Phil Amato of Arnold is seeking his second term as the state representative for District 113. He is being challenged by fellow Republican Joe Maddock of Arnold. No Democrat filed so the winner of the primary will be the winner of the race.
District 113 represents the northeast part of Jefferson County.
According to the 2023-2024 Official Manual State of Missouri, state legislators received a salary of $39,264. The term is for two years.
Maddock, 34, of Arnold operates an insurance and consulting firm dedicated to enhancing the healthcare industry while significantly benefiting small businesses and their employees. He and his wife Cara have three sons. He studied Business Administration and Accounting at Iowa Wesleyan College, Missouri State University, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL).
Joe Maddock
Amato, 70, of Arnold retired as a manufacturer representative for a fortune 500 company more than a decade ago. He is married to Deb. He has a degree from St. Louis Community College at Meramec where he majored in business and sales in advertising.
Phil Amato
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Maddock: As president of the Jefferson County Republican Club, I engage political leaders and community members, gaining an understanding of which issues matter most. As a business owner and treasurer of the Arnold Chamber of Commerce, I witness the challenges small businesses face, the effects of regulations, and the devastation caused by inflation. In my role on the Merit Commission, I evaluate the needs of county employees, balancing these with fiscally conservative principles to identify solutions.
Amato: I led the effort to bring libraries to northern Jefferson County. I was elected to the Arnold City Council for eight terms. I was also elected by my peers as the mayor pro-tem or president of the City Council eight times. I formerly was the Arnold Food Pantry president. I was elected state representative in 2022, served as Jaycee President twice and named Arnold Man of the Year once.
What specific needs exist in your district, and how would you address them?
Maddock: As the only candidate endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, I am deeply committed to public safety. Many of my neighbors have expressed their deep concern, especially amid the current border crisis. A strong rule of law is essential for our law-abiding citizens to achieve their American dream. We cannot achieve this without our first responders. I am proud to have a partner in the Jefferson College Law Enforcement Academy to provide scholarships for recruits. I will continue to support our first responders and ensure our community remains safe and secure.
Amato: Jefferson County has never been known as a rich county and our needs are many. When elected as state representative, my first success was being appointed to the following committees: Local Government, Transportation, Economic Development, Health and Mental Health. These committee assignments have the best chance for our area to prosper. Asking for money in the budget for a Crime Prevention Pilot Program the first term was very unusual. It succeeded because of hard work and people skills. $300,000 was passed in the House and Senate budget for free curbside streetlights to be installed for those who want them.
According to many state legislators, the latest session wasn’t as productive as they would have liked with a near record-low number of bills passed. What do you think needs changed to address the problem?
Maddock: The issues in Jefferson City are largely due to ineffective collaboration. Infighting and personal issues aired in public have caused gridlock preventing the change our community wants. We need leaders in the capitol who understand how to maintain their principles to communicate firmly when they disagree. The people deserve a representative who will consistently fight, the right way, for the issues that matter most to them over establishment and special interest priorities.
Amato: I sponsored 8 bills this session and co-sponsored about the same. The last week of session 3 of my bills were in play and looked like there was a possibility of all passing. The Senate adjourned early the last day and two of my bills died accordingly. The most talked about bill in the legislature this session with almost 60 co-sponsors was my squatters legislation that protects private property. It passed bipartisan with 145 yes votes, one no, and three voting present. If the Senate revamped their rules more bills would pass, and that is the crux of the problem.
State legislation recently was passed that raises the minimum teacher salary to $40,000, with no state funding mechanism attached. Do you think the state provides enough funding for education and why?
Maddock: School districts have a tough job to do. Windsor and Fox C-6 are two of the largest employers, food service organizations, and logistics organizations in the county, and they rely almost exclusively on taxes to operate. However, education accounts for about 71 percent of Missouri’s general revenue and we cannot increase taxes on already struggling Missourians. My solution would be decreasing the numerous state requirements on districts, giving parents more control over their children’s education and allowing districts to better allocate their current funding in the way they see fit.
Amato: Senate Bill 727 raises teacher salaries to a minimum of $40,000 a year and gives an average 8 percent more money to public education yearly based on enrollment versus attendance. The tax credit cap allowing for parochial education was raised $25 million, with public education getting another $225 million. Bus transportation was first eliminated, and I offered an amendment to restore that important funding piece. Fox C-6 is over 77 square miles, with over a hundred buses. When transportation was restored, I voted yes. The guarantee of funding mandates our budget constitutionally spend 25 percent on public education without fail.
State legislators have proposed bills aimed at making it harder to amend the state constitution through an initiative petition. Do you support these efforts and why?
Maddock: Yes. A constitution is meant to contain a limited set of core principles everyone can agree on. The Missouri Constitution has been amended 119 times and is the fifth-longest constitution in the country. It no longer represents our core principles. Instead, it represents the well-funded desires of less than 20 percent of Missouri’s population. I support increasing the threshold for amending the constitution to further protect the people from outside influence, attacks on individual freedoms, and legal troubles due to poorly written amendments.
Amato: The constitution is a sacred document and should rarely be amended. If a constitutional amendment passes, the legislature cannot change anything regardless of the problem. There is a difference when we vote to change a law statutorily or change the constitution. So many different ideas were debated at the capital. The final bill I supported, and passed the House was to continue to have a constitutional amendment pass using a simple majority of 50 percent plus one. To be fair, however, it must pass five out of the eight congressional districts. This will give a good cross-section of the entire state.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Maddock: It is time for us to look to the future. Together we will build a Jefferson County our children and grandchildren want to thrive in. We will continue to build on our safe communities and our great economic potential. By sending me to Jefferson City, you are sending your biggest advocate and a representative who will continue to work tirelessly to make a better future for you and your families.
Amato: 1684 Bills were filed in the House and only eleven passed minus the budget bills. My Squatters Bill on protecting property rights was one of the 11 bills that passed. It was the most talked about legislation in the entire House with about 60 co-sponsors. It was on radio, television, and had plenty of newspaper coverage. The speaker of the House praised the bill at the yearly press conference. If re-elected, I will refile the Elderly Abuse Bill, and three others that all received unanimous bipartisan support coming out of committee but fell short because of problems in the Senate.
