Tom Villa
Encyclopedia
Thomas Albert Villa is an American
Democratic
politician
from Missouri
. He is currently a member of the Missouri House of Representatives
representing the Carondelet
neighborhood and surrounding areas in St. Louis, Missouri
.
Villa was educated at St. Mary's High School and Saint Louis University
and received a master's degree in education from the University of Missouri–St. Louis
in 1971. Before starting his political career, Villa worked as a teacher and guidance 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 to 1980 and Majority Floor Leader from 1980 to 1984. 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 in 1991. In 1993 he was a candidate for Mayor of St. Louis but finished second in the Democratic primary behind Freeman Bosley, Jr.
His term as President of the Board expired in 1995, 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He is currently a member of the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
representing the Carondelet
Carondelet, St. Louis
Carondelet is a neighborhood in the extreme southeastern portion of St. Louis, Missouri. It was incorporated as an independent city in 1851 and was annexed by the City of St. Louis in 1870. As of the 2000 Census, the neighborhood has a population of 9,960 people.Originally, the neighborhood was...
neighborhood and surrounding areas in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
.
Villa was educated at St. Mary's High School and Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
and received a master's degree in education from the University of Missouri–St. Louis
University of Missouri–St. Louis
The University of Missouri–St. Louis is one of four universities in the University of Missouri System. Established in 1963, it is the newest university in the UM System. , it is the largest university by enrollment in the St. Louis area with 16,548 students...
in 1971. Before starting his political career, Villa worked as a teacher and guidance counselor.
Villa was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1974
1974 in politics
See also: 1973 in politics, other events of 1974, 1975 in politics, list of years in politics.-Events:*January 2 - Richard Nixon signs a bill lowering the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 MPH in order to conserve gasoline during an OPEC embargo....
. He was re-elected four times and held leadership positions as Majority Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from 1978 to 1980 and Majority Floor Leader from 1980 to 1984. 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 in 1991. In 1993 he was a candidate for Mayor of St. Louis but finished second in the Democratic primary behind Freeman Bosley, Jr.
Freeman Bosley, Jr.
Freeman R. Bosley Jr. was the forty-third mayor of St. Louis , and the city's first African-American mayor.-Early life and education:...
His term as President of the Board expired in 1995, 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
2002 in politics
Years in politics: 2000-2001-2002-2003-2004 - list of years in politics-January:*January 1- Eduardo Duhalde is appointed President of Argentina...
and 2004
2004 in politics
Years in politics: 2002-2003-2004-2005-2006 - list of years in politics-January:* January 1- Adnan Pachachi becomes president of the Iraq Interim Governing Council and will serve for the duration of the month....
.
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.