Archive for February 2025

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum talk with state Rep. Mark Boyko on his first impressions of serving in the Missouri House, including his criticism of Republican education plans.

A Democrat, Boyko represents Missouri’s 90th District, which takes in St. Louis County municipalities like Kirkwood. He was elected to his first term late last year.

Boyko is opposed to providing state funds for Education Savings Accounts, which provide scholarships to K-12 public and private schools. Boyko said similar programs either ballooned in cost or prompted private schools to raise tuition.

Boyko also discussed:

• How his experience on the Kirkwood School Board prepared him to enter the Missouri House. While Boyko is still serving on the board, he’s not running for reelection. (Members of the House and Senate are allowed to still serve on school boards.)  
• Gov. Mike Kehoe’s desire to overhaul the state K-12 foundation formula. Kehoe acknowledged rewriting the nearly 20-year-old formula will be controversial, which is why he’s planning to put together a group to look into the matter.
• With Democrats outnumbered in the House and Republicans not fighting among themselves as much as usual, Boyko acknowledged that his caucus is having a difficult time stopping legislation it opposes — such as a plan to place a gubernatorial board in charge of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Boyko is a lawyer who represents clients who bring suit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, better known as ERISA.

Last year was Boyko’s second bid at running for the Missouri General Assembly. In 2016, he unsuccessfully ran for the 15th Senate District seat representing a portion of St. Louis County.

Boyko ended up beating Scott Mathewson by more than 20 percentage points last year to represent the 90th District. While Republicans used to hold that district consistently in the 2000s and for part of the 2010s, it’s become much more Democratic over the past few years.

Accounting took Celeste Metcalf to Hollywood. She did not expect it would also lead her to run for political office.

Born and raised in St. Louis, she moved away to work in the entertainment industry after getting a Master in Business Administration from Washington University.

“My God, that’s the most fun I’ve had being an accountant,” she said recently on the Politically Speaking podcast. “I worked for Fox Studios, I worked for Warner Brothers, I worked for Sony, I worked for Disney, I worked for Black Entertainment Television.”

When her father died, Metcalf came home and set up a small accounting business and took on a variety of projects. Some of her contracts were with the City of St. Louis, including the recorder of deeds and license collector offices, and the Board of Public Service.

“I’ve already seen the accounting infrastructure issues that are inherent in this in the city’s accounting system. So I’ve been wanting to fix those,” said Metcalf, a certified public accountant. “It just never made sense to quit my job to go after an elected position that I may not win.”

But in late 2023, a series of articles in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch caught her attention. The reporting documented delays in the city paying its bills, something Comptroller Darlene Green blamed on a lack of training on a new accounting system.

“That is insane to me,” Metcalf said. “It doesn’t take an accountant to write a check and pay their bills. It takes a normal breathing person who’s interested in taking care of business to pay their bills. And so when I saw that, I said, ‘I’ve got to do something.’”

Working for the city on various projects laid bare some of the problems with its accounting infrastructure, Metcalf said. Sometimes, she would get information too late for it to be useful, she said. Other times, the city had no mechanism to get her the information at all.

“Those were the things that incentivized me to even consider this,” she said of running for office. “But like I said when the article came out in the newspaper and said, not only are we not paying our bills, the comptroller is not even coming to work – that said to me, you’re not even committed to this city.”

Green acknowledged to the Post-Dispatch that she often worked remotely but said she was always in the office when required. She did not explain the absences the paper noted.

Although Metcalf is a certified public accountant, she has never managed a large accounting firm — the comptroller’s office has about 80 employees when fully staffed. But she does have experience overseeing large pots of money. In 2009, the State of Missouri tapped her to oversee its $525 million allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus package designed to help the economy find its footing after the 2008 financial crash.

Rail, the river and the film industry

In addition to touting her experience and credentials, Metcalf’s website lists a number of strategic initiatives she believes the city should consider, including developing focal points along the Mississippi River and boosting investment in high-speed rail.

“The comptroller’s role is not not just being financial, but being the business-minded person that helps the city progress forward,” Metcalf said.

Another motivation for her focus on economic development: new sources of revenue.

“I’ve been thinking about ways we can increase revenue so we can get rid of the earnings tax,” Metcalf said. “If other cities are not charging that, it makes St Louis a difficult place to want to come to and work.”

The tax, a 1% levy on the salaries of people who live or work in the city, makes up a third of the city’s general revenue.

A first-time politician

Metcalf said her transition from “bean counter” to candidate has opened her eyes to how political factors influence decision-making in City Hall. She said St. Louis’ decline has happened in part because some leaders have allowed it.

“It’s troubling that people can be OK with a decline simply because of familiarity,” she said.

But Metcalf said she has been heartened by how positively people respond to the fact that she is a certified public accountant.

“I’ve had a few people say, ‘Wow, what a novel idea, a CPA running an accounting office,’” she said.

Editor’s note: Darlene Green and Donna Baringer appeared on Politically Speaking last week.

Accounting took Celeste Metcalf to Hollywood. She did not expect it would also lead her to run for political office.

