The Leader continues 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.
Ann Wagner is seeking a fifth two-year term as Missouri’s 2nd District representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.
To get back to Washington, D.C., Wagner will have to defeat in the Nov. 3 general election Democrat Jill Schupp of Creve Coeur and Libertarian Martin V. Schulte of Ballwin.
All ran unopposed in their parties' respective primary elections in August.
The district covers a small portion of northeastern Jefferson County and extends across most of St. Louis County and into St. Charles County.
U.S. representatives are paid $174,000 per year.
WAGNER, 58, lists her address as Ballwin. She and her husband, Ray, have three children and one grandchild. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in logistics from University of Missouri in Columbia.
Social media: Website: annwagner.com Twitter: @AnnLWagner Facebook: Ann4Congress
SCHUPP, 65, lists her address as Creve Coeur. She and her husband, Mark, have two children. She is in her second term as the District 24 state senator and previously served three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives. She also has been elected to the Creve Coeur City Council and Ladue School District Board of Education. She is a graduate of Parkway North High School and the University of Missouri in Columbia. She received a teaching certificate from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Social media: Website: JillSchupp.com Twitter: @JillSchupp Instagram: @JillSchuppforCongress Facebook: ElectJillSchupp
SCHULTE, 44, lives in Ballwin. He and his wife, Amy, have four children. He is employed at a functional specialist and adviser at TechGuard Security LLC and served in the U.S. Navy. He has a master’s degree in human resources and organizational development at University of Louisville and a bachelor’s degree in workforce education and Training from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Social media: Website: martinvschulte.com Facebook: facebook.com/mvschulte
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Wagner: I was born and raised in the district, where I have spent my life giving back to the community through volunteering, community service and political organizing. My first job was at my parents’ carpet store, learning about hard work, customer service and how government should stay off the backs of hard-working Americans. I applied these values to my career in the private sector and with grassroots organizations as a committeewoman in Lafayette Township.
Schupp: While my sons were in school, I noticed the lack of air conditioning left students struggling to concentrate. No one stepped up to solve the problem. I took action. I ran for school board and won. Since then, my desire to help my community has put me on a path of public service, to the Creve Coeur City Council, the state House and the State Senate, where every bill I’ve passed has had bipartisan support.
Schulte: A vast majority of my experience working in the government has been through the Department of Defense (25 years).
How would you grade the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic? What would you have done or what would you do differently?
Wagner: We have learned that we need more resources and public engagement to quickly implement testing, contact tracing and isolation protocols, while promoting social distancing and avoiding harmful shutdowns. I’m developing these lessons into practices that will improve our public health readiness and keep Missouri’s families safe. I’ve introduced legislation to expand telehealth services, protect nursing home residents, improve health security, address mental health, shore up U.S. supply of treatments and improve the national strategic stockpile. Despite room for improvement, I’m proud of the government’s fastest-ever progress on a vaccine, treatments and building a testing regime from scratch.
Schupp: Missourians are still at risk and many are struggling to make ends meet. The federal government must step up and deliver relief to those who need it most, not big corporations and the well-connected. We need to significantly increase our investments in testing, tracing and treatment. If elected, as I’ve done throughout my time in public service, I will work across the aisle to find bipartisan solutions that help working families. Congress must come together to pass another relief bill that reflects the needs of the American people and allocates resources needed to both save lives and jump-start the economy.
Schulte: I’d give it a C-. Congress has done a poor job releasing taxes back to the people of this country. It is bad enough that people have lost their jobs, businesses and houses. The latest CARES debacle is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to make people more reliant on government assistance.
There’s always talk about instituting term limits for members of Congress. Would term limits be a good thing or a bad thing, and why?
Wagner: I support a constitutional amendment to limit the number of years members can serve, though without this being passed, the most important piece of this conversation is whether representatives continue to learn from their constituents and effectively speak up for them. Some members become part of the swamp or stop representing their constituents’ interests. In fact, many Democratic members have refused to vote or talk with constituents in person this year. But I fly home immediately after votes to listen directly to the community and learn how I can best represent you.
