Bill Corrigan: New Ad Opposes County-City Merger, Has Francis Slay Calling B.S.

Bill Corrigan, the Republican candidate for St. Louis County Executive, is out with a new campaign commercial meant to scare voters over a proposed merger of the county and St. Louis City.

The ad (viewable on Corrigan's website) claims that the merger -- which incumbent Charlie Dooley has said he'd consider -- would "force county taxpayers to bailout the city pension fund, make $30 million in debt payments and result in higher taxes for small businesses and families."

But that's not true, according to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, the man who last year first proposed incorporating the city into the county.

On his Twitter feed yesterday Slay said that "pension obligations will always be the city's; won't be transferred or assumed."

This morning Slay is tweeting the same. Noting that today's Post-Dispatch endorsement of Dooley points out the "factual errors of his opponent's claims."

Question is: What impact will Corrigan's ads have on county voters, particularly those from wealthy suburbs like Corrigan's Ladue, who view the city as a place you dare not venture into unless you have tickets to a Cardinals game?

Today's P-D editorial also notes that Corrigan -- unlike Dooley -- sat silent on April's successful ballot to increase funding for Metro. 'Cause, you know, adopting city residents is one thing. But helping them ride public transit into the 'burbs!? Good God!