Response from Joe Vaccaro, St. Louis Sheriff Candidate

1. What do you view as the key role, and/or attributes needed for this position? What experience/attributes do you have that qualify you for this position?

Leadership, the ability to put the right people in the right places. Also management I bought and ran my own business and know the importance of listening to and working with your employees. Safety should be the number one priority.


2. Why do you think you are the best person for this position? What differentiates you from your opponent(s)?

I know how to get things done, as an alderman in the city and the vice chairman of ways and means I'm familiar with the budget I know how to work in Jeff city. I also sit on Public Safety and I believe I have a strong understanding of what needs to be done


3. What do you feel are the most pressing issues currently facing this office and what plans do you have to address these issues? (please be specific)

The safety of the jurors and judges. I plan to work with the deputies as well as someone who is an expert in strategic planning on how to deal with situations that could arise putting people in jeopardy


4. Describe how you work with, or will work with, others to address your priorities.

I plan to listen to and empower the employees. Having owned my own business for over 35 years I know the importance of employee input


5. How will you address racial discord among employees and inmate treatment?

As far is the employees I'm sure diversity training and a strict policy against discrimination of any kind should help. As far as the prisoners I would hold the deputies that work directly with prisoners to the same strict policy against discrimination of any kind


6. Who are your 3 largest campaign contributors? Do you have a policy on accepting lobbyist gifts? Are there donors from whom you will not accept campaign contributions?

In seven years as an alderman other than a sandwich at an Ameren meeting I have not excepted any lobbyist gifts. One of my largest contributors has been the boilermakers union and there are several groups that I would not take money from.


7. Over the last few years, there have been allegations of abuse of inmates when in the custody of the Sheriff’s office. If elected, how you will ensure that abuse is not tolerated within your department and create a culture where if employees see abuse, they report such abuse to superiors?

I think that you have to set up a policy that allows employees to turn in abusive situations that they may have witnessed without fear of retaliation.