Ann Wagner is seeking a seventh two-year term as Missouri’s 2nd District representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.
First, Wagner of Ballwin will have to face fellow Republican Peter Pfeifer of Town and County in the Aug. 6 primary election.
Pfeifer did not return a Leader questionnaire.
On the Democratic side, Ray Hartmann of Richmond Heights and Chuck Summers of St. Louis will face off in the primary. Hartmann did not return a Leader questionnaire.
In November, the winners of the primary will face Libertarian Brandon Daugherty of O’Fallon.
The district, which was redrawn following the 2020 federal Census, now includes much of west and south St. Louis County, parts of St. Charles County and Franklin and Warren counties.
U.S. representatives are paid $174,000 per year.
Republicans
Wagner, 61, of Ballwin has been the District 2 U.S. House representative since 2013. She and her husband, Ray, have three children and four grandchildren. Wagner earned a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in logistics from the University of Missouri in 1984.
Ann Wagner
What experience do you have that might serve you well in this position?
Wagner: I am a workhorse, not a show horse. My accomplishments in office have benefited the district, our state and the country, but I will never forget I work for the people. It truly is an honor to serve the people of Missouri’s Second District. I view it as a calling, not a job. Exemplary customer service for the Second District is at the core of what I do as your representative.
What specific needs exist in your district, and how would you address them?
Wagner: Reducing crime and addressing inflation are needed. Missourians should be able to feel safe in our communities, and I wholeheartedly stand against efforts to defund the police. I am proud to have the endorsement of the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police and will always support keeping dangerous criminals off our streets. Regarding inflation, Democrats’ out-of-control spending has Missourians paying more at the grocery store and the gas pump. I will end unnecessary regulations, cut spending and lower taxes for all working families.
What steps should the U.S. government take to address concerns about immigration and border security?
Wagner: Our open border is both a national security threat and a humanitarian crisis. Joe Biden has endangered Americans by failing to secure the border and by refusing to reinstate former president Donald Trump’s successful border policies. We need to build the border wall and end illegal catch and release.
What steps should the government take to address concerns about the economy?
Wagner: Inflation is no accident. Reckless spending by Washington Democrats set us on a path to the unaffordability we are seeing in our communities. Groceries are too expensive, the American dream of owning a home is unattainable and people want real leadership from Washington. I will focus on reducing the out-of-control and wasteful spending we see in the federal government. At a time when Americans are being forced to tighten their budgets to afford necessities, their government should be better stewards of their tax dollars.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Wagner: I won’t stand by while our country, values and way of life are attacked by Joe Biden. My record speaks for itself. I fight to secure the border, preserve constitutional freedoms, protect the most vulnerable and make life affordable again. I will always stand for the conservative values that make Missouri the greatest place to live, work and raise a family.
Democrats
Summers, 61, of Oakville is retired after working for 33 years as a union plumber. He has two children and three grandchildren. He graduated from Lindbergh High School and attended St. Louis Community College-Meramec for one year.
Chuck Summers
What experience do you have that might serve you well in this position?
Summers: I ran work for decades and had to work with others to get the job done on time and under budget.
What specific needs exist in your district, and how would you address them?
Summers: The needs in my district are the same as the rest of the country – high prices at the pump and grocery stores. Legislation is needed to break up the monopolies and tax breaks for competition.
What steps should the U.S. government take to address concerns about immigration and border security?
Summers: I would endorse the bipartisan border security legislation that was not passed.
What steps should the government take to address concerns about the economy?
Summers: That’s pretty much been answered with the other question and I would add middle class tax cuts.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Summers: I would protect women’s rights by codifying Roe v. Wade, pass middle class tax cuts, help seniors on a fixed income and initiate a cost-of-living increase to help them with price increases.
