The Leader begins its Voters Guide for the Nov. 3 primary election. To assist an expected high number of people who wish to cast absentee and write-in ballots as early as possible, we will be posting profiles on candidates in contested races and ballot issues. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot or mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. Oct. 21; the deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7. For information, call the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office at 636-797-5486.
Dan Shaul faces a challenge in his bid to serve a fourth consecutive two-year term representing District 113 in the Missouri House of Representatives.
In the Nov. 3 general election, Shaul, a Republican from Imperial, will square off against Democratic challenger Terry Burgess of Barnhart.
Both ran unopposed in their party’s August primary election.
Because of the state’s term limit standards, if Shaul wins, it will be his last term in the state House.
District 113 covers northeast Jefferson County.
State representatives are paid $35,915 per year, a weekly allowance for miles traveled going to and returning from meetings, and expenses for each day the General Assembly is in session.
SHAUL, 51, lives in Imperial. He and his wife, Kim, have three children. He is the state director of the Missouri Grocers Association. He studied aviation technology at Parks College.
BURGESS, 38, lives in Barnhart. He and his wife, Jessica, have a daughter. He is a union construction laborer for Laborers Local 110. He is a 2001 graduate of Windsor High School and attended South County Technical School.
Social media: Website: upballot.com/terry-burgess Facebook: Burgess4Missouri
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Shaul: I have been involved in the community in many ways. I serve on the Windsor C-1 Board of Education and was active in the Windsor Freer Parents Association. I have been active in the Boy Scouts and I have served on the council of the church which we attend.
Burgess: I worked on the right-to-work campaign and collected thousands of signatures to put it on the ballot and voted no on Right to Work. I also volunteer a lot of my free time to help the homeless, including homeless veterans.
Should the General Assembly pass legislation to allow counties, cities and other local jurisdictions to join the state in collecting sales taxes from internet purchases? Why or why not?
Shaul: It is very important to ensure that the vital services that we expect and depend on from local and state governments have the resources to perform these services. This can and should be accomplished by ensuring that the internet purchases are treated the same as if they were purchased at the local neighborhood brick-and-mortar stores that have supported our communities for years.
Burgess: I do not think the General Assembly should pass that legislation. I would think most of the hard-working middle class would agree they are paying enough in taxes and do not want more taxes and tax increases.
Where should the state budget be cut to make up for unexpected expenses incurred to respond to the novel coronavirus pandemic? What should not be cut?
Shaul: Education should not be cut. The best way to deal with a potential budget shortfall due to this pandemic would be to limit new spending and new projects. By doing this, we should be able to maintain the level of services that the community relies upon.
Burgess: I would not cut the budget to our police, first responders, health care and public schools. If anything, we need to help and support them more. I would look into government's wasteful spending and look at increasing taxes on anyone making more than $500,000 a year. For far too long, the middle class has carried the state by paying its fair share and now I think it’s time for the super wealthy to do the same instead of getting away with all the tax loopholes that they do.
How would you assess the state government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic? What would you have done or what would you do differently?
Shaul: Missouri’s response to the coronavirus pandemic is hard to assess during the pandemic itself. When the pandemic is over, we will see that the state’s response was one of balancing public health and individual freedom.
Burgess: The coronavirus has been very difficult this year as my wife tested positive for the virus and she is a registered nurse who is very careful. The state should have responded faster. I would have mandated 6 feet social distancing and encouraged people to spread out more. Masks can work if handled correctly. Taking the mask off and on, touching your face with your hands and not being clean and sanitized would not help contain the spread. I would highly encourage everyone to wear a mask if social distancing cannot be practiced, but I would not mandate it.
What is your stance on Constitutional Amendment No. 3, which would repeal portions of the “Clean Missouri” initiative overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2018?
Shaul: I support Amendment No. 3, because it will eliminate all lobbyist gifts and will ensure that the legislative districts are a true and fair reflection of the communities that they represent.
Burgess: I am a big supporter of Clean Missouri. I do not support repealing any part of it. Politicians for too long have been bought and paid for by special interests. And a lot of politicians like gerrymandering to manipulate and rig the boundaries of an electoral constituency. We need to leave Clean Missouri alone.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Shaul: My goals since getting elected remain the same: Build a better economy with family-sustainable jobs, improve the public education system by ensuring students, teachers and parents have the tools to prepare students for college or careers upon graduation from high school and I will always support all of our first responders. It is my continued fight for these goals along, with my proven conservative values, that makes me right person to represent the 113th District.
Burgess: I want to maintain our property values, lower crime rates, end government corruption and support our police and other first responders. We need to bring back our good-paying jobs to Missouri instead of shipping them to China. We need affordable health care and lower prescription drug costs. I would support our kids and public schools and never bend or waiver on my values.
On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being the strongest, how would you rate your support of your party’s nominee for president? Explain your reasoning.
Shaul: 1. Based on my proven position of protecting the Second amendment and ensuring that every life has a voice, I will be supporting President Trump for re-election.
Burgess: I would give Joe Biden a 3. I am excited to see and watch the debates. Joe has been in politics for a very long time with a lot of other politicians, regardless of party. We need term limits on the federal level like we do on the state level. No one should make a career out of serving the people in government. We need new people in office.