ST. LOUIS  •  Antonio French, the St. Louis alderman who rose to notoriety in Ferguson after the police shooting of Michael Brown, has joined Hillary Clinton's campaign in Missouri. 

French has signed on for a paid position as Clinton's deputy communications director in the state. 

"This race is too important to sit on the sidelines," French said. 

French said his role will be focused on the March 15 Democratic primary. 

Clinton is hoping to stave off rival Bernie Sanders, particularly with strong support in the black community where French is an influential voice. Clinton visited the Ferguson area last year when rolling out her national campaign. 

French said it would be a mistake for the party to nominate Sanders. He said Sanders' ideas aren't practical for modern politics. 

"Most of what Bernie Sanders is promising and what he wants to see done is absent of the reality of today's America," French said. "You need somebody who can actually get things done."