By Maria Hickey, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Former St. Louis school board member Bill Haas is bowing out of the current race for the board two open seats.
Tuesday was the last day for candidates to file for the election April 4th.
Current president Darnetta Clinkscale, interim board member James Buford, both backed by Mayor Francis Slay, are running, as well as board watchdog Peter Downs, Donna Jones, and Haas.
But Haas says he's been told the candidates outside the mayor's slate will do better if he's not on the ticket.
"So I'm doing the unselfish thing, and even though I think we might be a favorite, the conventional wisdom would be we have a better chance to get two elected, which is what we need to change the power on the board, if we have less candidates," Haas said.
Haas announced he's leaving the race at the school board meeting Tuesday night.