Monday, November 18, 2013

Kathy DeVault Planning to Run for State Representative

Kathy DeVault of Graham plans to be the third candidate to file as the next State Representative for the 1st District; she is planning to file as a Republican. If elected, she would be the first woman ever to serve as a State Representative in this district. She would replace term-limited Mike Thomson. She attended the Parnell City Council Meeting Thursday.

DeVault has ties to the Parnell area. Her grandparents, Viron and Edna (Busby) Bird, both graduated from Parnell High School. Viron's father, Harry Bird, ran a produce store in Parnell, which had 600 people at that point. The current census has Parnell at just under 200 people. She was born and raised on a farm between Barnard and Graham; she has worked in the Nodaway-Holt school for the past 10 years. Her husband, Kevin, operates a farm. They have a daughter, Keri (24), and a son, Klay (16).

DeVault showed off a composition book written by her grandfather during his time at Parnell. At one time, Missouri used to be known as the Bullion State. She said that her main issues were agriculture, healthcare, and education. "As a registered nurse, I'm really concerned about the healthcare issue and its problems," she said. "As a small-town girl, I see little people getting lost. I am planning to run because I'm tired of the way things are going and I'm offering some fresh blood."

She said that she had been to Jefferson City to shadow current State Representative Mike Thomson and said that she wanted to continue his leadership on education issues. "There are things going on that are really concerning me," said DeVault. "Small towns are near and dear to me." DeVault has already been around the area; this is her second stop in Parnell and she has also made stops at Northeast Nodaway and Maryville.

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