Born and raised in St. Louis, she moved away to work in the entertainment industry after getting a Master in Business Administration from Washington University.

“My God, that’s the most fun I’ve had being an accountant,” she said recently on the Politically Speaking podcast. “I worked for Fox Studios, I worked for Warner Brothers, I worked for Sony, I worked for Disney, I worked for Black Entertainment Television.”

When her father died, Metcalf came home and set up a small accounting business and took on a variety of projects. Some of her contracts were with the City of St. Louis, including the recorder of deeds and license collector offices, and the Board of Public Service.

“I’ve already seen the accounting infrastructure issues that are inherent in this in the city’s accounting system. So I’ve been wanting to fix those,” said Metcalf, a certified public accountant. “It just never made sense to quit my job to go after an elected position that I may not win.”

But in late 2023, a series of articles in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch caught her attention. The reporting documented delays in the city paying its bills, something Comptroller Darlene Green blamed on a lack of training on a new accounting system.

“That is insane to me,” Metcalf said. “It doesn’t take an accountant to write a check and pay their bills. It takes a normal breathing person who’s interested in taking care of business to pay their bills. And so when I saw that, I said, ‘I’ve got to do something.’”

Working for the city on various projects laid bare some of the problems with its accounting infrastructure, Metcalf said. Sometimes, she would get information too late for it to be useful, she said. Other times, the city had no mechanism to get her the information at all.

“Those were the things that incentivized me to even consider this,” she said of running for office. “But like I said when the article came out in the newspaper and said, not only are we not paying our bills, the comptroller is not even coming to work – that said to me, you’re not even committed to this city.”

Green acknowledged to the Post-Dispatch that she often worked remotely but said she was always in the office when required. She did not explain the absences the paper noted.

Although Metcalf is a certified public accountant, she has never managed a large accounting firm — the comptroller’s office has about 80 employees when fully staffed. But she does have experience overseeing large pots of money. In 2009, the State of Missouri tapped her to oversee its $525 million allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus package designed to help the economy find its footing after the 2008 financial crash.

Rail, the river and the film industry

In addition to touting her experience and credentials, Metcalf’s website lists a number of strategic initiatives she believes the city should consider, including developing focal points along the Mississippi River and boosting investment in high-speed rail.

“The comptroller’s role is not not just being financial, but being the business-minded person that helps the city progress forward,” Metcalf said.

Another motivation for her focus on economic development: new sources of revenue.

“I’ve been thinking about ways we can increase revenue so we can get rid of the earnings tax,” Metcalf said. “If other cities are not charging that, it makes St Louis a difficult place to want to come to and work.”

The tax, a 1% levy on the salaries of people who live or work in the city, makes up a third of the city’s general revenue.

A first-time politician

Metcalf said her transition from “bean counter” to candidate has opened her eyes to how political factors influence decision-making in City Hall. She said St. Louis’ decline has happened in part because some leaders have allowed it.

“It’s troubling that people can be OK with a decline simply because of familiarity,” she said.

But Metcalf said she has been heartened by how positively people respond to the fact that she is a certified public accountant.

“I’ve had a few people say, ‘Wow, what a novel idea, a CPA running an accounting office,’” she said.

Editor’s note: Darlene Green and Donna Baringer appeared on Politically Speaking last week.

Accounting took Celeste Metcalf to Hollywood. She did not expect it would also lead her to run for political office.

Born and raised in St. Louis, she moved away to work in the entertainment industry after getting a Master in Business Administration from Washington University.

“My God, that’s the most fun I’ve had being an accountant,” she said recently on the Politically Speaking podcast. “I worked for Fox Studios, I worked for Warner Brothers, I worked for Sony, I worked for Disney, I worked for Black Entertainment Television.”

When her father died, Metcalf came home and set up a small accounting business and took on a variety of projects. Some of her contracts were with the City of St. Louis, including the recorder of deeds and license collector offices, and the Board of Public Service.

“I’ve already seen the accounting infrastructure issues that are inherent in this in the city’s accounting system. So I’ve been wanting to fix those,” said Metcalf, a certified public accountant. “It just never made sense to quit my job to go after an elected position that I may not win.”

But in late 2023, a series of articles in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch caught her attention. The reporting documented delays in the city paying its bills, something Comptroller Darlene Green blamed on a lack of training on a new accounting system.

“That is insane to me,” Metcalf said. “It doesn’t take an accountant to write a check and pay their bills. It takes a normal breathing person who’s interested in taking care of business to pay their bills. And so when I saw that, I said, ‘I’ve got to do something.’”

Working for the city on various projects laid bare some of the problems with its accounting infrastructure, Metcalf said. Sometimes, she would get information too late for it to be useful, she said. Other times, the city had no mechanism to get her the information at all.

“Those were the things that incentivized me to even consider this,” she said of running for office. “But like I said when the article came out in the newspaper and said, not only are we not paying our bills, the comptroller is not even coming to work – that said to me, you’re not even committed to this city.”

