The Missouri Times — Fall 2019 Magazine by Missouri Times

MAGAZINE FALL 2019

Fighting for her community

JAMILAH NASHEED AROUND THE CAPITOL SHOW-ME GOVERNMENT

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Opinion

6 | Carl Bearden The reality of Medicaid expansion 7 | Charles Andy Arnold The role of VLTs in Missouri

deep policy dive

8| Transportation funding 9 | Jail reimbursements

Show-Me Government 12 | Kirk Mathews 14 | Quinton Lucas 15 | Randall Williams 20 | Sarah Jones

Sen. Jamilah Nasheed

16 | The legacy of the senior senator 19 | Q & A with Sen. Nasheed

ON THE COVER

Sen. Jamilah Nasheed near her home in Old North St. Louis. Photograph by Alisha Shurr/The Missouri Times.

Publisher: Scott Faughn | Writers: Alisha Shurr and Kaitlyn Schallhorn | Sales: Jim Benoist

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LETTER FROM THE STAFF They say you can always go home. And this year, I did just that. I can still remember the day we moved from Lebanon to a new city across the country. The moving truck was finally packed, the family minivan loaded with suitcases, valuables, stuffed animals, and our calico cat. Everyone was ready to go. Except me. I sat — for as long as I could — on the blue and green swing set in the backyard. I took in the fragrant lilac tree outside my bedroom window, the massive weeping willow whose roots were in a constant battle with the underground sewer system, and the playhouse, a miniature replica of our home that my grandfather had painstakingly built for my sister and me one summer. I remember clutching to the swingset — my adolescent heart suddenly realizing the world was much larger than Lebanon, Missouri — terrified of the next chapter. Fast forward more than a decade later, and once again I found myself clinging to what was about to be my former home in Brooklyn, New York. A moving truck parked outside, a silver car packed to the brim with prized

possessions, old books, and an orange tabby cat. But this time, I was coming home. Missouri is the place where I learned how to ride a bike, write in cursive, and prepare for tornadoes. It’s also where I discovered my love for the written word and politics. And it’s where I’m still learning: discovering more Missouri history, the insides and out of state government, why Scott Faughn loves the Cardinals. Everyday, covering the state Capitol has presented fresh challenges, fast friendships, a newfound appreciation for the Show-Me State, and pride that I get to work, day in and day out, with the people here. Thank you for welcoming me back to Missouri. We hope you enjoy the latest edition of The Missouri Times Magazine, the first I’ve had the honor of taking part in. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Reporter 5

MEDICAID EXPANSION:

Selling snake oil to the masses

Opinion

BY CARL BEARDEN

The debate about the cost of Medicaid has raged since the beginning of government-run healthcare. It was exacerbated by “We Have to Pass the Bill So That You Can Find Out What Is In It” Obamacare. Originally, states were to be required to expand Medicaid, the impact on state budgets be damned. Fortunately, the Supreme Court rightfully ruled that it was unconstitutional, and Medicaid expansion became “optional.” States that have expanded Medicare are struggling with patient outcomes. The impacts on state budgets have been significant. Estimates for participation have been grossly inaccurate. We had an early warning from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment (OHIE) that Medicaid expansion would not significantly improve healthcare outcomes and would increase costs. Both of these outcomes are being experienced today in states with expansion. The outcomes vary somewhat by state, but the overall experience bears out the OHIE results. Missouri taxpayers may be asked to shoulder the burden of Medicaid expansion, which will come at the expense of other state programs. It’s no surprise the effort is backed by hospitals that made the original unconstitutional bargain with the devil without taxpayers or their elected officials’ consent. Now, they are trying to deceive voters into approving their bailout. One of the biggest “sales” points is alleged “savings.” Data from other states show there is little to no savings. “States have consistently and grossly missed their expansion enrollment projections, already signing up more than twice as many able-bodied adults than they anticipated would sign up at any point in the future,” according to an analysis by Jonathan Ingram and Nicholas Horton. Third-party and federal government estimates have been grossly — some might say purposely — low compared to real enrollment numbers. The optimistic projections are made

by people who support increasing the burden on Missouri taxpayers. They stand in stark contrast to the projections from the state departments that actually run the program in the state. These departments implementing Medicaid daily, project an additional cost to the state of at least $200 million per year. In Arizona, the Goldwater institute published a study showing: “Total charges for all payment groups (public and private) went up, but Medicaid charges in Arizona’s emergency departments alone, increased more than 300 percent.” A recently released study from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing shows that, although reimbursements to hospitals went up after Medicaid expansion, prices jumped even more. It’s not a surprise that the primary pusher of Medicaid expansion in Missouri is the Missouri Hospital Association! We should be inclined to believe those who implement and manage the Medicaid programs daily over those who want expansion but are not responsible for its cost and have a track record of being wrong. The proponents have already been tugging at emotional heartstrings through various planted articles. These articles are intended to distract from the fact that healthcare outcomes don’t significantly improve with expansion, but the cost to state taxpayers increases. The OHIE outcomes were proven accurate in a recent study of California’s Medicaid expansion, which found no “significant improvements in patient health” and “substantially greater hospital and emergency room use.” Having Medicaid access does not guarantee timely access to healthcare providers. Studies have consistently shown increased use of emergency room services in states that expanded Medicaid. Adding more people to a broken system will only break the system even more. You will also hear that by not expanding Medicaid, Missouri tax dollars are being sent to other states that have expanded. This statement is simply false

propaganda. If Missouri were to expand Medicaid today, NO state would receive less money for their expansion programs than they received yesterday. That’s not how the program works, and those who make such claims to the contrary are either ignorant of the facts or being blatantly dishonest. Our country borrows money to provide for the ongoing services that we cannot afford. Missouri’s lack of expansion reduces that deficit, that borrowing, by not requiring additional borrowed Chinese funds be expended here. We should be looking for ways to reduce our spending, not increasing it. Doubling down on ineffective Medicaid expansion is not the solution to rising costs and improving access to healthcare. Missouri should take the lead in reforming its Medicaid program by promoting affordable alternatives to traditional health care. Short Term Limited Duration (STLD) plans is one example of what Missouri could be doing to promote alternatives. These plans became more viable after rule changes by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Obamacare’s onerous mandates do not apply to these plans, which means they can be made available to citizens at a significantly lower cost than Obamacare plans. These are not long term plans but should be just one of the many available options presented to citizens who need them. There will be a lot of discussion over the next few months on this issue. Don’t be fooled into buying the snake oil the proponents are selling. Adding more people to a broken system will not fix the system. The Show-Me state should learn from the mistakes and successes of other states and develop a Medicaid program that actually provides access to services for the neediest among us and is fiscally responsible to those paying for it. Medicaid expansion accomplishes neither. Carl Bearden is the CEO of United for Missouri and a former Speaker Pro Tem in the House.

