Mary Elizabeth Coleman faces one more hurdle in a bid to win a seat in the Missouri Senate.
Coleman, of Arnold, defeated three other Republican candidates, all of whom also served in the state House of Representatives, in the August primary election.
On Nov. 8, Coleman will run against Democrat Benjamin Hagin of Arnold in the general election.
The winner will succeed Paul Wieland, who was unable to seek another four-year term because of the state’s term limits standards. Wieland lost a bid to become Jefferson County Executive in the August primary.
Coleman passed up running for a fourth term from her House district to seek the Senate spot.
The redrawn Senate district takes in roughly the northern half of Jefferson County.
State senators currently receive a $37,711 salary, plus mileage and a per-diem payment for expenses for each day the General Assembly is in session.
COLEMAN, 40, of Arnold is an attorney and special counsel for the Thomas More Society, a national public interest law firm. She and her husband, Christopher, have six children. She graduated from St. Louis University in 2004 and received a law degree from the St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2007.
Website: maryelizabethcoleman.com
HAGIN, 43, of Barnhart is self-employed in the auto body industry. He and his wife, Tara, have two children. He graduated from the collision repair program at Ranken Technical College.
Website: haginformissouri.com
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Coleman: Our children are ninth-generation Jefferson Countians. I am proud to have served Ward 2 on Arnold’s City Council. As state representative in the 97th District I have worked hard to protect the Second Amendment, pass Missouri’s Stands for the Unborn Act, fought to ensure our schools are open and fully funded, cut red tape and taxes.
Hagin: I was head of my local road committee for three years.
What specific needs exist in your district, and how would you address them?
Coleman: Reckless spending in Washington is supercharging inflation and costing you more for food, energy and everything. Inflation is destroying family budgets. Missourians need a lifeline. It’s why I continue to fight for jobs for Jefferson County and tax relief for families, including a repeal of the state tax on groceries. Fentanyl is flooding across the southern border and devastating our communities. “Woke” prosecutors in St. Louis city and county have made clear they will not hold lawbreakers accountable for illegal actions, increasing crime across Jefferson County. We must return to the rule of law and hold criminals accountable.
Hagin: The list of needs in the district and state are long. We need to properly fund our schools. Educating the next generation is the single best investment we can make in our community.
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?
Coleman: No. I proudly support the Second Amendment.
Hagin: As a former concealed carry instructor, I support some common-sense reform. I support universal background checks as well as red flag laws. This will help lower the rate of unlawful use of firearms. I believe that mandatory training for a concealed carry permit should be reinstated.
A majority of voters, both in Missouri and nationwide, say they favor abortion rights in some instances. In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, what changes should the state government enact, if any, concerning abortion rights?
Coleman: I believe life begins at conception and deserves the full protection of the law.
Hagin: I am pro-choice. Women should be making their own health care decisions, not the government. I will work to reverse the horrible laws that went into effect when Roe was overturned.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Coleman: Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden are waging war on Missourians’ rights and our economy. Missouri state government is the last line of defense. I promise to always stand up for Missouri values and push back against liberal politicians in Jefferson City. Now more than ever, we need proven conservatives who push back against the radical left. It has been the honor of my life to represent House District 97. I look forward to continuing to fight for you in the State Senate. Together, we can win this election and bring some common sense to Missouri government.
Hagin: For 20 years, the GOP has controlled our state. We are 49th in school funding, and we are 50th in starting teacher pay. Our roads and bridges are in utter disrepair. Our rural hospitals are closing at an alarming rate. We need to get back to focusing on what is good for the people of our state. We need to stop the race to the bottom that has been the GOP platform. Kansas tried this under the Brownback administration. It did not work there, and it will not work here.