VOTERS GUIDE THE ELECTION IS AUG. 4 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. Propositions are listed at the end of each county. The guide also is available online at stltoday.com/votersguide. The online version allows users to email or print a sample ballot after comparing candidates’ responses.
US HOUSE US REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 1
Democratic KATHERINE (KAT) BRUCKNER No response received. CORI BUSH Occupation: Registered nurse Age: 43 Website: coribush.org What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? The greatest challenges our nation faces in 2020 are our health care crisis, our economic disparities and the global pandemic, which is climate change. I have been an outspoken supporter and advocate for Medicare for all, I support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour and will fight for climate justice and support the Green New Deal legislation. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? I will work with my colleagues in Washington D.C. on Medicare for All legislation, stressing the importance of eliminating medical debt. With the novel coronavirus, our country’s priority of profit over people has proven itself. People are dying at alarming rates due to lack of health care and they cannot afford to pay medical debt. LACY CLAY Occupation: U.S. representative Age: 63 Elected offices held: U.S. representative, Missouri District 1, 2000-present; state senator, District 4, 1990-2000; state representative, District 59, 1982-1990 Highest post-secondary education: B.A., University of Maryland, political science Incumbent: Yes Website: LacyClay.org What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? My focus continues to be jobs, education, health care, affordable housing, protecting the right to vote, preserving our environment and defending women’s health care. I have also recently introduced landmark legislation to reform local policing and save the lives and jobs of millions of Americans who have been impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? With an enlarged House Democratic majority, a Democratic Senate and a new president, I will continue to pursue a $15 federal minimum wage, open enrollment in Medicare, the reauthorization and expansion of the Voting Rights Act and a restoration of the separation of powers and constitutional guarantees that have been assaulted by Donald Trump.
Libertarian ALEX FURMAN No response received.
Republican WINNIE HEARTSTRONG No response received. ANTHONY ROGERS No response received.
US REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 2
Democratic JILL SCHUPP Occupation: Missouri state senator Age: 65 Elected offices held: Ladue School Board, 2000-2006; City Council, Creve Coeur, 2007-2008; Missouri House of Representatives, 82nd District, 2008-2014; Missouri State Senate, 24th District, 2014-present Highest post-secondary education: B.A., University of Missouri-Columbia, education and recreation Website: jillschupp.com What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? As I’ve done in the state senate, I will work with anyone, regardless of party. All of my legislation passed with strong bipartisan support, including making day care centers safer, requiring suicide prevention training for mental health professionals and increasing access to rape kits. I will bring civility, integrity and effectiveness to Congress where it’s badly needed. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? As the pandemic has swept across our state, access to quality, affordable health care has never been more important. In the Missouri Senate, I’ve worked to eliminate surprise billing in emergency rooms. In Congress, I’ll protect the Affordable Care Act to ensure no one with preexisting conditions is denied coverage, and I’ll stand up to big pharma to reduce drug prices.
Libertarian MARTIN SCHULTE Occupation: Functional specialist adviser, TechGuard Security Age: 44 Highest post-secondary education: M.S., University of Louisville, human resources and organizational development Website: martinvschulte.com
INDEX
THURSDAY • 07.23.2020 • 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. 4 primary election in Missouri. We hope this guide helps voters better understand the background, experience and positions of candidates.
Mo. Senate ..................3 Mo. House .................. 4 St. Louis County ......... 9 St. Louis city .............10 St. Charles County.......11 Jefferson County........ 11 Franklin County ........ 11 Lincoln, Warren Co.... 12
What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? I will listen and act upon those issues that are currently plaguing our nation. Race cannot be healed by a simple waving of the hand, and I cannot overemphasize the importance of holding local governance to task. I believe that the family is the most important unit as it impacts our homes, communities and our country. I am a defender of your family and keeping it safe. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? My top priority would be to eliminate or substantially reduce deficit spending. Congress has not provided good stewardship of budget as showcased by 20 years of irresponsible spending. Reducing waste, fraud and redundant appropriations will make a balanced budget less of a dream and more of a reality.
the best things we can do is to listen to one another before working to solve problems together. I am committed to working across the aisle to solve the many problems facing our country, and to create the type of change that leads to the further empowerment of our citizens. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? My top priorities are addressing the inequality issues that are prevalent in our country by investing in a New Deal for rural Missourians that provides infrastructure and educational support, and engaging more people in the electoral process by protecting the right to vote and ending Citizens United. We need a government that works for the people, not just the wealthy.
Republican
TOM SCHMITZ Occupation: Public defender Age: 38 Highest post-secondary education: J.D., Creighton University Website: tomschmitzforliberty.com What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? Government should exist only to protect individual liberty and individual rights. Libertarians stand for maximizing individual liberty, vigilantly protecting your rights and minimizing government interference in your life. We need to bring our troops home, implement full separation of health care and state and get government out of our lives as much as possible. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? My top priority is separation of health care and state. We need a liberated health care system free from government control and coercion, a free-market system which will drive down prices, inspire innovation and increase quality through competition. We need a health care system where patients and health care providers interact with each other voluntarily.
