Ex-St. Louis official says he’s alternative to U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, state Sen. Steve Roberts | Politics

ST. LOUIS — A former St. Louis mayoral aide says he provides Democratic voters within the 1st Congressional District an alternative choice to U.S. Rep. Cori Bush and state Sen. Steve Roberts, who might run as nicely.

Michael Daniels, one in all 4 Democrats who to date have filed to problem Bush within the Aug. 2 main, referred to as a information convention Friday exterior Ferguson police headquarters to tout his candidacy. Solely a Submit-Dispatch reporter attended.

Daniels, a Jefferson Metropolis lobbyist for then-Mayor Freeman Bosley Jr. within the mid-Nineteen Nineties, stated in a press release that the world doesn’t want “an activist who isn’t dedicated to representing and defending all of St. Louis,” referring to Bush.

“Defunding the police isn’t the reply to a disaster of gun and road violence plaguing our communities,” Daniels stated. Bush has been outspoken in calling for defunding.

Daniels stated he believes a majority of space residents desire a balanced method of combating crime whereas on the similar time “reforming police conduct” in Black and poor communities.

Bush has said she regards defunding police as shifting cash from police to different authorities applications corresponding to psychological well being and social providers.

Daniels additionally criticized Bush for voting last year against President Joe Biden’s infrastructure spending invoice.

Bush, 45, of St. Louis, had stated she wouldn’t assist it except there additionally was a vote on a separate proposal addressing common preschool, well being care and different progressive priorities.

Relating to Roberts, Daniels stated, “St. Louis doesn’t want one other skilled legacy politician.”

Roberts, 34, whose father and uncle are former metropolis aldermen and mayoral candidates, stated in a textual content message that lots of people are encouraging him to run in opposition to Bush, however he hasn’t made a ultimate determination but. Tuesday is the deadline to file for the first. Roberts lives in St. Louis.

Daniels, 69, of St. Louis, is a lawyer who works for a agency that does doc opinions. Earlier than working for Bosley, he was an aide to 2 Illinois statewide officers.

In 1996, the Submit-Dispatch reported that he was dismissed by Bosley after 10 feminine aldermen complained that he was hostile towards girls in metropolis authorities. Daniels on Friday denied the accusation and stated his firing was political.

Two different Democrats within the race have taken to social media to criticize Bush’s police defunding statements — Earl Childress of Florissant and Ron Harshaw of St. Louis.

Childress, 47, a pastor and founding father of a enterprise capital agency, says on his marketing campaign web site that he additionally needs a plan to take away “unhealthy actors” from police departments. He says he’s a reasonable Democrat who additionally opposes Bush’s name for defunding the military.

Harshaw, 25, an assistant highschool soccer coach, stated in a tweet final month that “reforming policing not defunding is my objective.” He additionally says he would search to get federal funds for police.

Additionally within the Democratic main race is David Koehr of St. Louis, who couldn’t be reached for remark.

Three Republicans have filed to date this 12 months within the closely Democratic 1st: Andrew Jones, a St. Louis mayoral candidate final 12 months; Steven Jordan, additionally of St. Louis, and Laura Mitchell-Riley of north St. Louis County. George Zsidisin of Creve Coeur has filed as a Libertarian candidate.