Candidates Discuss Issues, Election at Luncheon

Candidates for the State House, Senate, and Jackson County Legislature participated in a panel discussion at the Grain Valley Partnership luncheon on August 14th.

The luncheon, held at OOIDA’s headquarters, featured guest speakers State Representative for District 32 and candidate for the Jackson County Legislature Jeanie Lauer, Missouri Senator Mike Cierpiot, State Representative for District 33 Donna Pfautsch, Jan Brill, Democratic candidate for the 32nd District House seat, and Sarah Olson, representative for Congressman Sam Graves office.

Rep. Lauer began the panel discussion with an overview of her recent work in the House, including the passage of the 911 bill (HB 1456), creating a statewide 911 system

which she has championed for the past eight years. Lauer has termed out of the House, but threw her hat into the Jackson County Legislature race after Greg Grounds dropped out.

District 33 Representative Donna Pfautsch is running for her final term in the House. Her district includes parts of eastern Jackson County and Cass County.

Pfautsch outlined her work on several bills related to early childhood and gifted education, as well as HB 1525/SB644 which closed loopholes related to unclaimed property.

Missouri State Senator Mike Cierpiot for District 8 spoke about a number of bills passed in the most recent session, including SB 884 which cut the corporate tax rate from 6.5% to 4.0%. Cierpiot stated

this makes Missouri the state with the second lowest rate (North Carolina has the lowest rate), and he believes this will help Missouri be competitive in attracting business to the state.

Cierpiot also discussed several ballot issues voters will consider in November, including three separate bills related to medical marijuana. Cierpiot will face Democrat Hillary Shields of Lee’s Summit in the

November election.

Janice Brill, Democratic candidate for the Missouri House District 32 seat being vacated by Lauer, spoke to the group about her background and reasons for running for office. Brill, a retired teacher, recalled her years teaching civics.

“The Civics teacher in me believes voters should be offered a choice”, Brill said.

Upon seeing that Jeff Coleman, Republican candidate for the District 32 House seat, was running unopposed, she decided to run to give District 32 voters the opportunity to make that choice.

Brill stated she believes there is too much money wrapped up in elections, and she looks forward to showing what a candidate can do without a lot of money to spend on a campaign.

Jeff Coleman, Republican candidate for the District 32 House seat, was not in attendance at the event.

The general election will be held November 6, 2018.

Rep. Jeanie Lauer, Missouri District 32, answers a question during the August 14th Grain Valley Partnership luncheon. Janice Brill, Democratic candidate for the seat Lauer will vacate due to term limits, is seated at left.