ANN WAGNER Occupation: U.S. representative Age: 57 Elected offices held: U.S. representative, Missouri District 2, 2012-present Highest post-secondary education: B.S., University of Missouri-Columbia, business administration, emphasis in logistics Incumbent: Yes Website: annwagner.com What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? During the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been working with countless constituents who need assistance including cutting through the red tape to get their unemployment benefits or helping small businesses obtain loans. I know my constituents expect me to continue working hard for them. If you need help, I want you to call my local office at 636-779-5449 and we will assist you. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? People deserve a representative who works for them and prioritizes their needs above all. During my time in Congress, I have made it my mission to provide excellent customer service for those in need of assistance and have addressed issues such as the unacceptable backlog of rape kit testing across our state and country. Serving my constituents will remain my top priority.
US REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 3
Democratic DENNIS OGLESBY Occupation: Business management Age: 39 Highest post-secondary education: MBA, Western Governors University, business management Website: oglesbyforcongress.com What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? The most simplistic approach I can think of to addressing our challenges is setting aside petty bickering and the blame game that we see in Washington. If we bring our focus back to what truly matters most to those we represent and not the corporations or special interests who fund our elections, we can actually work together to help others who are facing serious crises. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? We polled many of our residents when we launched this campaign and, overwhelmingly, their top concern continues to be health care. Deductibles and coinsurances are rising at paces that far surpass those of our income rates. The cost of health care alone is wiping out any great strides that our residents have made in recent years. I will focus on this issue first! MEGAN REZABEK Occupation: Maintenance worker, Woodley Building Maintenance Age: 29 Highest post-secondary education: Some college Website: facebook.com/Megan-Rezabek-forCongress-248577339231640 What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? My approach would be the same as always, I would put the American people’s well-being before corporations. Health care is a human right, BLM and new legislation is needed to protect people of color. Wages should never be so low that we have a class called the working poor, no one that works full time should live in poverty. We have to start caring about each other. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? My top priorities would be “Medicare for All,” the Green New Deal and justice reform. By refusing to take campaign donations, I will be able to make my decisions on policy without the interference of special interest groups. With for-profit health care, prison system and lax environmental regulations, people are actively making money off of the suffering of Americans.
Libertarian LEONARD J STEINMAN II No response received.
Republican BLAINE LUETKEMEYER No response received. JEFFREY NOWAK No response received. LYNETTE TRARES No response received. BRANDON WILKINSON No response received. ADELA WISDOM No response received.
US REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 8
Democratic KATHY ELLIS Occupation: Licensed clinical social worker, private practice Age: 64 Highest post-secondary education: M.S.W., Washington University Website: ellisforcongress.com What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? As a social worker for 40 years, I have learned that one of
Libertarian
Republican JASON SMITH Occupation: Congressman, small business owner, lawyer, real estate agent, farm owner Age: 40 Elected offices held: State representative, Missouri District 150, 2005-2012; State representative, Missouri District 120, 2012-2013; Congressman, Missouri District 8, 2013-Present Highest post-secondary education: J.D., Oklahoma City University Incumbent: Yes Website: electjasonsmith.com What would be your approach to addressing the current challenges facing our nation? Empowering individuals, local governments and states to make the best decision to improve the lives of citizens will have the greatest positive impact. A forced, federal onesize-fits-all solution is not the answer for Missourians. What works in N.Y. or California doesn’t work here. Citizens need to be allowed to make their own decisions for their family and loved ones. What would be your top priority for congressional action in 2021? How would you address this priority? Together with President Trump, we need to reduce the size of federal government — from how much it takes from taxpayers to mounting federal regulations, we need to lessen its impact on Missourians. As a member of the U.S. House Budget Committee, we must get serious about America’s debt and eliminate the federal red tape holding back our farmers and employers in Missouri.
STATEWIDE OFFICE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Democratic RICH FINNERAN Occupation: Attorney, former federal prosecutor Age: 36 Highest post-secondary education: J.D., Washington University Website: richfinneran.com What are the most compelling policy challenges you expect to face if elected and how do you propose to address them? My biggest challenge as attorney general will be rooting out the political bias that has infected the current administration. I will enhance the AG’s conflict of interest policies, end the political crusade against the Affordable Care Act, protect Clean Missouri and stop wasting taxpayer dollars in hopeless, politically motivated lawsuits. What are your top three priorities for Missouri? My first priority is protecting health care, including coverage for pre-existing conditions. Second is criminal justice: I will address the inequities of our system head-on and ensure the law is enforced fairly for all. Third, I’ll take on corruption to make sure the AG’s office benefits the people, not politicians or the well-connected. ELAD GROSS Occupation: Civil rights attorney, educator Age: 32 Highest post-secondary education: J.D., Washington University Website: eladgross.org What are the most compelling policy challenges you expect to face if elected and how do you propose to address them? We must return our government to “we the people.” Our government is bought. It’s why our health care is unaffordable, why our justice system is broken, why our education system lacks resources, why workers aren’t protected on the job and why violent crime is such a problem. I’ve proposed many detailed plans at EladGross. org. I will be an aggressive attorney general. What are your top three priorities for Missouri? Prosecuting corruption: I will stop big-money interests from buying our government and return Missouri to “we the people.” Protecting civil rights: I will start Missouri’s first civil rights division to protect our rights and bring accountability to our justice system. Reducing violent crime: I will initiate Missouri’s first coordinated effort to prevent violence.
Libertarian KEVIN C BABCOCK No response received.
Republican ERIC SCHMITT No response received.