Because of the state’s term limit standards, Shane Roden of Cedar Hill was prohibited from running for a fifth two-year term representing District 111 in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Roden is running in the Aug. 2 primary election for state Senate, while four Republicans emerged to take his place in the House – Gary Bonacker, Christopher Ray, Robert (Ragz) Falcone and Cecelie Williams.
Ray did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire.
Because no Democrats filed, the winner of the Republican primary will be sworn in as Roden’s successor.
The district, redrawn after the 2020 federal Census, includes House Springs and Cedar Hill as well as areas in central Jefferson County as far south as the Hillsboro area.
State senators and representatives currently receive a $37,711 salary, plus mileage and a per-diem payment for expenses for each day the General Assembly is in session.
BONACKER, 61, of House Springs is a lifelong farmer. He has a son and a grandson. He has a high school education and attended some college.
Website/social media: Facebook: Gary Bonacker for State Representative District #111
FALCONE, 65, of Dittmer works in security at the Enterprise Center for the St. Louis Blues. He is engaged to Christy King, and has two sons, a stepdaughter and five grandchildren. He has earned more than 70 hours of college credit in legal systems and secondary education.
Website: falcone4rep.com
WILLIAMS, 41, of Dittmer owns Turf-One Landscape Management. She and her husband, Rich, have seven children and a granddaughter. She graduated from Grandview High School.
Website/social media: Facebook: Cecelie Williams for Missouri State Representative, District 111
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Bonacker: I have served 12 years with the Northwest R-1 Board of Education and 15 years with the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Falcone: I have more than 20 years of federal service with Postal Service and U.S. Homeland Security. I have commendation letters from the Federal Security Directors of St. Louis, Kansas City and New Orleans with my time on the rapid response team with the Transportation Security Administration. I have promoted and performed at many different benefits, including Rally Against Heroin, Food for Thought, BackStoppers and the Cedar Hill Food Pantry.
Williams: I was a Parent-Teacher Organization treasurer-president for 10 years, and a volunteer and committee treasurer for the Boy Scouts of America for 12 years.
What specific needs exist in your district, and how would you address them?
Bonacker: I have run in the past with the idea that I would be representing the district and I would be accessible to our needs. The school districts of my district are part of this community, so I will work hard to keep them strong.
Falcone: School safety, gun control, addiction, mental health, voter integrity, security and many others will be addressed. I will work to see that taxes are appropriated to the areas that are critical, whether it be infrastructure, healthcare or education. I will work to repeal taxes that affect seniors or those with disabilities. I will try to convince my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work for common goals.
Williams: ■ Transportation improvement: We have dangerous intersections that must be addressed and improved.
■ Pandemic recovery: Many families and businesses still continue to feel the implications from COVID-19. We need to find solutions that will help our families and businesses recover from the financial stress.
■ Emergency services: Funding for our emergency services have been neglected for many years. We have ambulance and firehouses that need better facilities and updated equipment. We also need to have money available to provide more support to our Sheriff’s Office. Response times for assistance to rural areas is increasing and it’s definitely a concern.
According to recent polls, the majority of Americans want stricter gun laws. Do you support gun law reforms, and if so what changes do you support? For example, do you support raising age limits to buy guns, more stringent background checks, requiring waiting periods when buying guns, prohibiting types of guns, ammunition clips or ammunition?
Bonacker: I have talked to gun owners and I have been told by all of them that changes need to be made regarding background checks, which will result in longer waiting periods. The type of guns and clips are already outlawed. We need to use the laws that are in place and prosecute gun owners abusing the system.
Falcone: I support all Americans and their Second Amendment rights. I support that no one under the age of 21 should buy any assault weapon. I do not support red-flag laws as they could be used as an instrument to weaken our rights. Our forefathers wanted these rights for the purpose that no government could infringe our freedoms and liberties. I realize the debate on this subject is divided and torrid to say the least. Yet, we all have the right to defend ourselves and our property.
Williams: I do not support any type of gun law reform. Gun control does not keep guns from getting into evil’s hands. If evil cannot obtain a gun legally, it will obtain one illegally. We have thousands of pages of failed gun control laws. Creating more gun control laws isn’t going to change this. Gun control isn’t the problem, it’s the person behind the trigger.
Some people question the validity of the last presidential election. Who do you believe won the election and why?
Bonacker: I had wished it was true. But I tell people that any election fraud that would have happened would have to be so massive that someone would come forward to give real evidence. Unfortunately, Joe Biden is our president.
Falcone: This is a rhetorical question. I believe there were many discrepancies with the 2020 presidential election. Whether it be the voting machines or the mail-in ballots as a result of COVID, I do not believe this was a fair, integrity-driven election. I cannot believe that Joe Biden received more votes than Barack Obama, not to mention there were more votes than registered voters. There are more than 50 million people who believe the election was not on the up and up. That is reason to question the validity.
Williams: Voter integrity and transparency is incredibly important. Biden won the election, but was it honest? Any partisan group that loses somehow believes that there was some sort of fraud or that the race was rigged. Seldom does the losing side accept the validity of the race. I believe that at all elections a government issued ID must be presented at the time the ballot is received and that the ballot is being completed by that voter. That this isn’t a federal law is mind-blowing. We need transparency when it comes to voter integrity.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Bonacker: I want to be part of the solution. There is a high percentage of Republicans who are not being heard by our lawmakers. I believe I can represent them. By working with other legislators, I hope to help public education, push for safe and secure elections and bring more good-paying jobs to the state.
Falcone: I have years of experience in the government workplace. I have a keen knowledge of its functions and its responsibilities. Accountability and creditability are not just words at election time, but rather should be daily commitments by all who are paid with taxpayer money. I am a product of this community and have been blessed by God for the relationships I have made. I want to see that constituents’ interests are not forsaken or misused for the gain of a few. I will hear your concerns and try to make sure that government is the people’s instrument.
Williams: I am honest, trustworthy and a hard worker, I listen and respond effectively. I know what it takes to raise a family in our district as well as operate a business, with the challenges that go along with that. I have the passion to make a difference and the ability to make the changes that we need. My goals will be to listen to our community and its concerns and then bring those voices to Jefferson City to create change.