Today I am announcing my candidacy for the 120th District House of Representatives seat. Serving the public is an honor and a privilege and is something that I take very seriously because of you.

My wife, Leslie, and I have two children. Taylor (12) is a student at Clinton Middle School, and Seth (9), is a student at Henry Elementary. Leslie has taught at the Clinton High School for the last 14 years.

Education will be a priority for me in Jefferson City. We are quite fortunate to have great schools in our area and we deserve someone in the legislature who will work tirelessly to secure their funding. I will be a strong advocate for education and will work to make our schools even better.

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration and my Master’s Degree in Public Service Administration from the University of Central Missouri. I have been fortunate to serve as your Henry County Coroner for the past three years. Serving you in the position of coroner has helped me develop cooperative relationships with other elected officials throughout the state. I know that having the ability to work with both parties in Jefferson City should provide a solid basis for me to work effectively for our district’s interests.

One of my greatest concerns is illegal immigration. While legal immigration has made this country great, illegal immigration is costing our district and our state money and jobs. We need to stop those individuals who do not follow our laws and do so immediately!

As the owner of a small business, I understand how excessive taxes and unnecessary government regulations stifle growth. I will help create a climate where small business can thrive while applying common sense fiscal responsibility. I pledge to work within our state’s means without raising taxes.

I promise to bring my proactive, cooperative foresight to the job and to work with you on those issues most important to us. In that regard, I look forward to personally meeting every voter in the 120th District in the months ahead. I’m interested in hearing your concerns and thoughts as to how we can work together to make a brighter future for our District and our State.

By working together, we will continue to make the 120th District a place we are all proud to call home.