On this week's episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Chris McDaniel, Jo Mannies and Jason Rosenbaum welcome St. Louis County Councilwoman Hazel Erby to the show.
The University City Democrat recently won re-election to the council's 1st District, which encompasses 38 municipalities. Erby's district includes Ferguson, the scene of more than two weeks of turmoil, unrest and international media attention
Erby discussed her experience dealing with the aftermath of Michael Brown's death at the hands of a Ferguson police officer. She also talked about her tenure as chairwoman of the council during an intensely negative primary between St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley and Councilman Steve Stenger, D-Affton.
On the show, Erby said:
- She was disappointed by the lack of transparency of Ferguson's police department and city government after Brown's death. "I think that's what angered the people," she said.
- She hopes the Ferguson unrest prompts young people angry about government to vote and become active in politics. "We can't go in the booth and vote for them," she said. "Voting has everything to do with who serves and represents them on the city council, who represents them as mayor."
- St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch should remove himself from handling Wilson's case.
- She thinks the Ferguson unrest will have a "huge" impact on the November contest between Stenger and House Budget Chairman Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood. Erby supported Dooley in the primary. "I believe people feel if they support Steve Stenger, they're supporting the prosecuting attorney," she said. "Steve Stenger said Bob McCulloch and I will clean up St. Louis County. So, draw your conclusions from that. And that's what other people are doing."
- She doesn't get why the council hasn't decided whether to override Dooley's veto of minority participation legislation. Erby said that she thought the council would deal with the issue after the election ended.
Follow Chris McDaniel on Twitter: @csmcdaniel
Follow Jo Mannies on Twitter: @jmannies
Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum
