Francis Gerard Slay (born March 18, 1955) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 45th[1] Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri from 2001 to 2017.

Slay was elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 1985, representing the 23rd ward.

The Slay administration and its public and private partners have received national and international recognition for St. Louis's renaissance.

[4] Slay accepted a job as an attorney with the Spencer Fane law firm, at their office in downtown St. Louis[5] prior to his term ending on April 18, 2017[6] Slay is the second of eleven children.

His father, Francis R. Slay, was affiliated with St. Raymond's Maronite Catholic Cathedral in St. Louis, and was the long-time Democratic Committeeman in the 23rd Ward, and who once served as Recorder of Deeds.