VOTERS GUIDE THE ELECTION IS NOV. 8 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 on page 14. Propositions, judicial retentions and recall elections are listed at the end of each county. Maps of area legislative districts are on page 14. 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 in 2022? 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 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 in 2022? 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.
Libertarian JONATHAN DINE No response received.
Republican ERIC SCHMITT Occupation: Missouri Attorney General Age: 47 Elected offices held: Missouri Attorney General, 2018-2020 (appointed) and 2020-present; Missouri Treasurer, 20162018; State Senator, District 15, 2008-2016 Highest post-secondary education: J.D., St. Louis University Website: schmittforsenate.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? Missouri needs a proven conservative fighter in the U.S. Senate. As attorney general, I’ve fought and won for Missouri. I’ve beat back this White House’s radical openborder policies, stopped attempts to stifle free speech, sued to end COVID mandates, fought for election integrity, stood up to China and much more. What is your top legislative priority, and would you advocate changes to Senate rules or procedures to make it happen? We need fighters in the U.S. Senate who prioritize reversing radical Democrat policies so we can get our country back. This White House’s economic policies have crippled our economy — giving us record-high gas prices and runaway inflation. As attorney general, I’ve fought their disastrous energy policies. In the Senate, I’ll fight to restore American energy dominance.
U.S. HOUSE
THURSDAY • 10.27.2022 • 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 Nov. 8 election in Missouri. We hope this guide helps voters better understand the background, experience and positions of candidates.
over $1 billion in funding for our district, successfully mobilized a movement to stop evictions and invested in infrastructure projects like cleaning up Coldwater Creek and rebuilding West Florissant Avenue. That’s the proven, dedicated leadership our district deserves and that I will keep delivering. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? We need change people can feel. When democracy is under attack, we need voting rights for all. When abortion rights are rolled back, we deserve a representative who puts everything on the line to defend reproductive justice. And when our economy is broken, we need someone who’s lived the struggles people face. That’s who I am and it’s why I fight so hard for St. Louis.
and raise a family. I have passed landmark human trafficking legislation and legislation to combat the rape kit backlog, both of which became law. I get things done, and I stand up for our conservative Midwest values that we hold so dear. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? The bottom line: The government is spending too much and taxing too much. We must reduce the size of the federal government and allow each state to function as our founding fathers intended. As your Congresswoman, I will continue to fight to decrease the size of the federal government by lowering taxes and getting rid of unnecessary and overly burdensome regulations.
Libertarian
Democratic
GEORGE A. ZSIDISIN Occupation: Professor Age: 54 Highest post-secondary education: Ph.D., Arizona State University, business (supply chain management) Website: vote4zsidisin.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? St. Louis is an intermodal hub for global trade and supply chain management. My extensive experience and expertise in supply chain management, in conjunction with being Libertarian and not beholden to the leadership demands of the other parties, allows me to best serve the interests of the St. Louis community for facilitating economic growth in Congressional District 1. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? My legislative priorities are: 1) Creating opportunities for small, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses in St. Louis through fostering economic growth; 2) Ending the prohibition on drugs that disproportionally incarcerates minorities and resulted in more than 100,000 deaths last year; 3) Eliminating civil asset forfeiture and qualified police immunity.
BETHANY MANN Occupation: Chemistry technology specialist Age: 39 Highest post-secondary education: B.S., University of Illinois-Springfield, chemistry Website: BethanyMannForCongress.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? I am passionate about education, science & technology, and bringing people together. My goal is to make the 3rd District and Missouri a national leader when it comes to important issues that build up the middle class and strengthen working families. As a chemist, I am a trained problem solver with the ability to listen and learn from people with all sorts of experiences. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? I believe in equal and fair bargaining rights for workers and farmers, advancing developments in our infrastructure from broadband technology to roads and bridges, and ensuring that all students from pre-K to secondary schooling receive equal access to high-quality education and fully-funded public schools. I will use diplomacy, education and collaboration to succeed.
Republican
Republican
ANDREW JONES Occupation: VP, Business Development and Marketing Age: 61 Highest post-secondary education: MBA, Webster University; M.A., Washington University, international business Website: andrewjonesforcongress.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? I am an accomplished businessman, loving husband and father. I have verifiable credentials and experiences that fortify my abilities to lead, plus solve complicated problems and issues. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? My legislative priorities include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) Promote legislation that reduces crime, holds criminals accountable and supports law enforcement; 2) Reduce inflation by ensuring fiduciary spending; Promote successful economic and community development both regionally and nationally; and ensure our border security and educational opportunities.
