7.21.22 SB_V

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VOTERS GUIDE THE ELECTION IS AUG. 2 Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Any voter who makes a mistake on the initial ballot may request a new one. Voters do not have to vote on every candidate or issue for their ballots to be valid. If you have questions, call the League of Women Voters Hot Line at 314-961-6869 during polling hours or your local election authority at the telephone number that appears at the top of the next page. Local races that span multiple counties are listed in their primary county. Propositions are listed at the end of each county. Maps of area legislative districts and a list of local election authorities are available on page 18. An online version of the guide is available at stltoday.com/votersguide. It allows users to create a personalized ballot based on their home address, which they can email or print after comparing candidates’ responses.

U.S. SENATE

Constitution PAUL VENABLE Occupation: Semi-retired information technology consultant Age: 68 Highest post-secondary education: Some college Website: youwinmissouri.org What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? I can read! I have read the Constitution and I know what it means. Violations of the Constitution are so rampant and longstanding that We the People no longer recognize what is and is not constitutional. The Constitution is the miracle that saved the Republic after the Revolutionary War. The root solution to our national maladies is full compliance with the constitution. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? My top legislative priority will be to resolve the constitutional crisis which has been plaguing the United States since January 6, 2021. On that day, Congress, errantly and in violation of the elector’s clause, among others, of the Constitution, seated in the offices of President and Vice President, individuals who were chosen by constitutionally unqualified electors.

Democratic RONALD (RON) WILLIAM HARRIS Occupation: Over-the-road truck driver Age: 67 Elected offices held: Committeeman, Ward 2, Precinct 213, 1998-2000 Highest post-secondary education: MBA, Trident University (Summa Cum Laude) Website: ronaldwharris.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? I started my adult work as a communications analyst in the United States Air Force. I had the great honor to work with professional soldiers who worked to protect the United States of America. I believe my experience as an American worker gives me a realistic view of the tremendous struggles that working people have in an ever- changing America! What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? 1) No one should be denied the opportunity to get a certified education because they can’t afford it. 2) We must do something about the working wage in this country. 3) The opioid crisis is the most disturbing and destructive crisis of our time. About 107,000 Americans were killed last year by drug overdoses. Two-thirds of those deaths involved fentanyl made in China. JEWEL KELLY Occupation: Real estate agent Age: 47 Highest post-secondary education: M.L.S., Washington University Website: jewelkelly.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? I have a combination of military service, corporate and small business experience. I am a small business owner (realtor), and I co-founded a non-profit organization focused on mental health and suicide prevention. I served 10 years as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force, joining two months after the 9/11 attacks on our country. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? We must cut inflation, expand healthcare, including mental health for all, create great paying jobs, take care of our planet, invest in quality education and cut student debt. However, my top priority is to ensure “equal justice under the law” especially reproductive, voting, LGBTQIA and civil rights. I’d eliminate the filibuster to secure justice, safety and equality. PAT KELLY Occupation: Patent attorney, design engineer Age: 70 Highest post-secondary education: J.D., Harvard University Website: kelly4senate.net What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? As an environmental engineer, I understand global warming, the worst problem we have ever faced. And I’ve proposed a better way to address it, than 40 years’ worth of failure, by experts, to get Congress to do anything. We need all candidates to recognize hard, proven facts; and we need Congressional hearings, before November, to help voters better understand the facts. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? 1) Push for a law requiring members of Congress to spend normal work hours, doing the work they were elected to do, instead of spending workdays making fund-raising calls. 2) Propose and push for referenda in all states, to allow each county to either: (i) choose the trimester system, or (ii) ban all abortions, in that county. Respect differences between city vs. rural.

THURSDAY • 07.21.2022 • SECTION V

The League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and stltoday.com have joined forces to produce this Voters Guide for the Aug. 2 primary election in Missouri. We hope this guide helps voters better understand the background, experience and positions of candidates.