Opinion

Legalize VLTs and generate new revenue, eliminate illegal gambling machines BY CHARLES ANDY ARNOLD Missouri voters have approved five exceptions to the constitution’s general prohibition against gambling. These exceptions allow the Missouri legislature to enact laws to permit bingo and lottery games, pari-mutuel wagering on horse races, casino gambling, raffles, and sweepstakes. These exceptions contain conditions and restrictions on who or where these games may be authorized by law. Of these five gaming activities, only the Missouri Lottery, Art. 3, Sec. 39(b), is allowed to conduct games of chance on a state-wide basis. In comparison: • Bingo games can only be conducted at certain times and only by not-for-profit entitiesArt. 3, Sec. 39(a); • Pari-mutuel wagering of horse races can only be conducted at a licensed horse track in the state- Art. 3, Sec. 39(d); • Casino gambling can only be conducted on a licensed “excursion” gambling boat located within 2,000 feet of the Missouri or Mississippi Rivers- Art. 3, Sec. 39(e); and, • Raffles and sweepstakes can only be conducted by a nationally recognized charitable or religious

entity- Art. 3, Sec. 39(f). So Missouri law is clear: The only entity that can conduct games of chance anywhere within the state is the Missouri Lottery. Current lottery games generate approximately $340 million annually for Missouri education programs. New lottery game options on the horizon with potential big payoffs for Missouri education programs include video lottery, sports book parlay kiosks, and I-lottery. Combined, these three games have the potential to nearly double annual revenue for Missouri education programs from lottery game play. The biggest revenue producer of the new games, video lottery, is estimated to generate $175 million annually for Missouri education programs within 4 years. Video lottery terminals (VLTs) offer lottery players a variety of games to choose from on a single terminal, guarantee the player a fair game with multiple play and payout levels for winning plays, and are connected to a state-ofthe-art centralized computer system capable of monitoring VLT game plays in real-time. VLT game plays would be limited to a max wager of $5 per play, and a max payout for a winning

play of $1,000. VLTs would be placed in age-controlled environments such as bars and taverns with liquor by the drink licenses, fraternal and veteran’s clubs, truck stops, and other locations that provide an isolated area where VLTs are only accessible to persons 21 years and over to prevent underage access and play. All VLT locations would have to be under constant video and adult surveillance and supervision during operational hours. This level of oversight and enforcement is tougher than any currently required by Missouri law. Additionally, VLT manufacturers, operators, and retailers would be required to undergo an intensive background investigation and acquire a license from the Missouri Lottery to use VLT machines. Penalties for misuse or allowing underage play can lead to major fines, suspension, and ultimately revocation of licenses to offer VLTs and other lottery products as well as selling alcohol. In addition to the new revenues for Missouri education programs, VLTs are projected to generate millions in economic development from investment and new job:

• Up to $11 million annually in new sales taxes; •Up to $463 million in new private investment; and, • Over 21,000 new direct and indirect jobs during the 4-year start-up period. In addition to the direct revenues to Missouri education programs and the economic development benefits, VLTs would displace gray gaming devices that put Missouri retailers in legal jeopardy of losing their businesses. These machines skirt the law with claims of not being games of chance because they offer the player a “pre-reveal” or “look-forward” option. But regardless of the gimmick, in reality they are merely the next generation of illegal gambling games deemed illegal in 1984 by the Missouri courts and more recently in 2017 by the Missouri Gaming Commission. Missouri legislators have an opportunity to generate new revenues for Missouri education programs and eradicate illegal gambling machines by approving the use of video lottery terminals to conduct lottery games. Charles Andy Arnold is a veteran lobbyist with longstanding experience in state gambling policy.

PHOTO BY ALISHA SHURR

Policy

Rocheport Bridge, bonding ‘just beginning’ of finding transportation funding solutions

BY ALISHA SHURR

Missourians are getting what they pay for when it comes to transportation infrastructure, according to Director of Transportation Patrick McKenna. And the state has about $8 billion to $10 billion in unfunded needs. A plan passed out of the legislature this year addressed “a small percentage” of the unfunded needs, officials said. Overall, state officials are still looking for a long-term solution for Missouri’s transportation infrastructure. “This [plan] is just the beginning,” Gov. Mike Parson told reporters. “We are going to have to keep going back to the legislature, we are going to have to go back to the people maybe at some point.” “There is no doubt … this isn’t a long term solution for transportation needs in Missouri,” McKenna said. “It is really important, but you are looking at a small percentage overall of the unfunded need.” The plan both state officials are referring to include replacing the Rocheport Bridge and investing more than $350 million — through bonding and a cost-share program — in statewide infrastructure. In July, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) was awarded an $81.2 million Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant from the federal government to replace the I-70 Missouri River Bridge in Rocheport. The overall project is expected to cost $255.8 million. The grant triggered a controversial $301 million bond for Missouri’s bridges. The bonding, approved by the General Assembly this year, will be repaid out of the general revenue over a seven-year period. It’s predicted to cost about $46 million per year and included an additional $50 million allocated from the general revenue to “jump-start”

the projects. About 215 bridges across the state will either be repaired or replaced with the bonding funds. Proponents of the plan noted this will free up $301 million already committed to these bridge projects in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program to enable other high-priority transportation needs across the state. Additionally, the legislature approved a Transportation Cost-Share Program. The state is set to put $50 million toward local projects which satisfy a “transportation need” and is expected to cost more than $200,000. The program will match up to 50 percent of the construction contract costs of selected projects. “I think what’s really important for the Rocheport Bridge project is what that does for the rest of the state,” Parson said. “What we’ve done at the federal level — what Sen. [Roy] Blunt was able to obtain — how much that frees us up to do a lot more projects all across the state. I think in probably the next year, you’ll see major projects across the state of Missouri because of what we got done here today.” “I think we saw some really innovative approaches from the governor and the legislature, even after defeat at the polls to make some progress,” McKenna said. “And it is really important progress.” But the state still has a ways to go in addressing the overall transportation infrastructure needs of the state. “This is the beginning. It, by far, is not the solution to everything,” Parson said. Missouri has one of the largest transportation infrastructure systems in the nation — while spending per mile ranks at the bottom. In fact, the Show-Me State ranks 49th on dollars per mile spent. The state has between $8 billion and $10 bil-

