Bill was born in Denver, from teacher Brian Aatos Stanmourne (1933-) and Samantha Edwards (1934-), who would later serve as Mayor of Denver from 1995 to 2000. He entered politics in 1981 by joining the Progressive Party, being promoted to Superintendent of the Denverite branch after completing university in 1988. Within the party, he joined the Johnsonite faction and was one of the main architects of the Memorable Coalition.