Values
As your State Representative, I will roll up my sleeves and immediately get to work on a number of issues important to the 113th House District:
Creating Jobs, Rebuilding Our Economy
Job creation in Cole County is job number one. It is time to engage job growth and keep our skilled workforce intact. Cole County needs a new economic approach that creates and maintains better paying jobs, taps into our unrivaled, existing assets and diversifies our economy. As your State Representative, I will fight to ensure that the jobs and industries of the 21st Century—health care, technology, skilled labor, business and professional services begin to take root and expand, right here, in Cole County.
Restoring Fiscal Discipline
Just like all hardworking Missouri families have learned during these lean economic times, state government must tighten its belt and limit spending to necessities. We must also ensure that government can continue to serve all Missourians more efficiently and effectively by aggressively working to find ways to cut pork and streamline government. It all begins with demanding transparity, responsibility, and accountability in all areas of state government. As your state representative, I will bring a much-needed sense of fiscal discipline and responsibility to the Missouri budget process. I will demand that state government live within its means just like all Missouri families are already doing.
Empowering State Workers and Retirees
State workers and retirees are the backbone of our local economy and the cornerstone of our community. Many live, work and retire right here in Missouri’s capital city and county. State workers deserve fair compensation for their hard work and retirees deserve a pension benefit for their many years of dedicated service. As your State Representative, I will fight for fair compensation and benefits for our state workers and retirees without increasing taxes of hardworking Missourians.
Strengthening Our Public Schools
The jobs of the future demand more from our schools. We must support and equip our teachers and schools with the tools and resources they need to prepare our children for success. Having graduated from St. Peters Grade School, Helias High School, Lincoln University, and Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and as a former substitute teacher in the Jefferson City Public School District, I understand the importance of ensuring that every child in the 113th House District has the opportunity to receive a top-notch education. As your State Representative, I will fight to ensure each child's success by working to attract quality teachers to our schools, by promoting high academic achievement and by ensuring adequate funding for our children. We must also work to ensure our four-year universities, community colleges, and vocational programs are affordable and accessible to any Missourian who wishes to pursue advanced educational opportunities.
Time to Stand Up for Family Farms
My grandparents were born on family farms in Missouri. Agriculture has been an important part of our community for centuries. Today, many Missouri family-owned and operated farms are fighting for survival with increased competition from large, corporate farms. Family farms are essential to the long-term survival of rural Missouri and to preserve our diverse, home-raised food supply. As your State Representative, I will take the lead to ensure that family-owned and operated farms are an equally important part of our community today, as well as tomorrow.
Missourians Deserve Quality, Affordable Health Care
We live in the greatest country in the world, yet far too many of our children and senior citizens live without access to quality, affordable health care. As your State Representative, I will fight to ensure that individuals and small businesses have access to affordable group plans and that no Missourian is denied because of a pre-existing condition or forced to choose between food and medicine. Missouri's children, senior citizens and small businesses should have access to quality, affordable health care without increasing the taxes of hardworking Cole County men and women.
Gun Ownership: A Constitutional Right
As a fellow gun owner, it is my firm belief that law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to own and possess firearms. Missourians have a legal right to own guns to protect their families and put food on their table. As your State Representatve, I intend to vigorously defend the rights of Missouri gun owners.
Preserving Missouri’s Resources
We must safeguard Missouri's natural resources, water, fish and wildlife. As your State Representative, I will work for greater access to clean air and quality water systems. I will push for the protection of healthy and nourshing food sources and diverse, thriving ecosystems to ensure continued use and enjoyment for our own and future generations.
