Jason Hannasch moved to Saint Louis in 1989. Since then, he has become an influential advocate for political and economic reform in the city. He served as the executive director of Citizens for Home Rule and Empower Saint Louis from 2000 to 2004. In 2002, he managed the statewide campaign for a constitutional amendment granting home rule to Saint Louis, which was approved by nearly 70 percent of Missouri voters. He has also served on the board of directors of Metropolis–Saint Louis, a group devoted to revitalizing the city. He holds a B.S. in business administration from the University of Missouri–Saint Louis.