This week, the Class of 2026 got a firsthand look at the world of St. Louis politics. In a panel discussion in Brauer Auditorium, students heard from local leaders and experts who shared their insights on the issues that shape our community.
The panel included Jim Murphy, a Republican state representative first elected in 2018, Ian Mackey, a Democratic state representative also elected in 2018, and Jason Rosenbaum, political correspondent for St. Louis Public Radio and host of the Politically Speaking podcast. Upper School History Teacher Elizabeth Wells ’99 moderated the discussion. She began by asking the panel to share how they entered the political arena and specific career moments that shaped their views.
Murphy, a business owner until last year, shared that he came into politics through community involvement, a desire to fix things, and meeting with other politicians. He found politics awe-inspiring at the start and said, “The first year is a lot of figuring things out and what you want to accomplish, and that’s when you find out it’s complicated and nuanced. Over time, you learn the nuances of hearing both sides and the public view, which changes you. You have to make your best judgments when voting. When you feel really good at it, it’s time to turn it over to someone else.”
Mackey grew up in the Ozarks volunteering and canvassing in high school for campaigns and organizations. He later moved to St. Louis to work for a state representative campaign, relocated to the East Coast for law school, and returned to the political work that excited him the most. He shared, “Our ideologies from the beginning haven’t shifted much, but I am still surprised how people with extremely different ideologies can work together. What’s really formative is knocking on doors and talking to strangers to understand their experiences. Those are the stories that drive the legislation and bring partisan politics together.”
Rosenbaum, a Chicago native, was a journalist for print and digital publications, mainly covering state politics, policy, and local and regional government. “Your perceptions about issues change over time as you become more involved in your community, state politics, and government. One of the benefits of working in state politics is that you get to know a lot of people and understand ideological curvatures. My role is to see each side as fairly and factual as possible,” he said.
Wells then asked the panel to share what they feel is the most challenging issue in St. Louis right now. Rosenbaum shared, “Growth. It’s been stagnant for decades. We need a region where people want to move here and a school system where they will want to stay. The state government continues to reconstruct post-pandemic, where a lot of agencies were decimated by quitting, staff shortages, and poor pay. We still have a lot of gaps to be able to run essential services without an administrative doom loop.”
Mackey added, “We need to find solutions for scattered people and resources. The city and county not being bonded together is not sustainable or efficient, and it creates inequity.” Murphy said, “Rights for equal education are essential. The population of St. Louis is bleeding because the education system in the city is broken. Despite crime statistics going down, the perception of crime in St. Louis is still prevalent. We cannot let the city of St. Louis hit bottom before we try to fix it.”
Wells then posed the counterpoint and asked about the strengths of St. Louis. “We have a great industrial base and need to grow that. Our city has a rich history, and at one time, it was the fourth largest city in America and held the second largest garment district,” said Murphy. He noted that Kansas City is growing due to larger Hispanic communities and that many want better school options to be able to reside in St. Louis. Mackey shared that St. Louis is not as much of a walking town as other comparable cities. Due to the majority of residents driving, St. Louis communities and people are separated. Rosenbaum added, “The best thing from a governmental point of view is when the city and county pull together resources. The Special School District is a monumental achievement.”
Wells then turned the questions over to the juniors in the audience, who asked about what the panelists would do after their terms concluded and what they thought should be done about the crime issue in St. Louis. Murphy noted the need for more police officers and the decline in people wanting to do the job for fear of being scrutinized. Mackey agreed that the climate and culture are problematic and that guns are too accessible for young people, with gun and ammunition sellers’ lax approach to requiring proof of age.
When asked what three words would best describe St. Louis, the panelists shared:
- Murphy – troubled, promising, bright
- Mackey – challenging, joyful, forward moving
- Rosenbaum – comfortable, complex, promising
After the panel discussion, Murphy and Mackey met with several students who had more questions, from immigration and the meaning of democracy to elections and social issues.
Carrie Clennan ’26 said, “The thing that I valued most about this experience was having the opportunity to listen to and talk with experts with varying political affiliations and opinions. I think that it’s really important for high school students to learn about all angles of a story, especially when it comes to learning about the way that our city, state, and country are run. While my perspective on St. Louis didn’t drastically change, I was exposed to new information and new ways of thinking about the governance of the city.”
Lilia Oulamine ’26 added, “I found the ability of both parties to maintain compassion throughout the discussion increasingly civil despite the current political climate. They both addressed the dangers of polarity and being excessively partisan, especially as public servants. Today, it is absolutely crucial to amalgamate ideas in order to foster inventive development.”
Thank you to our panelists for sharing their valuable insights and inspiring our students to become engaged citizens and contribute to a stronger democracy. As Murphy noted earlier in the discussion, “I enjoy legislature. We do a lot of good and try not to harm. Governments are not there to control; they are there to serve.” We appreciate your service to our community!