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Today is primary day in the City of St. Louis.Mayor Francis Slay lead the way by being first in line to cast his vote and hoping to lead the city for a record fourth term. Slay told reporters after voting that it was a hard-fought campaign.

Slay says, "The most important thing about the election is about leadership, competency, integrity and that's what we brought the city government and that's what we ask voters is to keep the city moving forward."

It's also the day we'll learn who will be the next mayor. That's because the winner of today's Democratic Primary will face only Green Party Candidate James McNeeley in the general election April 2nd. And city voters haven't elected a non-Democrat to the post since 1945.

The Democratic incumbent, Mayor Francis Slay is running for a record fourth term. His chief Democratic rival is Aldermanic President Lewis Reed. Both candidates spent Monday night going over their "get out the vote" efforts -- preparations that could prove critical, with rain falling when the polls opened and snow forecast for later in the day. The polls opened at 6.

As the race for St. Louis Mayor heats up, the jabs are getting more pointed. The Domcratic candidates, incumbent Mayor Francis Slay, Aldermanic President Lewis Reed and former Alderman Jimmie Matthews, squared off in a second forum Monday. All three talked about crime, education and redevelopment. And then the mud slinging began.

Mayor Francis Slay chided Democratic rival Lewis Reed for not releasing his tax returns. The Aldermanic President drew a contrast between his returns and Slay's. Reed said it would be a different matter for him to release his joint tax returns since his wife was a working lawyer and the Mayors was a "stay-at-home mother."

Reed then accused Slay of creating a personal "slush fund" with more than 150-thousand dollars left over in the Citizens for a Stronger St. Louis fund -- the campaign committee aimed at keeping the city’s earnings tax intact. Slay denied that.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that committee treasurer Brad Ketcher said the campaign fund was converted into a nonprofit organization after the election.

St. Louis' Democratic primary election is March 5th. The winner will face Green Party candidate James McNeely in the general election.