Priorities:
Common Sense Legislation:
I came to St Louis, Missouri in January 1982 to begin working at McDonnell-Douglas. I had just graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering.
I was excited to be moving to St Louis. Coming from a relatively small town, I couldn’t wait to move to a big city. And Missouri was known as the “Show-Me” state. I loved that.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Missourians could be counted on for reasonableness, common sense, and moderate political views. The elected officials representing these folks reflected their constituents’ views in their voting record.
This all changed when Republicans took over the legislature about two decades ago. The common-sense approach to politics and moderate views were abandoned and replaced with extremism. I promise that as your state representative, I will work across the aisle to align Missourians values with our state legislation.
Reproductive Freedom
Reproductive rights are under attack in Missouri. Since Roe v Wade was overturned in June 2022, women have been denied safe abortions. Without laws guaranteeing reproductive rights, with no exceptions for rape or incest, women are being forced to endure unimaginable pain, suffering, and sometimes death. Women’s lives are literally at risk without access to a safe, medically performed abortion, with trained doctors and nurses.
Missouri was one of the first states to immediately sign into law an abortion ban for essentially all cases. This extreme, draconian reproductive law is not the majority view of Missourians. I promise as state representative, I will work to bring sensible reproductive rights back to Missourians.
Excellent Public Schools
We Missourians want the best schools for all our children, not just for those who can afford it. Funds are being transferred out of our public schools directly into private schools. This is a concerted and unprecedented attack on our public school system that must be reversed for our children’s sake. Currently, Missouri is ranked at the bottom when it comes to teachers’ pay. We can and must do better for our teachers and our children.
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I believe every child deserves a top-notch education in a safe environment. I promise to fight for fully funded public schools and an increase in teachers’ pay.
Flourishing Working Families
One of great things about our community is the many thriving, middle-class families that call St Charles their home. These families rely on good paying union jobs. We Missourians have declared ourselves pro-union and we have rejected the attempts by the minority to institute Right-to-Work laws. Missourians want a living wage that enables Missouri families to thrive. That’s what unions do. They lift the standard for all of us, union and non-union alike.
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As your state representative, I will always fight for the freedom to organize and collective bargain for our hardworking Missourian work force. I will fight all attempts to weaken our great union organizations.
Support our Military and Veterans
I grew up moving around the country with my military family. My father was a pilot in the United States Air Force (USAF) for over 20 years.
I am proud of my father’s military career. In 1968, he was sent to Vietnam for a one-year tour in the Forward Air Control, flying small planes at 1500 feet, marking the enemy locations for airstrikes. When he returned from combat duty, he was a different person, suffering from PTSD, although no one knew that at the time. Even my nine-year-old self could perceive the difference in my daddy.
Those who have given so much to our country and the families of these veterans and current service members, deserve the very best Missouri can offer them. They should have the best healthcare, post-military employment opportunities, and community support for their families. I am inspired by their sacrifice for our nation and I promise to work across the aisle to ensure that military families and our veterans have access to all the tools they need for a healthy, bright future.