lion of unfunded transportation infrastructure needs statewide, McKenna noted. The state’s fuel tax, which partially funds the system, has not kept up inflation, he added. Only Alaska has a lower fuel tax than Missouri. When the Sinking Creek Bridge was built in the 1920s, it cost $37,000. The replacement bridge — which is a conservative, no-frills plan, according to McKenna — cost $2.8 million, or around 75 times the original bridge. He pointed out the fuel tax was one cent when the bridge was built while it is 17 cents today. “We are getting the conditions we are paying for. And we are actually getting a pretty good value,” McKenna said. Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe told supporters at his campaign kickoff that a long-term solution is needed. But finding a long-term solution is no easy task. Increasing the fuel tax by 10 cents failed at the ballot in 2018 — and several times before that. The fuel tax increase was actually one of the recommendations by the 21st Century Missouri Transportation System Task Force. The group, led by then-Rep. Kevin Corlew outlined a number of legislative remedies it said would address issues and concerns about the highway system and funding for it. Lawmakers also filed legislation again this year to increase the fuel tax. In a 2018 tax cut bill, then-Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr proposed increasing vehicle user fees, which were put in statute in 1984, in line with inflation. The provision was ultimately stripped from the measure. “We just have to continue to make that case to the citizens, that this investment is actually in their own assets — the roads and bridges they use every day,” McKenna said.

Missouri’s jail reimbursement program ‘one of a kind’: A look at the backlog

Policy

BY KAITLYN SCHALLHORN Missouri’s “one of a kind” jail reimbursement program has caused consternation as the backlog to repay counties hit nearly $33 million for the 2019 fiscal year. Missouri has a unique program in that the state — through the Department of Corrections (DOC) — reimburses county jails for housing, transporting, and otherwise taking care of individuals convicted of a felony. The reimbursement covers some costs accrued even before an individual is sentenced, according to the DOC. The department has three different types of reimbursement payments: • Bill of costs: expenses resulting from various costs and fees from prosecution of certain crimes • Extradition: expenses resulting from a fugitive who is brought to Missouri to face disposition of criminal charges • Transportation: expenses resulting from convicted offenders who are delivered to state prison While there is no limit to how many inmates a county can house — and thus request reimbursement for — the state does have a limit per inmate per day. Statute allows for reimbursement of up to $37.50 per day, but the current rate set is $22.58 per day, according to the department.

A look at the backlog The department has been under scrutiny for the past few years over the backlog it’s accrued in repaying counties — with department officials blaming the “discrepancy” between the money it has to pay out and what’s been allocated by the General Assembly. The Missouri legislature is responsible for approving state departments’ budgets. Recent data showed the department owed counties nearly $33 million for the 2019 fiscal year. St. Louis city and county, as well as Greene and Jackson counties, have the largest arrearage, according to recent data. The Missouri legislature approved about $43.3 million for the department’s total budget in 2019. It has approved about $44 million for the 2020 fiscal year. Counties are approved for reimbursement based on the date of the receipt — not incarceration. The department awards reimbursements at the start of each quarter but often hits its allotment wall after only three days, Karen Pojmann, a department spokeswoman, said. At a House hearing, county officials said the backlog has put a strain on their own budgets. “Some sheriffs are talking about having to lay off deputies, myself included,” Lewis County Sheriff David Parrish said.

“It’s become clear that the way we’re handing prisoner reimbursement isn’t working for anyone involved,” House Budget Chair Cody Smith said. “I believe there are things the state can provide, like a statewide electronic monitoring platform, that will help reduce these costs.” This year, the General Assembly approved $5 million for a pretrial electronic monitoring program. That program has not yet been implemented, however. “If we’re able to drive down expenses for counties and the state, we can then go back and systematically address the arrearage that has accumulated,” he said. Another person familiar with the program from its inception suggested it was originally a way to counter the overflow in state prisons. But as Missouri approves changes to mandatory minimum sentencing — and the state prison population declines — “maybe it’s time to relook at” it, a source said. A look at what’s to come Missouri’s system has changed in recent years — and officials are hoping to upgrade it further by 2020 with an electronic form process. And since late 2016, the department has assigned a “dedicated team” to go through reimbursement requests, ensuring mistakes have not been made and counties are not paid more than needed, Pojmann said.

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GOVERNMENT While many people making decisions impacting the lives of Missourians are elected by a vote of the people, some are industry experts with skills that have caught the eye of agency leaders â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or even the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief executive. This edition, The Missouri Times took an in depth look beyond regulatory decisions and into the lives of a wide range of those in government throughout Missouri.

Chief Transformation Officer

KIRK MATHEWS BY ALISHA SHURR After zip-zapping through rows of cubicles — a guide is necessary for newcomers — at the Howerton State Office Building, is an office with a whiteboard that looks more suited for an episode of The Big Bang Theory than a state bureaucrat. Kirk Mathews — who also is a fan of the decade-long sitcom — uses the dry erase board in his relatively new office to work out problems in Missouri’s Medicaid program. The former lawmaker is the head of the newly created Medicaid Office of Transformation. “I could not be more excited about the job. I really do love the work,” Mathews said. “I get to marry my career passions with an opportunity to help the state.” As the chief transformation officer, the Pacific native is tasked with making improvements to the multi-billion dollar state health care program, MO HealthNet. The Office of Transformation operates outside, but parallel to the state Medicaid office, and Mathews answered directly to MO HealthNet Director Todd Richardson. When Richardson — who was Speaker of the House while Mathews served in the chamber — was appointed to lead Missouri’s Medicaid program, Mathews said he sent him a congratulatory text. He also asked Richardson to let him know if he could help him. “He simply texted me back saying be careful what I asked for,” Mathews explained. “I’m glad I asked.” PHOTOS BY ALISHA SHURR

Show-Me Government

“It is really exciting work,” he continued. “Everything we do is shaped by the vision [Richardson] has cast, which is a commitment to being a best-inclass Medicaid program that provides services to Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens in a way that is financially sustainable.” Mathews added that Richardson’s desire is to put Medicaid on a sustainable path forward and change the course of MO HealthNet for the next 40 or 50 years. That task, according to Mathews, is monumental — which he says he didn’t comprehend until he got into his new position and started working. The biggest overhaul he wants to

the work and excited “to make some positive changes for our state. I think we have a good opportunity here.” After working for a company that recruited health care executives, Mathews branched out on his own. In 1997, he started a management company focused on hospitalists — physicians that only care for the hospitalized patient. He grew that company to employ physicians in 19 states before selling it in 2011. He has also authored a book on recruiting hospitalists and served on the Public Policy Committee of the Society of Hospital Medicine. Mathews noted he “kind of fell” into the health care industry.

