Biography
Cyrus Dashtaki lives and works in the 113th Legislative District in Jefferson City. Cyrus is a state prosecutor for the State of Missouri. Born and raised in Jefferson City, Cyrus represents the 4th generation of his family to reside in Missouri. His parents, both recently retired state workers, still live in Jefferson City. All of Cyrus’s twelve Aunts and Uncles, sixteen first cousins and his extended family also live in Cole County.
Cyrus attended St. Peter’s Grade School from kindergarten through eighth grade. While in junior high at St. Peter’s, Cyrus served as a Sunday School volunteer. As a 1997 graduate of Helias High School, Cyrus learned first hand the importance of community service. During high school, he volunteered as a Jefferson City Family YMCA youth soccer coach for his younger brother Darius and teacher’s aide at St. Stanislaus Grade School in Wardsville for his Christian Service projects. Following high school, Cyrus attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
While studying business at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Cyrus was deeply involved in student activities and in the community. Cyrus belonged to multiple organizations, including Students in Free Enterprise and the Student Government Association. Elected by fellow students, he served as a representative on the Student Government Association’s Executive Board. Cyrus responded to students’ concerns and acted as a liaison between the students and the administration. While in college, he worked as a substitute teacher in the Jefferson City Public School District. This experience reaffirmed Cyrus's commitment to elementary and secondary education.
During college, Cyrus also worked as a legislative intern for members of the Missouri State House of Representatives. He assisted the Representatives and their staff by responding to constituent concerns and researching education and economic policy issues. This experience helped to forge Cyrus's belief that lawmakers must learn to value the importance of working across the aisle to eliminate stalemates caused by partisan bickering in the legislature. Cyrus graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2002.
Following college, Cyrus attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis. Working two jobs helped Cyrus pay for his way through law school. In between classes, Cyrus worked as a legal intern for the City of St. Louis prosecuting cases in its criminal division. On nights and weekends, he worked at a local hardware store helping customers plan and solve their home improvement projects.
After receiving his law degree from Washington University in 2005, Cyrus bypassed higher paying legal jobs and began his career as an Assistant Attorney General with then Attorney General Jay Nixon. Cyrus serves as a trial prosecutor handling consumer fraud, labor and employment law, and specializing in public accommodation cases.
As state prosecutor since 2005, Cyrus has prosecuted cases to protect Missouri families from deceptive and unfair trade practices, enforced Missouri's civil rights laws, fought for the rights of Missouri workers, and ensured accessibility for all persons in places of public accommodation throughout Missouri. In this capacity, Cyrus serves on the Health Care Fraud Task Force and Financial Fraud Task Force, and has helped put into action Missouri’s new Unauthorized Alien Worker Act.
In March of 2009, Attorney General Chris Koster asked Cyrus to help him develop and implement the new Civil, Disability and Workers Rights Division in the Attorney General’s Office. Cyrus is licensed to practice in all courts in the State of Missouri and is active in the Cole County Bar Association and Missouri Bar Association. Cyrus also served as a member of the 2007-08 Missouri Bar Leadership Academy.
In addition to his legal work, Cyrus is active in the community, and is a member of numerous civic organizations, including: Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce; Jefferson City Knights of Columbus #1054; and the Jefferson City NAACP. Cyrus also serves as a youth mentor for the Missouri Valley Big Brothers, Big Sisters, a founding member of the Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals and a Board Member for the Bob Emig Youth Sports Foundation, a not-for-profit that promotes the development of youth through participation in organized sports. In his free time, Cyrus enjoys spending time with his family and friends, college football, Cardinals baseball, Chiefs football, traveling and reading.
Cyrus is prepared to advocate for and represent the people of the 113th House District. His background as an attorney and state worker, as well as his community involvement, have made him aware of the issues facing the citizens of 113th House District. Cyrus will be a fierce advocate for the 113th House District and is an outstanding voice for people of all ages and backgrounds. He has the energy and determination to make sure his constituents' needs are both heard and met.
Cyrus is ready to lead the fight to restore and return the voice of the Common Citizen. He firmly believes in putting people first. Cyrus is committed to putting the interests of hardworking families, state workers, small-farm operators, small business owners, teachers, veterans, and folks that believe in common sense and moderate solutions over the special interests that have a stranglehold on the legislature.
Cyrus is a candidate who receives support from both Republicans and Democrats. He will use his ability to reach across the aisle and his non-partisan approach to issues to find practical solutions to problems. Cyrus is committed to fighting for job creation and greater economic development that increases the quality of life and future of the 113th House District, Jefferson City, Cole County, and Mid-Missouri.
As your State Representative, Cyrus will roll up his sleeves and immediately get to work on a number of issues important to the district, including: going to bat for hardworking Missouri families and state workers; aggressively working to find ways to cut pork and streamline government; supporting elementary and secondary education; standing up for family and small-farm operators; encouraging economic development and higher paying job growth in the district; and pushing for tougher penalties for violators of Missouri’s consumer fraud laws.