Schupp: In Jefferson City, I’ve seen firsthand how term limits can create a revolving door between people who serve in the legislature and lobbyists. Regardless of what one thinks of term limits, it is clear that Ann Wagner’s political career needs to come to an end. She’s spent her political career cozying up to special interests and big corporations and has turned her back on Missouri families. She needs to be held accountable for these choices.
Schulte: Term limits are a good thing. Term limits allow people with fresh ideas to partake in the legislative process. Not everyone votes and members of Congress are mostly elected by pluralities.
How should Congress respond to calls to improve social justice?
Wagner: Congress must ensure all people are treated with dignity and respect by law enforcement. That’s why I voted for the Justice Act, which increases transparency and accountability for the use of force. We’re blessed to have brave people serving as police officers, and the Justice Act would help them better accomplish their mission to be guardians of the people in the neighborhoods they serve. I’m also proud that St. Louis-area police departments have adopted many reforms that are being called for and urge Congress to stop playing politics and pass this bill to ensure best practices are adopted nationwide.
Schupp: People across the country are calling out for change, and it’s up to Congress to respond to those calls with action. Certainly, we acknowledge when progress is made while also working to address existing inequalities and continually seeking justice for those who have been denied it. Social justice also means access to affordable health care (including in our rural and underserved areas), good jobs with decent wages and benefits, secure retirement, affordable childcare options, and quality education, so that people have the fair shot they deserve to care for themselves and their families.
Schulte: Congress should not be in the business of legislating winners and losers. Federal legislation should enable equality and secure individual liberties.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Wagner: I’m fighting for a full economic recovery to help families impacted by the pandemic and bring unemployment rates back down to record lows. I’m working hard to increase affordable healthcare options for all. I support healthcare premium assistance for those who have lost their jobs during COVID, ending surprise medical billing and protecting those with pre-existing conditions while reducing premiums and prescription drug prices. I support policies like tax cuts and ensuring you keep more of your paychecks. I’m committed to addressing the crisis on our Southern border, fighting crime and sex trafficking and getting children back to school safely.
Schupp: We deserve representation that puts our families first – not lobbyists and corporate special interests that Ann Wagner prioritizes. I will work across the aisle for common-sense solutions to solve real problems: affording critical medications, making sure our kids are safe at school, building an economy that works for everyone. Big Pharma and corporate interests are funding and backing my opponent, while my campaign is powered by people. We must get money out of politics and reduce the influence of special interests in Washington. I am committed to restoring decency, and my allegiance is to the people above all else.
Schulte: How has the government been working for you? I am strong on individual liberty and responsibility. I believe that a watchful eye needs to be over the executive branch, no matter who is elected president. My first priority will be representing the people of District 2 over a party.
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.
Wagner: 1. I worked with President Trump to give Missouri’s families the biggest tax cut in history; employ more Americans than ever before and achieve record-low unemployment rates for minorities, women, and youth; support record economic growth; reduce prescription drug costs and introduce more affordable health insurance options; support Social Security and Medicare; and hold China and Iran accountable. Biden’s socialist proposals would raise taxes on the middle class, decrease your healthcare options, use your tax dollars to fund late-term abortions, and undermine Trump’s campaign to protect against Chinese and Iranian aggression.
Schupp: I am a supporter of Vice President Biden, but no matter who wins the presidential election, I am committed to restoring decency and civility in politics. If elected, I want Missouri families to know they’ll have a champion in Congress who will fight tirelessly for them to have better access to health care, a quality education, and an economy that works for them. I’ll fight to get money out of politics and reduce the influence that special interests have over our elections and representatives. I’ll show up for working Missourians no matter what.
Schulte: 1. Jo Jorgensen has great ideas to make the government work for you and change will never happen if, we as the citizen oversight of government, keep electing the same people to the same positions.