campaign of one of Walton’s offspring, State Sen. Angela Walton Mosley of Florissant, and the resurgence bid of Rochelle Walton Gray, a former County Councilwoman from Black Jack. Gray is endeavoring to depose Council Chairwoman Shalonda Webb of North County, who conquered Gray in the 2020 Democratic primary before tasting victory in the general election.
Competing with Mosley for the Senate nomination is State Rep. Chantelle Nickson-Clark of North County, while two of Mosley’s daughters are going head-to-head for the state House, each facing a pair of Democratic primary competitors. Jay Mosley is eyeing the position of Florissant Township Democratic committeeman, and his more ambitious spouse, Senator Mosley, is aiming to unseat committeewoman Mary Elizabeth Dorsey.
In an issue of blatant nepotism, the seventh Walton-related contender is Yvonne Gray — sister to Rep. Gray — who’s attempting to dethrone incumbent Gwen Reed in the Spanish Lake Township committeewoman’s election. Supporting such endeavors, Walton dispenses political support to other North County prospects through two of his political committees.
Kem Smith, one of the competitors of Janay Mosley, criticized the Walton family’s monopoly in local politics. In his eyes, the Walton hegemony resembled a North County royalty, and the recurrent state legislative seats occupied by the family members were nothing short of a ruse to evade the legal limits for terms in the House and Senate.
Despite the accusations, Walton, who resides in Moline Acres, defended himself by stating he was ‘not a boss at all,’ acknowledging involvement in his family’s rallies but denying any influence on their actions once in office. However, his interest in the St. Louis County Council’s controversial issues has been undeniably evident.
In a 2017 council meeting, Walton accused all five white council members of conspiring to shoot down a bill by Rochelle, his daughter. This bill had the potential to ensure absolute control over the redevelopment of the Jamestown Mall site for the council. It was one of many instances that speak volumes about Walton’s contentious past and present in politics.
During his tenure in the House representing a St. Louis district (1979-1992), Walton became infamous as a vocal maverick, regularly generating friction with fellow Democrats. He subsequently invited further controversy when, around 15 years ago, he acted as legal counsel to the Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District. The institution later faced criticism due to claims of financial mismanagement by the state auditor, among others.
In 2019, Walton was disbarred by the Missouri Supreme Court. This decision was based on the court’s Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel finding a likely occurrence of Walton’s professional misconduct. Moreover, Walton had run afoul of the law on previous occasions — one notable incident being an 18-month license suspension in 2017 due to his questionable conduct during a 2013 bankruptcy case.
In 1975, Walton first attempted to enter politics, running for the position of St. Louis aldermanic president, but was unsuccessful. He bounced back by securing a narrow victory over an incumbent state representative affiliated with then-influential state Sen. J. B. ‘Jet’ Banks, D-St. Louis, in 1978.
From 2001 to 2008, Walton’s wife, Juanita Head Walton — a former St. Louis School Board member — served in the Missouri House until she was obligated to step down due to term limits. The Waltons’ marriage eventually ended in divorce, and Juanita passed away in 2016.
Succeeding Juanita in the House was her stepdaughter, Rochelle Walton Gray, who transitioned to the County Council in 2016 when she reached her own term-limit ceiling. Her husband, Alan Gray, took the baton from her and now also faces the possible end of his term due to limits.
Arguing with Walton’s dominance, Jennings Councilman Terry Wilson — Walton’s current political adversary for Norwood Township committeeman — claimed that the Waltons took family politics ‘to another level.’ But for Wilson, the power still rests with the citizens who vote — they hold the final power.
As rich and intricate as Waltons’ web of political aspirations may seem, the general public remains the ultimate judge. Citizens’ votes are the critical factor that determines who occupies these coveted political roles, regardless of the candidates’ familial ties or powerful networks.
This tale of the Walton family serves a stark reminder of the astounding potential of dynastic politics, and that while the individuals in office may change, the reins of influence often remain within the same political families. Yet, in the end, it is the democratic process and the will of the electorate that truly determine the holders of power.
The Walton Family: The Embodiment of Nepotism and Democrat Dysfunction appeared first on Real News Now.
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