In 2005 he was recalled from his position as alderman after supporting a controversial redevelopment proposal, using eminent domain to acquire homes to build a gas station.
In March 2011, Bauer defeated incumbent 24th Ward alderman Bill Waterhouse in the Democratic primary, but lost to independent candidate Scott Ogilvie in the April general election.
Bauer won the crowded Democratic primary with less than 50% of the vote, and went on to win the general election by a wide margin.
[1] As a member of the state legislature, Bauer was noted for his support of legislation to preserve neighborhood schools.
The race was again dominated by the division between Bauer's base of support in the Dogtown neighborhood versus the Hill.
[2] A few months after his unsuccessful bid for re-election as state representative, Bauer filed to run for a position on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen.
As alderman, Bauer was a proponent of efforts to bring residential and commercial redevelopment to the neighborhoods in his ward.
However, the neighborhood's central location and proximity to Forest Park began attracting more middle and upper class residents.
Developers began demolishing some of the older single family homes and building attached luxury townhouses.
Opposition crystallized around a proposal to use eminent domain to acquire and demolish several homes and small businesses for a new gas station and convenience store.
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's Kelo v. New London decision, eminent domain was one of the most prominent issues.
[6] The recall created a vacancy on the Board of Aldermen, and a special election was called to fill the seat.
Approximately a week before the election, a settlement was reached allowing Bauer to continue to use the donkey, but requiring him to remove the word "Democrat" from any of his campaign materials.
In the primary election on March 6, 2007, Waterhouse handily beat Bauer with nearly 58 percent of the vote in a two-way race.