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.
In what is something of a rematch of the November 2018 election, a Festus resident is challenging Republican Jason Smith, who is seeking another two-year term representing District 8 in the U.S. House of Representatives in the Nov. 6 general election.
Democrat Kathy Ellis, a social worker and psychotherapist from Festus, is challenging Smith, a small business owner, lawyer and farmer from Salem.
Ellis is hoping this time around to close the gap. Smith won two years ago with 73 percent of the vote.
Libertarian Tom Schmitz of Rolla also is in the race. He did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire.
All ran unopposed in their parties’ primary elections in August.
Smith first was seated in Congress in June 2015 after he won a special election to fill a vacancy created when Jo Ann Emerson resigned. He then was re-elected to a full two-year term in 2014 and was re-elected in 2016 and 2018.
At its northernmost point, District 8 covers most of western and southern Jefferson County and extends south to the state line.
The pay for U.S. representative is $174,000 a year, plus allowances.
SMITH, 40, is from Salem and lists his home in Cape Girardeau. He is a family farm owner, an attorney, a former small business owner and real estate agent. He received bachelor’s degrees in agriculture economics and business administration from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 2001 and a law degree in 2004 from Oklahoma City University in 2004.
Social media: Website: electjasonsmith.com Facebook: JasonSmithForMissouri Twitter: @JasonSmithMO
ELLIS, 64, lives in Festus. She is married to Ann Gettinger. She is a board-certified licensed clinical social worker and a trauma and addictions counselor. She worked in private practice in Sunset Hills and currently works in Festus. She graduated from Northwest High School in 1974, received a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1977 and a master’s degree in social work in from Washington University in 1978.
Social media: Website: ellisforcongress.com Facebook: Kathy Ellis for Congress Twitter: @ellisforcongress
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Smith: My parents, grandparents, great grandparents and grandparents before them all called this area home. I know what it means to fight for our values. I grew up working around agriculture and my dad’s small business, I saw how government overreach can have dire consequences. I will continue to fight to get the government out of your business so you can raise your family and care for your livelihood as you know best.
Ellis: I am the vice-chair of a comprehensive community health center, secretary of the board of a domestic violence shelter and a board member of a cultural diversity committee. These positions have helped me develop a broad perspective on the needs of people and how those can be addressed.
How would you grade the federal government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic? What would you have done or what would you do differently?
Smith: While the president and his coronavirus task force deserve high marks for their response, Congress unfortunately deserves a failing grade. President Trump immediately halted international flights from countries of high outbreak, gave decision and control to local governments and through his operation “Warp Speed” we have three vaccines already in the final trial phases. Those type of successes don’t just happen. On the other side, it has been unfortunate to see the constant politicization of the virus by Speaker Nancy Pelosi who thinks it will help her this election if the country stays locked down and businesses and schools closed.
Ellis: The current response from this administration has been unacceptable. We are still suffering from the lack of long-term planning that should have been in place. This will not be the last epidemic-pandemic or crisis situation that we will have as a nation. There needs to be strong cooperation among federal, state and local governments, as well as coordination from other countries in this world to effectively eradicate the potential for this to occur again. We need to develop a massive response team that emphasizes prevention rather than an uncoordinated, ineffective and unequal governmental reaction.
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?
Smith: Strict term limits only serve to empower one group of people in our nation’s capital – swamp-dwelling lobbyists. Mass exodus of Congress every couple of years will ensure that lobbyists and their influence grow stronger and that their voices are the ones writing our nation’s laws and policies, not the American people or the representatives they elect.
Ellis: It is worth exploring. We have too many members of Congress who have been in too long and have lost contact with their constituents, as well as being influenced by lobbyists. The seats in Congress should not be the job that lasts for a lifetime. We need new life from new people to create a robust and engaged Congress that acts on behalf of the people.
How should Congress respond to calls to improve social justice?
Smith: Those on the left controlling the Democratic Party believe that defunding the police and calling America ‘racist’ are the best places to start. I couldn’t disagree more strongly. We need law enforcement to keep communities, businesses and families safe. Police officers put their lives on the line every day, we owe them more thanks than we can give. In the wake of recent events, we have to make sure that as individuals and as a country we become better – better people, better citizens and better Americans. That will make more of a difference than any new law or regulation could.
Ellis: As a nation, we need to accept that we need to make changes. From governments to industry, the courts, the police and education, we need to examine how we can provide equal opportunities to all Americans. We have been wounded greatly by the lack of equality that has existed for years. We have a Congress right now that is not communicating, an electorate that is becoming more divided and a loss of direction. We need to talk to each other, not just allow social media to spread its lies. We need policies from Congress that will help.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Smith: The district has been my family’s home for seven generations. Serving you allows me to fight for the values which make up the heart of rural America: A smaller, less intrusive government, more personal freedoms and protecting farms, Main Street businesses and families. I want to make sure that the way of life we know is preserved for generations to come, that it is not eroded by the onslaught of a liberal agenda that aims to empower governments over families. We need a federal government that works for Missourians, not the other way around.
Ellis: I am not a politician. I am a public servant. I have spent my career working with individuals who are suffering. I listen to them. When they reveal the extent of their problems, we begin to work together on a solution. This district looks fine from the interstate, but on the side roads we see extreme poverty, infant-mother mortality, hunger and food insecurity, abandoned hospitals, schools and businesses, little hope and little help. We need leadership from someone who cares, not someone who ignores the needs of the people.
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.
Smith: 1. The record of accomplishment in President Trump’s 3 1/2 years is astonishing: Thousands of burdensome regulations repealed, massive middle-class tax cuts, more than 200 miles of border wall completed, ended trade deals hurting American workers, tore up the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, confirmed hundreds of conservative judges, ushered in 50-year lows in unemployment and delivered the best economy in a lifetime. He did all of this in the face of a failed impeachment sham and while dealing with a global pandemic. I am excited about what we have accomplished so far, but even more excited for what comes next.
Ellis: I would rate my support as a “1.” We need someone as president who has the experience and wisdom we need to calm this nation down from hate-filled speech, the destruction of our democratic values and Constitution. We need someone who understands the people and can empathize with their pain. We need a leader who makes decisions on what we need, not in his best interests, and someone who hires competent people. We need someone who is respected around the world, and that is Joe Biden.