got married and welcomed the birth of his first child. The couple would go on the have four total. After spending some time working in financial planning — a position he did not enjoy — he switched to recruiting health care executives on the advice of a high school friend. “My career and owning that company did a couple of things: It got me interested in changing the status quo, and it got me interested in public policy,” Mathews said. First elected to the Missouri House in 2014, he served two consecutive terms but opted not to run for a third in 2018. His wife became the primary caregiver for her father — who has

make to the program will also be the most difficult and long-term project. “I think the hallmark of our efforts will be bringing value-based payment methodology to the program. Health care across the country is shifting to paying for value, not volume. We still have some payment methodologies that are not only kind of archaic, but incredibly complicated. We want to put a payment mechanism that really provides incentive to add value to the health care equation,” said Mathews. Even with decades in the health care field, Mathews said he has a steep learning curve but that he is loving

Attending Northwest Missouri State on a football scholarship — he was named to an all-American team as a quarterback and resides in his university’s Hall of Fame — he originally majored in engineering. After eight hours of physics and eight hours of calculus, he knew he didn’t want to be an engineer. So, he changed his major to accounting. “When I graduated, the one thing I knew for certain was that I didn’t want to be an accountant either. So, I stuck around and got my master’s degree in business administration,” he said. While in graduate school, Mathews

since passed away — who was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. With her in Iowa, he stepped away from the legislature. The whole experience was “eye-opening.” Now, he is back to splitting his time between Jefferson City and Pacific, Missouri. Though, unlike as a lawmaker, the commute doesn’t end with session. “This is also not a permanently budgeted position. This is longer than a one year job, but it is not a life-time job. This is a couple or three years, trying to make the changes and put them in place,” said Mathews.

BY KAITLYN SCHALLHORN

Show-Me Government

As Kansas City has grown, acclimated, and revitalized itself — changed its circumstances, even — so too has its new mayor throughout his life. Unsurprisingly, Quinton Lucas has effortlessly glided into position at the helm of the City of Fountains. Lucas has that je ne sais quoi, that affability. He epitomizes the reemerging city. Lucas’ story has not gone untold, and for good reason. He was raised by a single mother (he never met his father) in the Kansas City area, moving around often. At times growing up, Lucas was homeless. Still, Lucas studied, attended a private school, and eventually graduated from Cornell University Law School. But despite his Ivy League education — and newfound proclivity for the East Coast — Lucas felt a pull, drawing him home to Missouri. The general marriage between law and public service aside, Lucas’ entry into the world of politics was relatively quiet. He worked on the campaign for former Democratic state Sen. Jeff Smith, who represented some of the St. Louis area. He also clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, finding a mentor in Judge Duane Benton, a man appointed by former-President George W. Bush. “I got to see almost a real bipartisan way of seeing things from him,” Lucas said. “He’s from southern Missouri, we’re both Baptists — just from different parts of the state — and that really got me to know more Republicans and people of all stripes in Missouri. I make no pretension of the fact that in my electoral coalition, I had a lot of support from Republicans, conservatives, and I’m proud of that.” Benton remembers Lucas working for him — first as an intern and then as his socalled “elbow clerk,” meaning he was literally by the judge’s side as they poured over draft opinions. “He was a great law clerk, bright, a good researcher,” Benton said. “He writes well, thinks well, and is able to take an objective view of a vast lot of issues, but he also understands when the Supreme Court has ruled, or other controlled courts have ruled, judges must follow.” For Lucas, 35, hitting the ground running as the city’s mayor wasn’t a difficult transition. Lucas was an “active” city councilman before the election, he said, having served on more committees than anyone else during his term. He joined the University of Kansas as a law professor — in fact, his campaign website boasted he’s “one of the youngest tenure-track” professors in the nation — and works still as an attorney for German May. And he was well aware he would be

Kansas City Mayor

QUINTON LUCAS coming at the job relying on his ability to navigate adversity. “I think it’s fair to say Mayor Sly James and I did not have a particularly close relationship — and still do not — so I think I knew that lots of what I would start doing would be brand new stuff, not really picking up something my predecessor was doing,” Lucas said. Lucas — affectionately dubbed “Mayor Q” — values transparency and questions. As the nation grapples with gun violence, Kansas City has not been immune to the epidemic — and Lucas isn’t afraid to question his own proposals as he works to crack down on the tragic deaths in his city. One of the first acts as mayor was to champion an ordinance banning the possession of handguns for minors in Kansas City. He admitted questions arose about whether state law would preempt the city ordinance and was adamant about not rushing the process to make sure it was done right. “I will always ask questions even if I’m gung-ho on a path,” Lucas said. “We’re not supposed to throw up laws that are terribly written or terrible guidance to the people of Kansas City. And that’s the sort of work I do.”

And as he leads Kansas City, Lucas remains critical of tax incentives for large corporations — a position he’s long held. He maintains they are “overused” and Kansas City has greater needs — road infrastructure and affordable housing, just to name a couple — that should take precedence. “We have forgotten, I think, of our taxpayers and our tax base. Taxpayers approve levying increases on taxes because they want to make sure the roads are taken care of, the schools are good,” Lucas said. “What they’re not doing is saying we want to subsidize one-off economic development projects. I think before we’re redirecting tax revenues, we need to be very serious about taking care of everything we need to.” Even from his fandom of the Chiefs (particularly quarterback Patrick Mahomes), it’s clear Lucas loves Kansas City and is proud of the place he represents — especially its renaissance and strong relationships. “I feel so positive about the culture of Kansas City. I think it’s forward-looking and optimistic, and I’m proud of that as far as our future goes,” Lucas said. And with Mayor Q at the helm, forward is the only path for Kansas City.