LUCAS KUNCE Occupation: Marine Corps Reserve Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Age: 39 Highest post-secondary education: J.D., University of Missouri-Columbia Website: lucaskunce.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? When my family went bankrupt from medical bills, it was the people of my neighborhood who had no more money than we did that helped us get by. I’ve spent my entire life trying to pay them back. I joined the Marines and served for 13 years with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. For me, service to my country and community has always and will always come first. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? I watched our country spend $6.4 trillion nation-building Iraq and Afghanistan while letting our neighborhoods here at home fall apart. I want to nation-build America. I’ll eliminate the filibuster to make it happen. Other top priorities include codifying Roe v. Wade and achieving energy independence by building out the next generation of energy right here in Missouri. LEWIS ROLEN Occupation: Department Operations Assistant, Otolaryngology, Washington University Age: 64 Highest post-secondary education: B.A., Harris-Stowe State University, elementary education, with certification in secondary education Website: lewisrolen.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? I am best qualified due to my background of over 30 years teaching middle school social studies, being a union member, having a Missouri family history which pre-dates the Civil War and understanding the need for racial healing while also being culturally connected to rural and urban Missouri. I also will listen and learn from people with different lifestyles than myself. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? My top legislative priority would be to slash the military budget. We’ve been in a constant state of war and honestly we aren’t very good at it. The government lied about Vietnam (which we lost), lied about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, wasted trillions in Afghanistan, protects Japan 70 years after WWII. Meanwhile, our infrastructure and educational systems crumble. GENA ROSS Occupation: Associate Professor of Business Age: 51 Highest post-secondary education: PhD, Walden University, Public Policy and Administration with emphasis in local government management for sustainable communities. Website: rossforussenate.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? I studied public policy and administration with an emphasis in local government management for sustainable communities. I’m a former constituent services representative. I vow to represent ALL people. I know how to work with all personalities. I’m unbossed, unbought and unbiased. I was the primary nominee for Missouri’s 6th Congressional district in 2020 What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? End the filibuster. People are my first priority, from the suburbs, inner cities and rural areas. Every corner of Missouri represented. To work with local and state officials. Communicate, collaborate and build relationships to bring people together. Democracy — a plan to have no human left behind. Healthcare, education, economic development, homeless into homes. JOSH SHIPP Occupation: Certified Exercise Physiologist Age: 32 Highest post-secondary education: M.S., Logan University, maximizing human performance Website: only1shipp.wixsite.com/joshshippforsenate What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? Born and raised in Missouri. Master of Science degree (science is lacking in congressional discussions). Millennials represent the majority of the work force, most educated generation, but represent a small percentage of political power. Only one millennial in the Senate. Our country needs fresh, new and exciting ideas. Not the same tired career politician redirect. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? Criminal Justice reform, Health Care/drug pricing reform, getting money out of politics, education reform, infrastructure. Yes, I would advocate numerous changes to Senate rules or procedures to accomplish the goals of the people. Such as, term limits and modifying the filibuster, for example. CLARENCE (CLAY) TAYLOR Occupation: Entrepreneur Age: 56 Website: clay4senator.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? I have fed thousands with my hands. As a lobbyist I kept millions of dollars in the hands of public schools. I have been mentored by the greatest minds in various fields. As an entrepreneur I created the most advanced transitional house in the country returning fathers back to their evolutionary place in their children’s lives. I have had many firsts for our country. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? To change the status of the employee from servant to business partner, while restoring women back to full citizenship. The maintenance of one needs the other. SPENCER TODER Occupation: Small Business Owner / Entrepreneur Age: 37 Highest post-secondary education: MBA, Washington University Website: spencertoder.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? Missourians have lost faith in government because partisan politicians are consumed with extremist fringe issues and do nothing to improve our every day lives. People are fed up that their voices are not heard, that they have been marginalized and that the real help they need never comes. I’ve built my campaign on action, doing the work now to earn voter trust. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen?

