All representatives and senators mentioned represented Missouri. All rights reserved. The protesters were headed to the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson. "A mob does not have the right to charge your property,” he said, according to the paper. All market data delayed 20 minutes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Primary elections are held in March prior to the general municipal election. Under the original city charter, the mayor was elected to a one-year term. ", On Monday, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced she would charge the couple with felony unlawful use of a weapon, Mark and Patricia McCloskey drawing their firearms on the crowd marching toward St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson's home last month. David R. Francis, 26th mayor of St. Louis, 27th Governor of Missouri, 20th U.S. Secretary of the Interior. The mayor served a two-year term after the adoption of a new city charter in 1859. ©2020 FOX News Network, LLC. A spokeswoman for Gardner declined comment, citing the ongoing investigation. She's turned them back out onto the street and then she goes after this couple who are absolutely entitled under the United States Constitution, the Missouri Constitution, and Missouri law to protect their own property. He later added that based on what he knows about the case, “I don't think they're going to spend any time in jail.”, Patricia and Mark McCloskey draw their firearms on protesters as they enter their neighborhood during a protest against St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 28, 2020. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! ©2020 FOX News Network, LLC. Francis Slay is the longest-serving mayor of St. Louis. "And, here's the other piece of it that is really important here: this same prosecutor has had dozens, dozens of violent rioters and looters brought to her by the St. Louis Police Department and she hasn't prosecuted them," he said. All of the measures will still have to pass a final vote later in October. (DANIEL SHULAR/via REUTERS, File). “They had every right to protect themselves.”, Parson linked to the interview on Twitter and added the comment, “We will not allow law-abiding citizens to be targeted for exercising their constitutional rights.". Mike Parson told "Hannity" that "without a doubt," he will pardon the McCloskeys. Parson cited Missouri's “castle doctrine” law that justifies lethal force for those protecting their homes. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. On the same night, Missouri Gov. (Daniel Shulara/via REUTERS), ST. LOUIS HOME DEFENDER MARK MCCLOSKEY UPDATES 'WATTERS' WORLD' ON POSSIBLE CHARGES. All market data delayed 20 minutes. [3] The mayor's office was extended to its present four-year term after passage of the Charter and Scheme in 1876 which separated the City of St. Louis from St. Louis County. The McCloskeys, who are both attorneys, displayed guns as Black Lives Matter protesters walked onto the private street where they live. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Missouri GOP Sen. Josh Hawley reacts to criminal charges being filed against the McCloskeys and discusses his new legislation to crack down on China. Missouri Gov. The mayor is elected for four years during the general municipal election, which is held every two years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April. In an interview on "Fox & Friends," Hawley told host Steve Doocy that Mark and Patricia McCloskey – both personal injury attorneys in their 60s – had "the right to do what they did. The second-longest-serving mayor was Henry Kiel, who took office April 15, 1913 and left office April 21, 1925, a total of 12 years and nine days over three terms in office. They are law-abiding citizens, and they're being attacked frankly by a political process that's really unfortunate.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. “The right to keep and bear arms is given the highest level of protection in our Constitution and our laws, including the Castle Doctrine, which provides broad rights to Missourians who are protecting their property and lives from those who wish to do them harm,” Schmitt said in a prepared statement provided to Fox News. All rights reserved. Mike Parson says he is prepared to exercise his pardon powers if prosecutors bring criminal charges in the case of a St. Louis couple who brandished firearms at a … The next election for mayor will be in 2021. The most recent death of a former mayor was that of John H. Poelker (1973–1977), on February 9, 1990. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, all three measures were approved by the council. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com. [4] The mayor is not term limited. Mike Parson says he is prepared to exercise his pardon powers if prosecutors bring criminal charges in the case of a St. Louis couple who brandished firearms at a group of protesters outside their home. State prosecutor Kim Gardner launched an investigation, saying, “we will not tolerate the use of force against those exercising their First Amendment rights.” St. Louis police seized a rifle from the couple’s home pursuant to a search warrant.