honored to represent such a great district. >> tell us about your family. >> my wife and family have raised our kids for 25 years and live on a farm there and we have six children. and they are excited as well. >> did you own a small business. >> the medical practice and clinical research and a little bit of commercial real estate. i have signed the front of the paycheck as well as the back. >> you have a pilots license. what do you fly? >> i learned in a small cessna 150, two-seater. and my instructor was a small guy. got my license five guys and instrument rating, 700.

i fly a the plane with the parachute. the only plane that my wife would let me get. i like to spend time outdoors, hunting, running, bicycling, mostly spending time with my family. >> wellsly bell is the first african american to hold st. louis county prosecutor. he talks about his career and first run for elective office and won his office after the protests a decade ago.

i put my hat in the ring and very fortunate to be on the negotiating team with then president barack department of justice helping to create and negotiate the ferguson consent decree and bringing body cameras to police officers, increasing pay for our law enforcement officers and just being a part of the group that helped turn a very tough situation around. >> what did you learn personally and professionally? >> there is no substitute for listening and building relationships not only with your constituents most importantly but also with stakeholders. the first time i ran for city council, i had typical lawyer, i wrote up this platform that i thought was god's gift to politics.

i got in my first town hall meeting and tore it up about five seconds and folks were telling me what their issues were and i created a platform based on the folks i wanted to represent and i never forgot that and that outreach is so important. >> you grew up in the st. louis area. what do you remember? >> football and school. my parents were essentially one of those folks like you can do whatever you want within reason as long as the grades are good. if the grades are not good, everything is shutdown. we played football in the basement and organized pea-wee but just being part of a great

community and great support system. fortunate with the support. >> you have come to congress serving as prosecuting attorney in st. louis. what was your approach and what do people remember about your work? you. >> criminal justice reform. we recognize that serious violent offenders have been held accountable. when you cross the line of harming folks, we are going to hold you accountable. but there are people struggling with opioid abuse, mental health issues that haven't harmed anyone other than the disease they are struggling with. those low-level offenders, we had a diversion program where we connected our criminal justice

system with our health care system. you want to fix your public safety problem, fix your health system. they are struggling with diseases, mental health and address those. >> you were the first african-american to serve in that position as prosecuting attorney and what did that serve to you? >> it is not lost on me as being the first on anything. and i recognize the responsibility of that. you want to set an example for those who look like me who may want to come along and do this 10 years from now, 15 years from now or however long. but we want to do the work. we want to keep our region

safe. i don't care what letter is in front of your name, as well as democrats and republicans, everyone is caring about the safety of their loved once. i took that job very seriously and will support our local prosecutors as well as d.a.'s and law enforcement to make sure they have the tools. but some of those tools are about treatment. >> do you remember the moment you decided to run this seat? >> it was a culmination of events. my time inferring uson opened my eyes to the need across st. louis county for criminal justice reform. and as a former professor, teaching our young people and

recognizes ing that a lot of folks are looking for opportunities and want to make certain they grow this opportunity hopefully in my district but as a former judge, i saw folks at their lowest in many cases and what i have seen consistently whether someone agrees or degrees, they need to be treated fairly. i bring those experiences to my role in the house of representatives and honor and pleasure to serve and i'm looking forward to it. >> how would you consider yourself politically? >> a commonsense public servant laser focused on gettings ing things done for my constituents and work with anyone who has the interest of the st. louis region

in mind. i look forward to working with my fellow democrats and reach across the aisle and work with republicans because we agree on a lot more than we disagree. >> finally back to your family and brothers of yours. what does everyone think about this? >> it occurred to me swearing-in, 50 to 60 people in town, they are more excited than i was, it is humbling and also exciting to know that i can serve the folks back at home and what they are go to go get from me is put the st. louis region first and focus on getting things done. creating good jobs and lowering the cost of food and drug costs, but every