Values
Jobs and the Economy:
With serious challenges facing the economy, we need our state representatives working together on serious solutions. Working to make sure all my neighbors in the 54th district have the opportunity to get high paying quality jobs will be my top priority. I believe that anyone who is willing to work hard and follow the law deserves to be able to provide for his or her family. To make that happen we need to keep taxes low on small businesses, which are the engine of our economy. We also need to invest in college affordability and job-training programs. And finally, when new jobs are created, I will personally work to make sure the citizens of the 54th district are at the front of the line to get them.
Fiscal Responsibility:
If anything good comes out of these tough times, I hope we can say we finally took serious action to eliminate waste and inefficiency in Missouri’s state government. The economic recession has forced families across the state – including mine – to make sacrifices and tighten their belts. The state government must do the same. The best way to accomplish this is by holding every single government program accountable. We need top-to-bottom reviews of every agency to determine what’s working and what’s not, and then make cuts accordingly.
Public Safety:
When I graduated from Raytown High School in 1974, I knew that it was my calling to serve as an officer of the law. Having a job in which I could help people and keep them safe appealed to me then, and it appeals to me today. As a state representative I will make public safety a top priority, because I know all too well the importance of keeping our children and communities safe. We need to strengthen our efforts against violent offenders, and make sure we fully fund our law enforcement agencies so that we have enough police officers in our communities.
Education:
Improving our schools in the 54th District and ensuring a quality education for all of Missouri’s children is an issue I’ll fight for in the state legislature. Having raised seven children, I know that parents expect and deserve high standards of excellence for their kids. That means qualified and hard-working teachers, access to information technology, and small class sizes. We have to recognize that the future of Missouri’s economy and the readiness of our workforce will largely be determined by what we do today in education. That’s what makes our schools such a good investment. As an adjunct instructor at the Blue River Community College Law Enforcement Training Center, I also believe in the importance of our local Community Colleges. They provide the kind of vocational skills training so many people need to find a new job. As a state representative I will work to keep tuition costs low and make sure every student has every opportunity to succeed.