BLAINE LUETKEMEYER No response received.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 2
Democratic TRISH GUNBY Occupation: State Representative, District 99 Age: 62 Elected offices held: State Representative, District 99, 2020-present Highest post-secondary education: B.A., University of Tulsa, advertising/PR and political science Website: trishgunby.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? When Missourians elect someone to federal office, that person shouldn’t treat their home like a flyover state. As a state representative, I’ve taken great pride in catering to my constituents’ needs—personal politics aside—in good times and in COVID times. Now, I look forward to providing accessible leadership to Missouri’s Second Congressional District. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? As a Missouri Democrat, I’ve always had to work across the aisle to get my bills heard. With a more balanced playing field in Congress, I will champion efforts to protect our democracy from external and internal threats, to expand Americans’ access to primary and reproductive health care, and to restore economic power to everyday people.
Libertarian BILL SLANTZ Occupation: President, W G Slantz Company Age: 64 Highest post-secondary education: None Website: BillSlantz.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? I believe in a limited government. Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and accept responsibility for their choices. The Libertarian way approaches politics based on the principle of self-ownership — no group, government or individual should be allowed to dictate or direct the life of any other group, government or individual. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? If elected, I will immediately propose legislation to dissolve these three departments and their agencies: Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 1
Democratic CORI BUSH Occupation: U.S. Representative, District 1 Age: 45 Elected offices held: U.S. Representative, District 1, 2021-present Highest post-secondary education: R.N., Lutheran School of Nursing Incumbent: Yes Website: coribush.org What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? In just over a year in Congress, my office has brought home
INDEX Statewide offices ........... 2 Missouri Senate ............. 2 Missouri House .............. 3 St. Louis County ............. 8 City of St. Louis ............ 10 St. Charles County ....... 10 Jefferson County........... 11 Franklin County ...........12 Lincoln, Warren counties..13
Republican ANN WAGNER Age: 60 Elected offices held: Lafayette Township Committeewoman, 1996-2005; U.S. Representative, District 2, 2012-present Highest post-secondary education: B.S., University of Missouri-Columbia, business administration Incumbent: Yes Website: annwagner.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? In Congress, I have fought for our constitutional freedoms, worked to lower taxes and make St. Louis the best place to live
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 3
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 6
Democratic HENRY MARTIN Occupation: Educator Age: 51 Highest post-secondary education: Ed.S., Walden University Website: henrymartinforcongress.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? I have been a public servant my entire adult life and I understand what it is to be ignored. A public servant in this position needs to be willing to take accountability for the good and the bad that happens in Washington. I am willing to merge the representation of urban/suburban/rural to best serve all stakeholders not just cater to one or the other. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? My priorities are healthcare, justice and democracy. Healthcare, because no American family should go broke due to illness or injury. Justice, because the words ‘equal justice under the law’ need to be more than just words we say, but words with action. Democracy, because January 6th and continuing actions have shown us that it is important to defend our votes.
Libertarian EDWARD A. (ANDY) MAIDMENT Occupation: Network information security analyst Age: 41 Highest post-secondary education: B.A., Missouri State University, history Website: maidmentformissouri.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? I am not a politician. I am an information security professional, retired Army officer and father. I have a coherent philosophy that protecting liberty and prosecuting people who hurt others are the only legitimate duties of government. I do not believe in crimes with no victims. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? 1) Reducing the size and scope of government and taxes. 2) Maintaining individual rights, especially the right to speech, defense and to not be spied upon by your government without cause. 3) Peaceful cooperation and free trade. I can only promise to vote my conscience and attempt to prevent multithousand-page bills from being voted on in less than a day.
Republican SAM GRAVES No response received.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 8
Democratic RANDI MCCALLIAN Occupation: Household CEO Age: 36 Highest post-secondary education: M.P.H., University of South Florida, community and family health Website: RandiMcCallian.com What makes you the best qualified candidate for this office in 2022? I’m the candidate who will work to bring jobs to Southeast Missouri and I will vote for policies that protect your right to privacy and personal liberty. I am not a career politician. I am a mother who wants our district to have more economic opportunity. I believe our tax dollars should be invested here in our district and that’s something my opponent doesn’t do. What are your top legislative priorities to improve the lives of Missourians and all Americans and how will you legislative for them effectively? Legislating is a team effort (it’s supposed to be, anyway) and I will collaborate with Missourians so that we can govern for the common good. My priorities include: improving healthcare affordability, access and quality; supporting families and children so they can thrive; and making sure we have critical resources like jobs, housing, healthcare and internet access. PROFILES CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE