In 2025, Henry Iwenofu launched a bid for Ferguson city council. His opponent, Michael Palmer, is a lifelong Ferguson resident with substantial real estate holdings. Palmer was a one term council member representing ward 3, and was running in ward 1. A small group of activists, angered by his 30 point win over incumbent Fran Griffin in 2022, had repeatedly targeted Palmer in hostile comments at council meetings and on social media.
Iwenofu had been elected to the village board in Uplands Park in 2023, but had purchased a house in Ferguson a year earlier. After moving to his new house, he promptly sought election to the Black Oaks trustees, and months later, launched his bid for city council. His first petition signature came from Mayor Ella Jones. Other signers included former ward 1 councilor Phedra Nelson, who was defeated by David Williams in 2024; and Elizabeth (Lisa) Knowles, wife of former mayor James Knowles.
Because of Palmer’s deep roots in the community, Iwenofu knew he was a longshot. So after filing closed, he filed a lawsuit to have Palmer removed from the ballot. Had he prevailed in this suit, Iwenofu would have been the only remaining candidate, winning the council seat by default.
The petition was a confused wander through facts, some false, others irrelevant. The theory was that since Palmer represented ward 3, he could not be a candidate in ward 1. However, the Ferguson charter, perhaps anticipating that a council member might move from one ward to another, requires ward residency only while serving – not as a candidate. As the decision put it:
The plain text of the City Charter does not require advance residency in the intended ward. Contestee Palmer is only required to be a resident of the ward from which he is elected during his term of office (which begins on the date that his term begins if he wins, not before). Although this result may seem to split hairs, the court is required to apply the language of the City Charter.
After failing to prevail in his initial attempt at removing Palmer from the ballot, Iwenofu attempted to file an amended petition. The court denied his request, but the petition is interesting in its own right, as a reflection of Iwenofu’s thoughts. The new theory: Allowing voters the option of voting for Palmer would violate the Missouri and United States constitutions!
His constitutional claim rested on the dissenting opinion from a single case in 1970. As he acknowledges in his own statement, this was the dissent of a single judge in a case which was dismissed. But even if it had been the majority opinion, the facts of the case were so different that it would have been irrelevant. It was an amusing Hail Mary. But every voter should be offended by the suggestion that the only constitutional option is to award Iwenofu the council seat by default.
The election is underway as we write this. Updates will be provided as appropriate.
