Jimmie Matthews for St. Louis Mayor: "I'm Not Chained to Any Money...and I'm Gonna Win"

In terms of crime in the city -- violent crime -- Matthews says he is not in favor of more gun control.

"Gun control is the wrong term to use. What about teaching people how to use guns responsibly and don't give a fool a gun? Whether he's a police officer or whether he's a guard...when fools have guns, fools are gonna do foolish things," he says. "You have to deal with the fools that have them."

Photo by Theo R. Welling

He adds, "If the police don't want to give up their guns, or the security people don't want to give up their guns, everybody wants to keep their guns for themselves and their protection."

It's been suggested at times that Matthews was planted in the race to take away black votes from Reed to help Slay, but Matthews emphasizes that he's not tied to anyone -- as evidenced by his lack of campaign donations.

"I love the people, and I care for the people, and my heart grieves for the people," he says. "I cannot, as a man of God, overlook those that don't have for the sake of the haves.... The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, and they expect the poor to be happy."

He adds, "I have an advantage, because I'm not chained to any money.... I feel that I have the freedom of expressing the needs of everybody and not just a select few."

Of Slay, he says, "He lied to us to get into office, then four years later, he lies to us to get back in office and we vote him back in office."

Matthews continues, "We are bound by the lies and deception of our political leadership. And politicians are seeking more power and diminishing the power of the people."

Of Slay's opponent, he adds, "Lewis Reed is the shadow of the mayor and the mayor and Lewis Reed have been going hand in hand.... It doesn't matter which one of them wins. Whether Reed wins, or the mayor wins, the guy that gave them money wins."

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