Show-Me Government

Director of Health and Senior Services

RANDALL WILLIAMS

PHOTO BY ALISHA SHURR BY KAITLYN SCHALLHORN Dr. Randall Williams isn’t from Missouri, but unless he mentions it, you probably wouldn’t realize that about the bow tie-clad man who oversees the Department of Health and Senior Services. Earlier this summer, Williams stumbled across a group of about a dozen singers from a Texas church visiting the Capitol building. Had they been given a tour of the building he loves so much? No. So Williams did, taking a video of the ensemble singing, promising to share it with the governor. After all, as Williams says, it’s in the DNA of Missourians to help one’s neighbor. Williams, an OBGYN, took over as the director of Health and Senior Services in 2017. Before that, Williams worked in North Carolina, his home state, as the director for its Department of Health and Human Services. He didn’t plan to leave the Tar Heel State for Missouri, a place he only briefly visited as a child, but after flying out for an interview, he was hooked. “I tell people all the time: I’m a North Carolinian by birth, a Missourian by choice, and both by God’s grace,” Williams said with a smile. Williams’ commitment to learning about and promoting Missouri is undeniable. He spent the first several weekends after he moved to the Show-Me State traveling to every county

in Missouri, sitting down with healthcare officials at all hours of the day and taking in their concerns. “It’s where I fell in love with Missouri — the beauty of the state and the basic goodness of its people,” Williams said. “It was and remains one of the greatest memories of my life, and everyone was incredibly gracious.” One issue that remained at the forefront of concerns brought to him as he traveled the state — both in rural and urban areas — was the opioid crisis. How the epidemic manifested itself varied by community, but it still affected nearly every, if not all, of Missouri’s counties. “We’ve got to move upstream, to the degree we can, so people don’t become addicted in the first place. ... The second [thing] is stopping the deaths in St. Louis” where most of the opioid fatalities in the state occur, Williams said of his plans to tackle the crisis. Aside from addiction, heroin or other drugs can be laced with fentanyl without the users’ knowledge, contributing more to accidental overdoses in the state. He said he’s most proud of the General Assembly passing a universal Narcan law in 2017, allowing anyone to obtain the life-saving antidote to overdoses under his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number. Additionally, Williams has a focus on improving health care access in rural areas, rolling out the medical marijuana initiative, improving women’s health care, and decreasing the maternal and infant mortality rates.

“It’s such a privilege to serve 6 million people that we get up everyday — whether it’s an infectious disease or the facilities they go into — that we’re looking after them,” Williams said. Williams also gets up every morning — at the crack of dawn — to go for a run with his dog Mo, who Williams says gets invited to more events than he. The pair starts their run before 5 a.m. and traipse along the Missouri River. “As I cross the bridge and look at the Capitol as the sun rises, I truly feel blessed and privileged to work with my colleagues as we work to serve the people of Missouri,” he said. Aside from his work on the East Coast, Williams has spent significant time in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Libya, volunteering, training, and assisting obstetricians. Williams said he’s placed a “huge premium” on going where the people are — whether that’s the Midwest or the Middle East. And he’s instructed his staff to have a “bias for action,” meaning they might forgo how the office was handled in the past to ensure the department is actively helping people now. “Our North Star is to help people. That has to be the basis for action. We’re not acting just to act. We’re acting to help people,” he said. It’s hard to tell what Williams loves more: Missouri or bow ties. The doctor owns at least 80, he says, but his favorite is one from – you guessed it — Missouri.

PHOTOS BY ALISHA SHURR

The legacy of

SEN. JAMILAH NASHEED BY KAITLYN SCHALLHORN Jamilah Nasheed didn’t plan to become a lawmaker. Sure, she was passionate about her St. Louis community and a staunch advocate for greater inclusion. But politics? That’s just “poli-tricks,” she liked to say. But here Nasheed is — more than 12 years after she joined the General Assembly as a state representative with virtually no platform — headed into her final year in the Senate. She’s solidified herself as a stalwart public ser-

vant, a woman with unparalleled conviction and drive to “give voice to the voiceless.” Nasheed has championed the expansion of the A+ scholarship program to Missouri’s unaccredited school districts, advocated for changes to the expungement process, fought for relative caregivers to make medical and educational decisions for minors in their custody, and brought awareness to the plight of sex trafficking. “I’m very compassionate and passionate about the people I

represent,” Nasheed said on a cold fall day from her home in St. Louis. “I fought extremely hard for the people, my constituents. It wasn’t just about having a title; it was about being able to impact lives, people’s lives.” When Nasheed got to the Capitol in 2007, she admits she had a lot to learn, from just what kind of role lobbyists play to where exactly the restrooms are located. Looking back, there’s a piece of advice she wishes she would have known — or, at the very least, hopes to impart on future

lawmakers. “It took me a while to understand the importance of the art of bipartisanship. Just going in, when I first got there, I was rah-rah Democrat. I wouldn’t go across the aisle, I wouldn’t talk to anyone over there on the other side,” Nasheed said. “I think if I was able to truly understand how important bipartisanship was, I could have gotten a lot more done.” “You’re either too far to the left or too far to the right, and I always pride myself on trying to

chart that middle course … because I know that extremism from the left or from the right is excessive. I think it does harm to the people who they seek to represent.” Nasheed credits Republicans with being some of her closest — albeit, unexpected — allies in the legislature. In particular, she pointed to former House Speaker Steven Tilley who gave Nasheed her first chairmanship: Urban Affairs. Tilley has worked with countless legislators from his time in the General Assembly to his work as a lobbyist. But it’s Nasheed who he said “cares more about her district” than anyone. “I look at her as an inspiration,” Tilley said. “She has a strength of character and honesty about her that is admirable. That woman, if she believes in a cause, will work herself to the bone for that cause. I don’t always agree with her on positions, but she is a sincere, heartfelt person that I’m blessed to know.” Nasheed made history as the first Muslim woman to serve in the Missouri General Assembly. The heart-rending story of her upbring has been told before: Her parents passed away when she was young. Her father killed in a drive by shooting, her mother died by suicide. Raised by her grandmother in poverty, Nasheed — born Jenise Williams — was a troublemaker. She joined a local gang of girls and eventually caused her family to be evicted. But she ultimately found religion from an unlikely source: a heroin addict who shared with her the Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple. “I didn’t believe in God for a long time. If there’s a God, then why don’t I have a mom, why don’t I have a father, why am I living in abject poverty?” Nasheed recalled. “It’s so deep because I never would have thought a heroin addict would want to give me that pamphlet and open my eyes and ears to believing there was a God.” She eventually changed her name to Jamilah Nasheed, the latter meaning “seeking knowledge.” It’s a fitting nod to her reputation in the Capitol as she studied the rulebook, learning maneuvers such as the “motion to reconsider” to keep her bills alive. She’s also developed a proclivity for noting when not enough members are on the floor during session — earning her the nickname “Queen of the Quorum Calls.” It started when she was a freshman representative. She wasn’t yet aware of the “unwritten rule in the House no one calls quorum except leadership,” Nasheed said. “I looked around, and I’m like, ‘Damn, nobody is here. Let’s see if this works,’” she laughed. And it did — sort of. Another freshman representative was presiding at the time and rang the bell, much to the dismay of leadership. After that, she only voted for quorums when she was in the House, going against the wishes of her own party, until she got to the Senate in 2013. “I can really do a quorum on the Senate side. Anybody can do a quorum!” As for what’s next for Nasheed, she’s mum about her options but has ruled out a continuation with politics. And yet, Nasheed didn’t plan to enter the political fray in the first place. Regardless of what’s to come, one thing is for certain: Nasheed will continue to be a voice for the voiceless.

