Politically Speaking: Bill Haas on how he's making a difference in St. Louis mayor's race

Government, Politics & Issues

Politically Speaking: Bill Haas on how he's making a difference in St. Louis mayor's race

漏 2024 外网天堂 | By Jason Rosenbaum,

Published February 22, 2017 at 10:30 PM CST

On this edition of the Politically Speaking podcast, 漏 2024 外网天堂鈥檚 Jason Rosenbaum, Jo Mannies and Rachel Lippmann welcome St. Louis School Board member Bill Haas to the program.

Haas is one of seven Democratic candidates running to become the next St. Louis mayor. Each of the Democratic candidates have been interviewed on the podcast ahead of the March 7 primary election.

While Haas won races to be on St. Louis鈥� elected school board, he鈥檚 also waged unsuccessful bids for Missouri state representative, St. Louis aldermen, U.S. congressman, Missouri lieutenant governor and St. Louis mayor. Most recently,

Related:

Before he started running for office, Haas received an undergraduate degree from Yale University and his law degree from Harvard Law School. His professional career includes tenure as a corporate attorney, a tutor, an attorney working for former Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich, and a novelist.

This is Haas鈥� fifth bid for mayor. His best showing was in 1993, when he ran as an independent and received a little more than 15 percent of the vote.

A few highlights from the show:

Haas said the lack of incumbent mayor gives him a chance to make a difference in the Democratic primary. 鈥淚f I don鈥檛 get this, that鈥檚 my loss. Because it鈥檚 what I want to do,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I think it鈥檚 their loss too, because I think I鈥檓 the best candidate ever to stand before them and ask for their vote.鈥�

He鈥檚 opposed to proposed sales tax that would go to variety of purposes, including expanding MetroLink. 鈥淭his is a terrible sales tax we have on the ballot now and I鈥檓 against it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檇 rather have police than police cameras. And I鈥檇 rather have money for education instead of a North-South MetroLink.鈥�

Unlike other candidates, Haas won鈥檛 commit to getting rid of St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson. He said he would like to meet with him after he takes office and figure out ways to make the city鈥檚 police department better.

Haas is opposed to a bid to publicly fund a professional soccer stadium. 鈥淲hen the community gives me $45 million for more police and their education initiatives, then they can have their damn soccer stadium,鈥� he said.