Green acknowledged to the Post-Dispatch that she often worked remotely but said she was always in the office when required. She did not explain the absences the paper noted.

Although Metcalf is a certified public accountant, she has never managed a large accounting firm — the comptroller’s office has about 80 employees when fully staffed. But she does have experience overseeing large pots of money. In 2009, the State of Missouri tapped her to oversee its $525 million allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus package designed to help the economy find its footing after the 2008 financial crash.

Rail, the river and the film industry

In addition to touting her experience and credentials, Metcalf’s website lists a number of strategic initiatives she believes the city should consider, including developing focal points along the Mississippi River and boosting investment in high-speed rail.

“The comptroller’s role is not not just being financial, but being the business-minded person that helps the city progress forward,” Metcalf said.

Another motivation for her focus on economic development: new sources of revenue.

“I’ve been thinking about ways we can increase revenue so we can get rid of the earnings tax,” Metcalf said. “If other cities are not charging that, it makes St Louis a difficult place to want to come to and work.”

The tax, a 1% levy on the salaries of people who live or work in the city, makes up a third of the city’s general revenue.

A first-time politician

Metcalf said her transition from “bean counter” to candidate has opened her eyes to how political factors influence decision-making in City Hall. She said St. Louis’ decline has happened in part because some leaders have allowed it.

“It’s troubling that people can be OK with a decline simply because of familiarity,” she said.

But Metcalf said she has been heartened by how positively people respond to the fact that she is a certified public accountant.

“I’ve had a few people say, ‘Wow, what a novel idea, a CPA running an accounting office,’” she said.

Editor’s note: Darlene Green and Donna Baringer appeared on Politically Speaking last week.

Accounting took Celeste Metcalf to Hollywood. She did not expect it would also lead her to run for political office.

Born and raised in St. Louis, she moved away to work in the entertainment industry after getting a Master in Business Administration from Washington University.

“My God, that’s the most fun I’ve had being an accountant,” she said recently on the Politically Speaking podcast. “I worked for Fox Studios, I worked for Warner Brothers, I worked for Sony, I worked for Disney, I worked for Black Entertainment Television.”

When her father died, Metcalf came home and set up a small accounting business and took on a variety of projects. Some of her contracts were with the City of St. Louis, including the recorder of deeds and license collector offices, and the Board of Public Service.

“I’ve already seen the accounting infrastructure issues that are inherent in this in the city’s accounting system. So I’ve been wanting to fix those,” said Metcalf, a certified public accountant. “It just never made sense to quit my job to go after an elected position that I may not win.”

But in late 2023, a series of articles in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch caught her attention. The reporting documented delays in the city paying its bills, something Comptroller Darlene Green blamed on a lack of training on a new accounting system.

“That is insane to me,” Metcalf said. “It doesn’t take an accountant to write a check and pay their bills. It takes a normal breathing person who’s interested in taking care of business to pay their bills. And so when I saw that, I said, ‘I’ve got to do something.’”

Working for the city on various projects laid bare some of the problems with its accounting infrastructure, Metcalf said. Sometimes, she would get information too late for it to be useful, she said. Other times, the city had no mechanism to get her the information at all.

“Those were the things that incentivized me to even consider this,” she said of running for office. “But like I said when the article came out in the newspaper and said, not only are we not paying our bills, the comptroller is not even coming to work – that said to me, you’re not even committed to this city.”

Green acknowledged to the Post-Dispatch that she often worked remotely but said she was always in the office when required. She did not explain the absences the paper noted.

Although Metcalf is a certified public accountant, she has never managed a large accounting firm — the comptroller’s office has about 80 employees when fully staffed. But she does have experience overseeing large pots of money. In 2009, the State of Missouri tapped her to oversee its $525 million allocation from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the stimulus package designed to help the economy find its footing after the 2008 financial crash.

Rail, the river and the film industry

In addition to touting her experience and credentials, Metcalf’s website lists a number of strategic initiatives she believes the city should consider, including developing focal points along the Mississippi River and boosting investment in high-speed rail.

“The comptroller’s role is not not just being financial, but being the business-minded person that helps the city progress forward,” Metcalf said.

Another motivation for her focus on economic development: new sources of revenue.

“I’ve been thinking about ways we can increase revenue so we can get rid of the earnings tax,” Metcalf said. “If other cities are not charging that, it makes St Louis a difficult place to want to come to and work.”

The tax, a 1% levy on the salaries of people who live or work in the city, makes up a third of the city’s general revenue.

A first-time politician

Metcalf said her transition from “bean counter” to candidate has opened her eyes to how political factors influence decision-making in City Hall. She said St. Louis’ decline has happened in part because some leaders have allowed it.

“It’s troubling that people can be OK with a decline simply because of familiarity,” she said.

But Metcalf said she has been heartened by how positively people respond to the fact that she is a certified public accountant.

“I’ve had a few people say, ‘Wow, what a novel idea, a CPA running an accounting office,’” she said.

Editor’s note: Darlene Green and Donna Baringer appeared on Politically Speaking last week.