Lyda Krewson

Lyda Krewson
Name	Lyda Krewson
Birth date	14 December 1953
Birth place	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation	Politician, banker
Office	45th Mayor of St. Louis
Term start	April 18, 2017
Term end	April 20, 2021
Predecessor	Francis Slay
Successor	Tishaura Jones
Party	Democratic Party

Lyda Krewson is an American politician and former banker who served as the 45th mayor of St. Louis, Missouri. She was the first woman to hold that office and served one term from 2017 to 2021. Prior to her mayoralty she represented St. Louis's 28th Ward on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen and worked in municipal finance and banking.

Early life and education

Krewson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised in the region near the Mississippi River, with family ties to neighborhoods shaped by the history of St. Louis, Missouri, Missouri River, and Jefferson County, Missouri. She attended local schools before enrolling at the University of Missouri, where she studied and completed a degree in the late 20th century. During her formative years she lived through eras influenced by figures such as Harry S. Truman and events like the evolution of Interstate 70 and urban development projects linked to the Great Migration and mid-century municipal policies.

Career in finance and public service

After college, Krewson built a career in municipal finance and banking, holding positions with financial institutions and engaging with municipal bond markets and public pension systems. Her professional trajectory connected her with organizations and regulatory frameworks associated with Federal Reserve System, Securities and Exchange Commission, and regional financial centers like St. Louis Lambert International Airport financiers and investment advisors. She worked in roles that interfaced with entities such as the Missouri Housing Development Commission, local credit unions, and firms similar to Fifth Third Bank or U.S. Bancorp in regional operations. Her finance career preceded and informed her later public service on advisory boards and commissions related to urban fiscal policy and infrastructure financing.

St. Louis Board of Aldermen

Krewson was elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen representing the 28th Ward, serving multiple terms through the late 20th and early 21st centuries. On the Board she worked on legislation and constituent services tied to neighborhood development, public safety partnerships with agencies like the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and collaborations with institutions such as Saint Louis University, Washington University in St. Louis, and the Gateway Arch National Park area stakeholders. Her committee assignments and sponsored ordinances addressed issues involving municipal budgeting, zoning near landmarks like Forest Park (St. Louis), and neighborhood revitalization aligning with initiatives seen in cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Kansas City, Missouri.

Mayor of St. Louis (2017–2021)

Krewson won the 2017 mayoral election, succeeding Francis Slay and taking office amid national debates featured during the administrations of Barack Obama and Donald Trump. As mayor she managed city operations involving departments such as the St. Louis Public Library, Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District, and partnerships with regional transit entities like MetroLink (St. Louis Metro). Her administration engaged with federal agencies including the Department of Housing and Urban Development and state officials from the Missouri General Assembly on grant funding and program implementation. She presided during events that included responses to public demonstrations associated with national movements and local protests, similar in context to demonstrations in Ferguson, Missouri and other municipalities grappling with civic unrest.

Political positions and controversies

Krewson's tenure included stances on public safety, development, and fiscal management that drew both support and criticism from civic groups, labor organizations, and political figures from the Democratic Party (United States) and opposition voices linked to state politics involving figures like Eric Greitens and Jay Nixon. Controversies during her administration involved exchanges over police funding, public communications during protests, and social media incidents that prompted debate among activists from organizations such as Black Lives Matter and advocacy groups connected to civil rights history like the NAACP. Her policy choices intersected with urban policy debates seen in cities like Baltimore, Minneapolis, and Portland, Oregon regarding policing, public health, and economic development incentives involving corporate partners and institutions comparable to Boeing and regional hospital systems.

Personal life and affiliations

Krewson's personal life includes residency in St. Louis and involvement with civic organizations, cultural institutions, and nonprofit boards that align with regional heritage bodies such as the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and foundations supporting neighborhood development. She has participated in philanthropic and community networks akin to trusteeships at universities and involvement with associations comparable to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, and regional chambers like the Saint Louis Chamber of Commerce. Krewson's family and private affiliations intersect with local religious, educational, and service organizations that have played roles in St. Louis civic life.

Category:Mayors of St. Louis, Missouri Category:People from St. Louis Category:Women mayors of places in Missouri