The race for the District 114 state representative seat, which covers eastern central Jefferson County, will be a rematch of the 2012 contest, when Democrat TJ McKenna edged out Republican Becky Ruth by 84 votes in 5,460 votes cast.
Both candidates live in Festus, but other than that similarity, they have strikingly different resumes.
State representatives serve two-year terms. The pay is $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.
McKenna, 29, lives at 1502 Westvale Drive, Festus. He is a 2007 graduate of the University of Missouri in Columbia with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He worked in the Jefferson County Assessor’s Office until 2012, when he was elected to represent District 114 in the state Legislature. Also in 2012, he was elected to the Jefferson County University of Missouri Extension Council. He has volunteered “on and off since high school” with the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity; volunteered with the Gateway Disabled Ski Program from 2001 to 2003; and currently volunteers with the Quad City Senior Center Meals on Wheels program.
Ruth, 50, lives at 1205 Alexander Drive, Festus. She and her husband, Don, have three children and four grandchildren. She is a retired teacher and works as a real estate agent with Re-Max Best Choice. A graduate of Festus High School, she attended Jefferson College before earning a bachelor’s degree from the College of the Ozarks. She taught English and Spanish, first in the Blue Eye School District and then in the Festus School District. She also chaired several departments at both schools; sponsored numerous clubs, teams and organizations; coached cheerleading and academic teams; and served as a professional learning community facilitator.
She served as region president of the Missouri State Teachers Association in 2004-2005, then as its state president in 2008-2009. She was the recipient of the Jefferson County Friend of Education Award in 2011. She has been a volunteer with Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity since 2012, serving on its Family Selection Committee and as the marketing chair of its LobsterFest Committee. She is a member of the Jefferson County Board of Realtors, serving on both its Governmental Affairs Committee and its Program, Ways, and Means Committee 2013. She was a volunteer with the Jefferson County Health and Education Fair every year since 2011, and is a member of the Twin City Area Optimist Club.
What role, if any, should the General Assembly take to regulate abortion?
McKenna: Missouri laws are some of the strongest in the nation at protecting our unborn children. I will not vote to ease these restrictions. It seems to me that the General Assembly should also address the causes of why something occurs and look at unemployment or underemployment, lack of adequate prenatal care, poverty, and improving our adoption laws. A very wise person once told me that often, changing laws is not as important as changing hearts and minds.
Ruth: I am a pro-life candidate who believes in protecting both the born and the unborn.
Give some examples of when you have split with your party's position on issues.
McKenna: I have a two-year voting record and that I am very proud of. I have listened to my constituents over the course of my first term and my record speaks for itself. This position is supposed to be one that represents the people of my district, not just my own party. Over the past two years, I have split with my party on a variety of issues. The first is the issue of life. I have consistently voted pro-life over the course of my first term in office and have voted to override Gov. Nixon’s vetoes on this issue. The second issue is gun rights. I am the only candidate in this race endorsed by the NRA because of my proven voting record. I have heard from many people around the community so my decision to break from my party on these issues has been easy.
Ruth: I was a teacher for 25 years. I believe strongly in our educational system and also firmly believe that we need to bring local control back to our school districts. I am not in favor of more standardized testing for our children or for including student standardized test results as part of teacher evaluations.
Under what circumstances would you support an increase in Missouri's gasoline tax?
McKenna: The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is in a funding crisis right now. Something needs to be done before it’s too late. Missouri voters rejected a sales tax increase in August so we need to look at other avenues to bring in additional funding. It requires $485 million per year just to keep Missouri’s transportation in the condition it is in today. MoDOT’s budget is projected to be only $325 million in the year 2017. Missouri’s current gas tax is 17 cents and it was last raised in 1996. We have the sixth-lowest gas tax in the country. I am willing to try anything that will help save lives. Missouri has over 10,000 bridges, with 1,500 of them considered “structurally deficient” and an additional 1,400 considered “functionally obsolete.”
Ruth: I would not support an increase in Missouri’s gasoline tax. Hard-working Missourians are already taxed enough. In Jefferson City I will fight to make sure you keep more of what you earn.
What is the largest problem that needs to be fixed in Missouri's educational system and what action(s) should the Legislature take to correct it?
McKenna: I don’t want to say funding will solve every problem but we are currently underfunding education through the foundation formula by over $600 million. The state has struggled to adequately fund education and as long as the Legislature keeps passing special tax breaks for special interests, education and other programs will continue to see cuts in funding.
This past session, the majority party overrode Governor Nixon’s veto on SB 506. This bill, once fully implemented, will give business owners a 25 percent deduction while everyone else will only see a 0.5 percent deduction. I voted no on this bill because once this takes effect, the state is estimated to lose out on anywhere between $620-800 million a year from general revenue. There is no way education will be able to be fully funded and schools will be in danger of major funding cuts forever.
Ruth: The mandates from Washington, D.C., and Jefferson City are taking control away from our parents and teachers who know best how to educate our children. I will fight to make sure we return local control to our schools. The increased governmental regulations are taking valuable time away from the classroom. We need to let teachers do what they do best: teach our children.
What changes, if any, do you support in Missouri's campaign finance laws?
McKenna: Missouri needs to totally rewrite our campaign finance laws. We are the only state in the country that allows for unlimited campaign contributions and unlimited lobbyist gifts. Voters passed campaign contribution limits but the Legislature went against the people’s interests and reversed the course on the last day of session in 2008. Unfortunately, I do not see the Legislature making any changes because we have the potential to benefit so much. Coming to that realization, I have brought it upon myself to try something different. I refuse to raise money during session because I am in Jefferson City to work for the community, not worrying about re-election. I am the only Jefferson County legislator who does this.
I am also the only area legislator who hasn’t taken any personal lobbyist gifts this year. Out of 197 legislators only 15 of us have not taken these gifts.
Ruth: I believe that our campaign finance and ethics laws should be as transparent as possible so that we can return faith in government. We need better transparency so that our elected officials can’t claim one thing while doing another.
Why are you a better choice than your opponent?
McKenna: I am a better choice because I have stayed committed to running on my own merits and not wasting my time going negative toward my opponent. People are always telling me that would rather vote for someone rather than against someone, so I prefer to tell my story. I am very proud of what I have accomplished in my life, especially when it comes to the community. I was recently awarded Legislator of the Year for constituent services. I truly believe in giving back to the community more than you take from it and my lifestyle proves that. Whether it’s delivering meals to our homebound seniors or building houses for those in need, I give every bit back to the community. We need this type of leadership because this world we live in today focuses too much on the negative side of things.
Ruth: I believe I have the life experience as a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and small business woman to be a strong voice for our communities. I truly understand the struggles the people who work and live in Jefferson County face each day. In Jefferson City we need someone who will show up every day focused on helping the citizens of our community.