U.S. House ..................... 2 Statewide offices...............3 Missouri Senate .............. 4 Missouri House .............. 5 St. Louis County ............ 11 City of St. Louis .............12 St. Charles County ........13 Jefferson County.......... 14 Franklin County ........... 16 Lincoln, Warren Co. ......17

Simply put, my top legislative priority is to secure democracy for future generations. When I am in the Senate, we will end the filibuster and clear the path to progress. We must first act to restore voting rights and end decades of gerrymandering and campaign finance corruption that shift power to politicians instead of the voters who put their faith in them. TRUDY BUSCH VALENTINE Occupation: Nurse/Philanthropist Age: 64 Highest post-secondary education: B.S.N., St. Louis University, nursing Website: trudybuschvalentine.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? We need the heart of a nurse in Washington. A nurse who cares about people, advocates for our democracy including our sacred voting rights, stands up for women and their right to choose, cares about every child, sees climate change as a scientific fact and celebrates diversity. I have a lifetime record of service and I will be focused on delivering real results for MO. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? Broadly my priority will be to make things better for MO: lowering the cost of basic necessities, expanding access to quality, affordable health care, making it easier on parents to raise children, and ending the opioid epidemic in MO and bringing hope to families struggling with addiction. One of my first specific legislative goals will be codifying Roe into federal law. CARLA COFFEE WRIGHT Occupation: Owner, DNA testing service Age: 57 Highest post-secondary education: A.A., St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, childcare education Website: coffeewrightussenate.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? For decades I have lived, witnessed and experienced the disparities and hardships faced by working and poor individuals. I’ve also observed the benefits and privileges of the wealthy. My combined life and work experiences and education has afforded me the capabilities of critical thinking and making decisions that are fair and lucrative to all. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? My top priority is to promote healthy bipartisanship to craft effective legislation. I will work to eliminate use of the archaic filibuster to achieve this aim. The American people deserve free medical care for all, the elimination of both medical and student loan debt, sensible gun ownership reform and protection of women’s empowerment and rights, to name a few.

Libertarian JONATHAN DINE No response received.

Republican ROBERT ALLEN No response received. RUSSEL PEALER BREYFOGLE JR. Occupation: Retired Fulton State Hospital social worker Age: 86 Highest post-secondary education: MSW What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? I support the two Republicans on the Jan. 6 committee. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? Codify presidential behavior. Yes, the filibuster must be changed. DENNIS LEE CHILTON No response received. C.W. GARDNER Occupation: Working-class doorman Age: 42 Highest post-secondary education: Harvard extension verified certificate (The Past, Present, and Future of Urban Life); MIT extension verified certificate (Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation) Website: twitter.com/cwg18 What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? I’m the only U.S. Senate candidate in the Republican primary who is proposing actual solution-based policies. I want to get stuff done. I’m a working-class doorman by trade. I don’t want to build walls. I want to open doors … to opportunity. It’s my nature. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? ‘Pot for Potholes’ is my top legislative priority. I want to legalize marijuana at the federal level and take a portion of the tax money collected from weed sales to fund pothole eradication research and development. With the U.S. Senate being clearly dysfunctional, I would most certainly advocate for changing its rules or procedures to enact this policy. ERIC GREITENS Website: ericgreitens.com No response received. VICKY HARTZLER Occupation: United States Congresswoman for District 4 of Missouri Age: 61 Elected offices held: State Representative, District 124, 1994-2000; Congresswoman, Missouri District 4, 2010-present Highest post-secondary education: M.S., University of Central Missouri, education Website: Vickyhartzler.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office? I am a small business owner, public school teacher, farmer, wife and mother. In Congress, I have led the charge to defend our conservative values, championed a strong national defense and fought to protect life and stand strong for our foundational values in America. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? We must get our economy growing again. People are hurting because of the White House’s record inflation. To reverse the pain, we must stop Democrats’ reckless spending, address supply chain issues, get people back to work, and prioritize energy independence. We also need to keep taxes low, cut regulations, and encourage more production of critical supplies in America. PROFILES CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE


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