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Updated at 11:50 a.m. Nov. 22 with comments from Reed

St. Louis Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed officially announced he is running for mayor of St. Louis.

Reed made the announcement late Saturday night, just days after Mayor Lyda Krewson announced she won鈥檛 seek reelection.

鈥淚 have heard you loud and clear,鈥� Reed said in a tweet. 鈥淚 am excited and honored to file for office on Monday as your next mayor.鈥�

Reed said the support he鈥檚 received inspired him to run. He said the coronavirus pandemic and wanting to focus on an eventual recovery also influenced him.

鈥淲e have a ton of rebuilding to do post-coronavirus,鈥� Reed said Sunday. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to take some mileage and some skills and some experience to get us through that.鈥�

Reed said that if elected, he also wants to focus on police reform and economic empowerment, among other issues.

鈥淓xpanding education and access to education, transportation issues, those are the things we have to focus on, those are the things we have to hit home runs on,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淪t. Louis is a great city with a lot to offer, but we have to begin to operate differently.鈥�

Reed thanked his supporters in a video posted on Twitter.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got a ton of people who are out there volunteering,鈥� Reed said in the video. 鈥淚t really moves me, and I鈥檓 just so thankful to see just that inspiring support that鈥檚 just growing up for this upcoming election.鈥�

In addition to Reed, St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones, Alderwoman Cara Spencer and businesswoman Dana Kelly are expected to file to run in the March 2021 primary. Filing opens Monday.

City voters will participate in a nonpartisan approval voting system after Proposition D passed in November. Voters can choose as many candidates as they want, and then the top two will compete in a general election in April.

Reed unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2013. He ran again in 2017, finishing third with about 18% of the vote behind Jones and Krewson.

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