Ann Wagner is seeking a sixth two-year term as Missouri’s 2nd District representative in the U.S. House of Representatives.
She will face challenges for the seat from Democrat Trish Gunby of Ballwin, the current state representative from the 99th District, and Libertarian Party candidate Bill Slantz of St. Charles.
Wagner defeated three challengers in the Aug. 2 Republican primary election, and Gunby beat a challenger to win the Democratic Party’s primary election. Slant ran unopposed in the Libertarian Party primary.
Wagner did not return a Leader candidate survey.
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.
GUNBY, 61, of Manchester won a special election to fill a vacancy for District 99 in the House of Representatives in November 2019 and was re-elected to a full two-year term the next year. She and her husband, Mark, have two children. She graduated from Parkway West High School in 1979 and from the University of Tulsa in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in advertising-public relations and political science.
Website: trishgunby.com
SLANTZ, 64, of St. Charles is president of the W.G. Slantz Co., which provides advice regarding performance rights to professional musicians. He and his wife, Jean, have a son and three grandchildren. He graduated from high school in 1976.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organizations, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Gunby: At my core, I’m a concerned parent, like many in the district. I’ve lived here for 30-plus years, volunteered in my children's public schools and our family church, and advocated for everything from voting rights to Medicaid expansion. In 2019, my neighbors asked me to run for state office, and it’s completely changed my life. After flipping my current seat, I’ve helped constituents find health care, small businesses navigate COVID-19 and more.
Slantz: I am the chair of the Missouri Libertarian Party and leader of several organizations.
What specific needs exist in your district, and how would you address them?
Gunby: The district needs a representative who is readily accessible and available, which has been my calling card as a state representative. I’ve hosted eight public town halls in my three years in the House. Our district requires leadership that will advocate for workers, fight to restore Missourians’ reproductive freedom, protect senior benefits like Medicare and Social Security from partisan attacks and bring federal dollars back home from Washington.
Slantz: Government should keep its hands out of business other than the courts to sort out the protection of lives and property. Voluntary economic exchange is the only way. Government intervention is not justified. Further, government interference in business on behalf of some at the expense of others is inherently unfair.
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?
Gunby: This year, I’ve heard troubling reports from students in west St. Louis County whose school day has been halted by threats of gun violence. It is a moral and legislative failure that we have allowed gun violence to become the No. 1 cause of death for American children. While it’s too late to bring back the innocent victims of Sandy Hook or Uvalde, the federal government can help prevent the next attack by building on the recently passed bipartisan gun safety bill to close background check loopholes, encourage safe weapons storage and ensure assault weapons can’t be purchased by children.
Slantz: The private ownership and use of firearms or other weapons in a non-invasive way are fully legitimate. Government regulation, licensing and registration of guns should be abolished.
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 federal government enact, if any, concerning abortion rights?
Gunby: I am a firm believer that the government has no right to mandate pregnancy for anyone. Missouri’s abortion ban, which makes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, is frankly barbaric. If we allow extremists to take away our bodily autonomy, everything else is on the table. That’s why I’m a firm supporter of bills like the Women's Health Protection Act, which will restore Missourians’ reproductive freedom and keep politicians out of our exam rooms and bedrooms once and for all.
Slantz: I am opposed to abortion. I oppose government funding of abortions. I don’t believe there should be any specific law for or against abortion. I consider abortion murder, and we have plenty of laws that already prohibit murder.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Gunby: This district deserves a representative who will deliver for their constituents, not just their corporate donors. To me, that means safeguarding senior benefits like Medicare and Social Security from devastating cuts, keeping the government out of personal, reproductive health care decisions, expanding access to health care and lowering the cost of life-saving medication, defending workers’ right to collectively bargain and improve their lot and protecting our children from gun violence in our schools. I’m going to Congress to work, not vacation on the taxpayers’ dime.
Slantz: I believe in a limited government. Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and accept responsibility for the choices they make. The Libertarian way approaches politics based on the principle of self-ownership – no group, government nor individual should be allowed to dictate or direct the life of any other group, government or individual.