Mayoral candidate camps out in tent

ST. ANN, Mo. -- That tent near the St. Louis suburb St. Ann's nativity scene isn't part of the Christmas decoration. It's the temporary home of alderwoman Carrie Cavazza.

Cavazza is running for mayor and wants to garner the extra 3 to 5 percent of the vote that candidates who are named first on the ballot often take.

That's why she's been camping out in a tent since Dec. 11. Filing begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

"I just want the people of this community to know that I really want to be mayor for them," Cavazza, an eight-year alderwoman, said. "I've lived here all my life, and I want to make the city even better."

Inside her tent, Cavazza has a TV and heater, although she joked that on one cold night she considered climbing into the manger display to keep warm.

City clerk Rhoda Womack said it has been a tradition in St. Ann to camp out to be first on the ballot. Still, "I think Carrie may have set a new record," Womack said.

"She's been out there for two weeks now."