When did you first decide to enter politics? I can go way back to when I was a kid. My grandma was going to be evicted from her house because I had too many violations. The management team said, ‘If this little girl can get so many signatures, we’ll let you stay.’ I had to literally go knock on everyone’s door and convince them to sign a petition to let my grandmother stay in the projects, and I got all those signatures. If anything can be said about you, you’re not afraid to stand up for your convictions. What gives you that drive? That from which I come. I came up in a rough and tough environment. The conviction I have when it comes to the indigent and the poor and the impoverished is in direct correlation of what I had to experience. So not only can I sympathize, I can empathize. What do you see for the future of the Democratic Party in Missouri? I think it’s going to eventually shift back to the Democrats [having some control], especially now that you have Clean Missouri and you have to draw those lines. I think it’s going to be more of a balancing act. Democrats need to run more candidates. They need to be able to be more competitive. And they need to have a universal platform where it’s open to everyone. I think Democrats are like that to some extent, but I think if a person is pro-life, why wouldn’t you let them in? What do you hope your legacy as a state lawmaker is? I’m a fighter. I’m a hard worker. At the end of the day, I want my legacy to be that I fought extremely hard for the indigent and for those who couldn’t speak for themselves.

gram. I championed legislation to give them a program. And the Annie Malone [Turnbo Legacy Award] stands out. She’s one of the first African American woman to become a millionaire. She owned an orphanage in St. Louis that’s still operational (Annie Malone Children & Family Service Center), and we put money in the budget for Annie Malone. That’s important to me because of the history.

devil. Certain things you don’t compromise. Just be who you are, and never let the title define you. Go with your heart; don’t let this get to your head.

We’re sitting here in your home surrounded by awards. Are there any in particular that stand out to you? The Harris-Stowe State University (Harriet Beecher Stowe Award; 2016). For 150 years, they were not able to have a graduate pro-

Any advice for newcomers? For all the newcomers, the young people who are coming into politics, I would highly recommend they study the rules and try to build relationships. I would tell them to work across party lines and don’t ever sell your soul to the

What is your favorite food and restaurant? I love pasta — fettuccine with mushrooms and spinach — and baked salmon. And I love Taco Tuesdays. My favorite restaurant is Alexandros in Jefferson City or Sameem Afghan Restaurant in St. Louis.

What do you do in your spare time? I like to shoot pool. I used to skate a lot. I like to go to the movies; I love to read; I like to walk my dog, Lima. I like to listen to jazz, and I love listening to the sounds of nature.

Assistant AG for Special Litigation

SARAH JONES

PHOTOS BY ALISHA SHURR BY KAITLYN SCHALLHORN

At just 24 years old, Sarah joined the Attorney General’s Office as an assistant attorney general of special litigation in August, making her one of the youngest members of the team. It’s an incredible accomplishment for sure, but if you’re acquainted with Sarah at all, you know she’s destined for greatness. I first met Sarah when we were both living in New York. She hosted a rooftop party in Brooklyn to celebrate, of all things, Kansas City barbeque. They had even flown in Oklahoma Joe’s (Sarah refuses to call it by its new name) for the party. Sarah’s life story — all that she’s accomplished and overcome in her 25 years — is nothing short of impressive. In fact, she likes to say her life has been “a series of unfortunate events that I somehow capitalized on.” Born in Springfield, Sarah spent most of her life in the Kansas City area. Her dad was a circuit judge who once made a bid for attorney general; her mom worked in real estate. Both were public servants. Her collegiate career began with John Brown University in Arkansas, an important place for her family. But by the end of her first year, Sarah knew she

ing that this study is bigger than me and is so powerful — literally life or death in some situations — is an honor.” “There’s a lot of power that comes with the law, and when it’s utilized correctly, it’s beautiful. When it’s utilized incorrectly, it’s terrifying. And that volatility is really interesting.” Sarah’s journey brought her to New York in late 2015 where she began to work for an organization focused on government transparency and accountability. While that organization has since changed and become somewhat defunct, it’s there Sarah said she learned the most. And it’s during that time when the two of us met through a mutual friend, Candice DiLavore. “Sarah Jones is one of the smartest, kindest, hardest-working people I’ve ever met. Her dedication to the law is inspiring as is her love and grace for those around her. I’m proud to know Sarah and am lucky to call her my friend,” Candice said. Sarah and I have been friends for a few years now — and a lot of that friendship I’ve spent being in awe of the multifacetedness of the vivacious woman I’ve come to know. She exudes both grace and confidence, is quick to listen but has a litany of outlandish stories to share, she’s affable and intellectual, classy yet down-to-earth. And she also has this uncanny ability to make you feel as though you’ve been close friends for your entire life. So yes, she likes to say her story is filled with unfortunate events she has ultimately turned around, but for those who come in contact with Sarah Jones, life is anything but unfortunate. Instead, when you’re in Sarah’s orbit, it’s a sparkling — albeit, at times clumsy — adventure.

Show-Me Government

wouldn’t be returning to Siloam Springs. Her mother, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, had taken a turn for the worse. Sarah still remembers that last day in July 2013, an unusual one when much of her extended family just happened to be at her home. Sarah and her sister stepped outside for a quick coffee run when a hospice nurse, who had only come by to drop off paperwork, ran after them, imploring them to come back. “And she was right,” Sarah said. “We knew it was the beginning of the end, but the beginning of the end. Not the actual end.” About an hour later, Sarah’s mom, Janice Jones, passed away from complications from pancreatic cancer. As Sarah told me, the world stopped at the moment. Looking back, she believes she shouldn’t have moved out of her family home to her own apartment in downtown Kansas City just seven days later. She was only 18; she could have taken a semester — or two — off from school. But if she’s anything, Sarah is undeterred. She forged through the rest of her college career, eventually transferring to Rockhurst University where she graduated and found her path to politics and the law by running the city council campaign for Quinton Lucas, now Kansas City’s mayor. She’s an alumna of the Saint Louis University School of Law. “What excites me most about the law is that I have always held the belief that the most important part of our society is the law, and the foundation of our society, a civilized society, is not language or anything else,” Sarah said. “Knowing that what I study permeates everything … and know-

in the

CAPITOL

While the Capitol building is home to lawmakers for roughly five months, it takes more than just elected officials to keep everything running. From staffers to Chez Monet, The Missouri Times takes you behind the scenes.

