Candidates for the 5th District seat of the St. Louis County Council have weighed in on the question of whether Bob McCulloch should continue to act as prosecutor in the Michael Brown shooting case in Ferguson.

Incumbent Democrat Pat Dolan of Richmond Heights supports McCulloch staying with the controversial case. Crestwood Republican Jennifer Bird thinks McCulloch should step aside and recuse himself.

"It is well known that local prosecutors work closely with police officers in order to ensure trial convictions," said Bird. "This presents a very real conflict of interest when an officer is charged with a crime. A prosecutor is responsible for determining which information is presented to a grand jury, which will later decide whether or not the officer will stand trial as well as what potential charges they will face.

"Given the potential conflict of interest of McCulloch's working with police officers, it may be best for him to step aside to allow someone from outside of St. Louis County to manage this investigation and all recommendations made to the grand jury regarding charges," Bird added.

Dolan said he backs McCulloch for the case, and he also supports Steve Stenger, Democratic candidate for county executive, who has been outspoken in his backing of McCulloch.

"I have the utmost confidence in Bob McCulloch's ability to properly handle this case," said Dolan. "Bob McCulloch has prosecuted at least 33 police officers during his time as prosecutor. I'm sure Bob McCulloch will handle this case in accordance with the laws of Missouri."

Easing Racial Tensions

Both candidates have prescriptions for easing racial tensions in the county. Dolan said a good place to start might involve disbanding the police department in Ferguson.

"I think we have to look no farther than the city of Jennings, for example, for what the county police must do," said Dolan. "After the Jennings police department was dissolved following years of scandal and corruption, the county police were contracted to provide service to Jennings. The county police were able to restore community support for the police in what happens to be a 90 percent African-American community."

Bird agreed with Dolan that the county has good officers who can help with quality community policing.

"We must stop highlighting and classifying by race in all we discuss," insisted Bird. "It surprises me that, in a day and time in which we should be post-racial, we are still required to acknowledge and declare our race/ethnicity on all government forms and far too many applications.

"I'd like to hear from our entire community about our (county) police department and about policies that all citizens would find acceptable and a citizens board is one option," Bird said.

Both candidates have reservations about different plans to merge the city and the county to give the St. Louis region more political clout and a bigger voice nationally.

"I am in support of studying any possibilities in this regard, although no plan has been put forward yet," said Dolan. "I won't support any plan that has county taxpayers picking up the tab. I supported the merger of the city and county economic development agencies because the contract stipulates that the city pays the county $1.5 million annually or the deal is off."

Bird said there are a few very wealthy businessmen in our region who stand to benefit by a combined regional area, but she said the average citizen's pocketbook will be hurt.

"Where will the county get the money to replace one third of the city's annual budget, if the two entities unite in some way?" asked Bird. "There are many questions, for example, about the legality of continuing the city's earnings tax ($186 million/year) and accompanying payroll tax ($45 million/year) in the event of a merger. I am opposed to the county taking on city debts and/or obligations."

Jobs, Transit & More

"As a local government the county can't create jobs, but it can have the appropriate infrastructure in place to foster job creation," said Dolan. "When companies look for a place to locate they want things like good public transit, modern roads and great amenities like the Great Rivers Greenway trails around the region. These are things I have voted for while on the council."

Bird said voters need only look to Fenton and Hazelwood and job losses to see how the county has been faring in recent years on the jobs issue.

"Maintaining good fiscal health of the county treasury and protecting our bond rating are critical to retaining existing employers, attracting new ones and encouraging start-up businesses that create jobs," said Bird. "Low taxes and simplified permit processes can also help promote economic and business health in the county."

Bird and Dolan part ways on the wisdom of the Complete Streets policy to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians. Dolan said he sponsors such legislation. Bird said it is a waste of taxpayer money and congests traffic by reducing the size of lanes.

Bird and Dolan also disagree on MetroLink Expansion. Dolan supports it, but only after substantial public input. Bird opposes any expansion of MetroLink to Florissant or elsewhere for now. She said we need to see a significant increase in ridership of Metro-Link now, before spending dollars for the future.

Bird is a University City native and graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a B.S. in elementary education. She noted that she is a mother and helped start and grow a family business. She is also a caregiver for her parents.

Dolan noted that he and his wife raised two boys in the county and he served on the Richmond Heights City Council for eight years before serving on the St. Louis County Council. He has worked as a supervisor with United Fire Protection Systems and is active with Backstoppers.

The 5th District stretches from Olivette and University City on the north to Crestwood and Grantwood Village on the south. It also takes in Webster Groves, Glendale, Warson Woods, Shrewsbury and other inner-ring cities of the county.