- Tom Villa
Thomas Albert Villa (born
March 16 ,1945 ) is an American Democraticpolitician fromMissouri . He is currently a member of theMissouri House of Representatives representing the Carondelet neighborhood and surrounding areas inSt. Louis, Missouri .Villa was educated at
St. Mary's High School andSaint Louis University and received a master's degree in education from theUniversity of Missouri–St. Louis in1971 . Before starting his political career, Villa worked as a teacher andguidance counselor .Villa was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1974. He was re-elected four times and held leadership positions as Majority Whip from
1978 to1980 and Majority Floor Leader from 1980 to1984 . In 1984 he was an unsuccessful candidate for Missouri State Treasurer.In
1987 , Villa was elected to citywide office as President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. He was reelected to that position in1991 . In1993 he was a candidate forMayor of St. Louis but finished second in the Democratic primary behindFreeman Bosley, Jr. His term as President of the Board expired in1995 , and Villa did not seek re-election. Villa remained out of public office for several years. In 2000 he was again elected to the Missouri House and has been re-elected in 2002 and 2004.Villa was born and raised in St. Louis and is the son of the late
Albert "Red" Villa . The elder Villa was the longest serving member of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.ource
[http://www.house.mo.gov/bills053/member/bio108.htm Villa's biography from the Missouri House of Representatives]
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