PHOTOS BY ALISHA SHURR

Serving up family at Chez Monet

In the Capitol

BY KAITLYN SCHALLHORN

At Chez Monet, everyone is family to owner Joan Fairfax. In fact, she even opened the Capitol basement location to lure her son and daughter-in-law from St. Louis to Jefferson City. “We appreciate our customers. They could go anywhere. Even though this is the most convenient, it wouldn’t take a lot of effort to get food somewhere else,” Fairfax said as she prepared for the lunch rush in the kitchen. “They could call anywhere, they could go anywhere downtown, and they choose to come here.” Fairfax’s dedication to customers is paramount. On any given day, as many as 18 people could be working at Chez Monet — more than the standard in the restaurant business, she said — just to ensure the lines are as short as possible and the café doesn’t run out of food. One of those workers is Fairfax’s friend, Suzanne Marshall. She works at the restaurant three or four days a week part time, cooking bacon or chopping pineapple, even though she owns a stable caring for nearly a dozen horses. “She’s a wonderful person,” Marshall said, noting Fairfax’s penchant for mentoring others. “We have a great staff

here, and it’s a great place to work. We have a lot of fun together, and that’s what makes the difference.” Fairfax’s focus on customers is even evident with the specials the café serves up daily. While taco salad is a weekly staple every Thursday — and fan favorite, Fairfax said — there are days she’ll enlist the help of those in line to create a unique menu item for the week. “That’s big for us. They’re our friends, and we can have fun,” she said. Originally from Tipton, Fairfax first opened Chez Monet on High St. in 1991 after working at Gerbes Super Market for some time as the bakery manager in Columbia and Jefferson City. She was already putting in long hours and decided to go into business for herself. Eventually, Fairfax closed the High St. location and operated solely out of her home on Mulberry St. where she has a commercial kitchen. She specializes in cakes — for all occasions — and caters. But when the opportunity arose, a vacant café waiting in the Capitol basement, Fairfax couldn’t pass up a chance to get her son, Jason, to relocate nearer to her. Thus, Chez Monet reopened in February 2018 — in the midst of the legislative session.

During session, it’s nonstop at Chez Monet, especially between the hours of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The restaurant premakes about 35 salads and 40 sandwiches daily for a “grab and go” section. After all, as Fairfax pointed out, everything is designed to be as fast as possible. In doing this interview, Fairfax often pointed to the work and success of others around her. It’s clear she’s built a well-oiled machine, as employees are scattered throughout the day to run to the store, man the cash register, and build taco salads for hungry legislators. But her dedication and kindness was also evident. And as she talked about her life and work, she would often pause to check on a cake or serve those who came through, even giving away a free meal to one customer. Fairfax still runs the cake and catering business out of her home. And even when Chez Monet is closed (open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays), you can find Fairfax in the industrial kitchen whipping up some delicacy. “She’s pretty amazing really,” Jason Fairfax said of his mom. “She gets up at 4 a.m. and works until whenever. She’s just the hardest worker I know. I’m very proud.”

Chocolate Chip Cookies

from Joan Fairfax

Ingredients: • • • • • • • • •

4 lbs. Margarine 6 c. sugar 6 c. brown sugar 8 tsp. vanilla 16 eggs 18 c. flour 8 tsp. salt 8 tsp. baking soda 10 c. chocolate chips

Directions:

Step 1: Cream margarine, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, eggs Step 2: In seperate bowl, mix flour, salt, baking soda Step 3: Combine sugar, flour mixtures Step 4: Add chocolate chips

BY ALISHA SHURR Rep. Jack Bondon takes the job he was elected to do very seriously, knowing there are real consequences to the decisions lawmakers make, and as a legislator he shouldn’t forget the gravity of that. “While we are sitting in the chamber, there are Missourians working — in offices, on farms, in schools — around the state contributing to the state and affected by our actions,” Bondon said. “The world does not begin and end in that building. It does not begin or end in the House chambers, or the Senate chambers, or on the second floor.” It’s with that mindset he has learned to ask a lot of questions, do his research, look at the bigger picture, and trust the experts. In his five years in the House, Bondon has pushed for legislation that, in his words, streamlines, reforms, and updates the state’s regulatory environment; promotes policies to support low-cost energy; and returns local control to the people. “If you look through my legislative stuff, most of what you will find is stuff that streamlines government or removes some unnecessary government

barrier,” Bondon said, noting not all of his proposals make headline news. “Not every issue facing the state is of wide interest, but that doesn’t mean they are not real issues.” He has championed updating Medicaid per diem reimbursement rates if facilities invest in improvements, changing linked deposit limits, requiring wholesalers comes into physical possession of alcohol, and more. “Some people become teachers, some people become firefighters, some people become police officers. The way I think I can help and serve people is by being their eyes and ears [in Jefferson City], by being their voice, to speak for them, to stand up for them,” Bondon said. “It’s a call to service. I genuinely love what I do. It is not always easy, but I believe I have done a good job of helping shape policy [and] passing laws that have streamlined government and created opportunities for investment in our state.” The biggest issues facing the Show-Me State are modernizing the workforce, preparing today’s youth for the jobs of the future, infrastructure, and a lack of focus on rural parts of the state, he said.

