Multiple candidates plugged for votes at the Worth County candidates’ forum on June 29th, and State Rep. Allen Andrews and State Senator Dan Hegeman gave legislative updates. At the end, two visitors spoke to the assembled group.
State Senator Dan Hegeman
Sen. Hegeman said that this year’s session was different because of what he saw as a lot of dysfunction going on. In fact, he said it had an “anarchist vibe” to it. “I’m a Reagan conservative, and I want to see limited government work,” he said. He said they still got a lot accomplished this session. The session was marred by infighting over the redistricting process.
Among other things he listed were the new funds for area roads, North Central Missouri College getting a Savannah campus, Northwest getting money to overhaul Martindale Gym and the ag learning center at Northwest. “I had two kids go through the ag learning program at Northwest, and I can’t rave about it enough,” he said.
Sen. Hegeman also talked about the expansion that United Fiber was doing to bring more broadband to the area. There were also water and wastewater projects that got done.
This year, the legislature appropriated $100 million for lettered roads. Of this, over $50 million will go to Northwest Missouri and other $20 to $30 million to Northeast Missouri. In addition, the legislature continued to fully fund the school foundation formula and put money into career ladder for the first time in a long time.
State Rep. Allen Andrews
Rep. Andrews said that a lot had changed since eight years ago. Back then, the budget was $25 to $26 billion; now, it is around $48 billion. “It’s amazing to see how the budget blows up,” he said. At the federal level, he says that he keeps thinking the system was on the cusp of breaking down, but that it never happens. He said his fear was that the US would never right the ship, but would drown in debt. “Hopefully, people will say that I was wrong,” he said.
He said that when he got there, it was a learning curve for the first few years. “Just as I got to get a good grasp, I had to leave because of term limits,” he said. Andrews said he would like to see term limits extended.
He said the redistricting battle was one of the main issues, as the legislature couldn’t agree on a 7-1 GOP split, a 6-2 split, or a 5-3 split. “We finally settled down and had a good year,” he said. Among other things passed were election integrity legislation and school funding.
Finally, Rep. Andrews paid tribute to his district. He praised the district’s hard work ethic, and the fact that it has people who care about their neighbors. He challenged people to love God and love their family if they wanted to make a contribution. “It starts in the home,” he said. “The family is the greatest institution ever created.”
Paul Venable , US Senate
Mr. Venable, who is running for the US Senate on the Constitution Party ticket, started off by recalling where he was when John Kennedy was assassinated. “I was walking to school at lunch, and I discovered all the teachers were crying and my dad was crying,” he said. “I didn’t know it was possible for my dad to cry.”
He said there was a constitutional crisis in the country. He said the real scandal in the 2020 election was the fact that 31 states didn’t choose their electors properly, by their state legislators. “They were chosen by other means,” he said. Mr. Venable noted that if the states which didn’t choose their electors properly had their results thrown out, then Donald Trump would have been reelected under the 12th Amendment. “And they knew about it, because they were served with a lawsuit,” he said.
The 12th Amendment, cited by Mr. Venable, states that if neither candidate gets a majority of votes, then the election goes to the House of Representatives, with the votes being taken by state and each state getting one vote.
Rusty Black, State Senate
Mr. Black touted his four children and his family. A Republican who is currently serving in the Missouri House, he talked about the size of the 12th District, which consists of 18½ counties and is a 3½ hour drive across. He is running as a Republican.
Michael Baumli, State Senate
Mr. Baumli, a Democrat, talked about growing up in Quitman helping to raise 2,000 head of hogs. But his parents told him that there was no future in raising hogs. “The corporate hog farms put us out of business,” Mr. Baumli said.
Instead, he got into information technology, where he focuses on cybersecurity. “Schools used to be 11 man. Then, they became 8 man. Now, they’re forming cooperatives. Now, they’re going to four day school weeks,” said Mr. Baumli. “We need new leadership in Jefferson City.”
J. Eggleston, State Senate
Mr. Eggleston is a Republican running for the 12th District State Senate seat. He is currently serving in House District 2. He came together with Rep. Andrews, and like him, he is leaving due to term limits. He paid tribute to his colleague. “Many people forget where they came from; Allen did not.”
Recalling the Farm Crisis of the 1980’s, he talked about work ethic and his farming background. “My mom was a teacher, coach, and an organist at our church. There is a scholarship in her memory at her school.” Mr. Eggleston developed a business background, starting up Eggleston Electronics. He said he was running for State Senate because he wanted there to be better roads and a better Internet. “There is more work to be done,” he said.
He pledged to stand for individual freedom and personal responsibility and talked about the value of organ donation. “My wife’s life was saved through an organ transplant,” he said.