PHOTO BY ALISHA SHURR

In the Capitol

Rep. Jack Bondon

Rep. Dirk Deaton

In the Capitol

BY KAITLYN SCHALLHORN

Rep. Dirk Deaton’s district is nestled in the southwestern most corner of Missouri, cozied up to Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Deaton can travel to any of those states’ capitals quicker than he can get to Jefferson City. There can be a feeling in the district of being forgotten, the Republican said. But Deaton — one of the youngest state lawmakers in Missouri history at 25 — is bound not to let that perception become reality. “You feel like you have the ability to make a positive impact for not just the people in your district, but the state, and make a contribution and affect change,” he said. “That’s very humbling.” Deaton likes to repeat the age-old adage: “God looks at our five-year plans and laughs.” But it’s easy to see how his life trajectory led him to the General Assembly. Having “studied a bit of everything,” Deaton holds a humanities degree from Liberty University after attending Crowder College and Missouri Southern State University. He only took online classes at Liberty; the first time he stepped foot on campus was for graduation in 2017, with President Trump giving the address. “I have a wide array of interests so I put them all together. It wasn’t a means to an end. I put great value on education and feel it’s an investment in yourself,” Deaton said. “I wanted to learn as much as I could about many different things which I think serves you well as a legislator.” Even before he was elected, Deaton was “a party person,

a true believer.” He served as the president of the McDonald County Republican Club and is one of the founders of the Noel Betterment Association, a group that has helped the town with holiday events and other needs. “In my mind, for someone who is for small government, we have to put our money where our mouth is,” Deaton said. “If we say this can be done by private groups and organizations, we need to show that’s possible.” Deaton pointed to the massive pro-life bill the governor signed in May as one of the biggest accomplishments from his first year in the House. He has also enjoyed serving on the House Budget Committee and Fiscal Review where he’s had the opportunity to “really ensure that we were taking care of tax dollars and cutting government where we can and making sure those dollars are being used as efficiently as possible.” But perhaps Deaton’s greatest source of pride this year was his wedding to Nikki on Aug. 31. The pair met in college through the Baptist Student Union and reconnected at the inauguration of the former governor. Deaton can’t say what’s next, but he’s focused on his community and state. House Speaker Elijah Haahr even called him “one of the fastest rising stars in the Missouri House.” “The title is state representative, right? It’s not McDonald County or St. Louis or Kansas City. You do have to remain cognizant that what you do affects the entire state,” Deaton said. “I think what I would want people to know about me, and what I hope is true, is that I’m a principled individual, and I have a set of values and beliefs that I remain consistent and true to.”

PHOTO BY ALISHA SHURR

In the Capitol

Chief of Staff for Sen. Hegeman

DREW DAMPF BY ALISHA SHURR

“It was God’s plan” that his original career trajectory did not come to fruition, Drew Dampf remarked. His post-college plan was to do fundraising and alumni relations for his alma mater the University of Missouri — a position Dampf said, as he looks back, would not suit him well. Now, he is in a job he thoroughly “enjoys.” Dampf held a variety of jobs in the Missouri Capitol from interning, bill monitoring, and as a staffer for a couple senators before settling as chief of staff for Sen. Dan Hegeman. “I have always had an interest in politics,” Dampf said, noting studying the field was not something he ever saw as intriguing.

“State politics is more interesting than national politics, to me. I have just always found the state level more effective towards people and fascinating. I think the [state] processes still works, which I think makes it more fun to work in or be a part of.” Being the top staffer for the Senate appropriations chairman has Dampf working with the Show-Me State’s roughly $30 billion budget. He said it was difficult at first to adjust, learn, and pick up the budget “lingo.” Dampf added he is by no means an expert on the subject now and has a long way to go but has definitely caught on more than at this point last year. “Luckily the Senate appropriations staff is awesome,” Dampf said. “This year was asking a lot

of questions and learning. I was kind of intimidated going into it at first, but once you get into it, get into the weeds, you can really catch on.” Outside of the Capitol, Dampf has two main hobbies: sports and helping out on the family cattle ranch. Dampf is a self-described fan of any sport Mizzou plays, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Kansas City Royals — his great-grandfather was a ticket manager for the team. He has even “started to dabble in understanding hockey.” He also has joined four fantasy football leagues this year. A cattle ranch in California, Missouri, is where Dampf grew up. He took his agriculture background with him to college, where he majored in agriculture

business. The best lesson he has learned is to be honest and treat people with respect. Dampf said one of the hardest parts of his job is explaining what legislators do, adding, “This is not House of Cards.” In contrast to the “stereotypical things [people] see about politicians or the people we work with all the time, most all of them are really good people, they have really good intentions, they just want to do what they feel is best for the state,” Dampf said. “I think people are so cynical about politics these days — whether it’s the things they see coming out of D.C. or what they see online or what they see on TV shows such as ‘House of Cards.’ There are a lot of really good people [in politics].”

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20 questions with...

Dave Schatz Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz is a stalwart representative of Franklin and West St. Louis counties in the General Assembly. He’s served in his leadership position since 2019. PHOTO BY TIM BOMMEL

Who is the one person you’ve gotten to admire the most during your time in the General Assembly? There are a lot of great people that serve in the General Assembly so it’s hard to pick just one. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be? I enjoy what I do now, but my favorite job is being Grandpa. But what job would you be terrible doing? After watching “Dancing with the Stars,” dancing instructor. What is your favorite food? Fried wild turkey breast with mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits, and a side of morel mushrooms. What’s the most unique aspect of your district, SD 26? Meramec Caverns. No matter where I go, when people ask where are you from, they know where Meramec Caverns are.

What has being in a leadership position taught you? Lead by example, treat people the way you want to be treated, and always do what you say you’re going to do.

What is something you’ve been especially proud of accomplishing in the General Assembly? Every time that we help one of our constituents solve one of their problems they face trying to navigate state government. Is there an issue you’ve become passionate about since joining the General Assembly? Transportation funding. It is, I believe, one of the biggest financial issues we face that needs a solution. What do you do to relax? Go to our family farm, build a fire, and roast hot dogs. What do you look forward to the most when you have to come to Jefferson City for session? Thursday adjournment.

And what do you look forward to the most during the interim? Breaking out my golf clubs, hunting, and fishing. Do you have a life motto or favorite verse? The Bible is full of wisdom and a guide for life, so it’s hard to have just one. But Romans 12:18 says: “If possible, so long as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Do you have any pets? If so, give us the details! Jo Jo, a chocolate lab, and Darcy, a Morkie. What is your favorite vacation spot? Anywhere out west in the mountains. What do you and your wife do for date nights?

We like to go out for a steak dinner at the White Mule Winery. What is something you’ve always wanted to try or learn but haven’t yet? Typing. Never had it in school and never thought it would be important. But if you only knew how long it took to answer these questions, you’d know why. What do you listen to in the car? Mostly Christian radio (99.1 Joy FM), but I also like the 70s and 80s rock and all country music. How do you take your coffee? In a 44 oz. cup, half Diet Coke and half Cherry Coke. I hate coffee. Who has been an absolute lifesaver for you at the Capitol? All of our Senate staff.

In the Capitol

What made you decide to get into public service in the first place? I heard a sermon titled “Never Complain About What You Permit,” and after the 2008 election, I wasn’t excited about the direction our country was going, and I needed to find a way to get involved. Due to term limits, the opportunity to run for state representative in an open seat happened in 2010.

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