Henry Martin, US Congress
Mr. Martin, a Democrat seeking to unseat incumbent Sam Graves, talked about growing up with football and being told by his coach to, “outwork the opposition and victory will come.” He talked about serving in the US Army and watching the Berlin Wall coming down, and working in the National Guard when his unit deployed to help with relief from the Great Flood of 1993.
After that, he served as a teacher for 23 years, where he served as a coach for football and wrestling, a referee, and as an administrator. He said he got involved in politics after writing a letter to President George Bush about No Child Left Behind, which he feared would lead to the closure of half the schools in the country.
He said he wanted to help break what he saw as the hyperpartisan environment in Washington. He called for improved healthcare, where no person should have to go broke. He said justice should be more than words, and said there should be action on childcare, social justice, and criminal justice. “What good does it do if your record condemns you to perpetual poverty,” he asked. “Sometimes, some people need more help than others. Many people out there are struggling.”
Mazzie Boyd, State Representative
Mazzie Boyd, a State Representative candidate running for District 2 as a Republican, said that she would bring a fresh perspective to Jefferson City and focus on business and education. “My parents taught me the value of hard work,” she said. “They provided for me and my brothers. I love this area and the people around it.”
Graduating from Missouri Western, Boyd worked for Senator Roy Blunt and then the Trump Campaign, where she was encouraged to network more. She took it to heart; she has become completely outgoing on the trail, never knowing a stranger. She next worked as an executive assistant in the White House, where she helped vet potential Presidential appointees.
She pledged to represent conservative values, including taking a pro-life stance and noted that Missouri was the first state in the country since Roe was overturned to ban most abortions. “I’m thankful my mother decided to carry me,” she said.
Randy Railsback, State Representative
Mr. Railsback, another Republican candidate for District 2, spoke next. He has been married to Kandi for 46 years. His parents lived in Grant City before he was born in 1956. He has taken a big interest in the area, doing numerous projects for Worth County as head of the Northwest Missouri Regional Council starting in 1990. His first project was trying to keep the well running in Grant City during a big drought; that was the year a beaver dam helped keep water levels close to normal for a time, which got national attention. He helped get a water line run from Grant City to the Middlefork Lake south of Gentry. He also did projects for Denver and Parnell.
Later, Mr. Railsback returned to Hamilton to head up Green Hills for 18 years. “I’ve done a lot of projects, and they all affect people,” he said. “We help keep infrastructure going. If we don’t have infrastructure, we won’t grow.” He also talked about working and developing three lakes, including the Mozingo Lake. He has served one term in the Missouri House and if elected, he would be eligible to serve three more terms. “Let’s keep working for Northwest Missouri,” he said.
Jubal Summers, Presiding Commissioner
Local candidates spoke next, starting with Presiding Commissioner Jubal Summers. “We enjoy living here, and everyone has a hart in making this work,” he said. He said he didn’t develop an interest in politics until the 1990’s, but now has a passion for listening to it a lot. “We’re not quite as partisan as many places,” he said. He served on the school board for 12 years before running for county commission.
He talked about how the county has lived off of grants, citing the golf course clubhouse and noted that the county has applied to get two bridges rebuilt for $2½ million. He said he was encouraged to see more people moving back to the county.
County Clerk Roberta Owens promised to continue running her office openly and honestly. Cheyenne Troutwine introduced herself as a candidate for Recorder of Deeds. She is running as a Republican. Democratic candidate for Recorder of Deeds Amanda Gilland talked about her work as President of the Worth County Summer Ball Association, Treasurer of the School Board, Secretary of the PTO, and Deputy Recorder of Deeds under Barb Foland, who is not seeking reelection.
Two visitors spoke at the end of the forum. Susan Gladstone Tucker, who serves on the Nursing Home Board, questioned why the state was only paying Worth County a reimbursement rate of $156 per day for Medicaid and facilities in the area an average of $159.40 per day while paying facilities in other parts of the state $193 per day. “We pay the same expenses as everyone else,” she said. In addition, she noted that the facility pays $128,000 a year in fees just to participate in the system. While she noted the facility is getting by thanks to a census of around 30 residents, something it has sustained despite the pandemic, she said it was not sustainable. “Rural healthcare needs your help,” she said.
Miles Spainhower, who is the Worth County Assessor, blasted Reps. Andrews and Hegeman for voting for the 2019 bill to overturn Worth County’s and other county health ordinances and turn enforcement of CAFO health regulations back to the Missouri DNR. He noted that he recently closed the books on assessments on livestock, and that Worth County had 15,603 cattle declared for January 1st, 2022 and 5 hogs.
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