Republican Ken Waller is seeking reelection to the Missouri House of Representatives, District 114, and is being challenged on Nov. 5 by Democrat Jessie Shepherd for the two-year term. District 114 covers the southeastern part of Jefferson County.
According to the 2023-2024 Official Manual State of Missouri, state legislators are paid a $39,264 annual salary.
Waller, 62, of Herculaneum was elected to the District 114 state House seat in 2022. He received an associate degree in business from Jefferson County and a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is married to Trina and has three children and one grandchild.
Shepherd, 44, of Festus is a disability advocate for a local nonprofit organization. A 1998 Hillsboro High School graduate, she received an associate degree in deaf communications from St. Louis Community College. She is married to John Barnes and has two stepdaughters.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organization membership, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Waller: Jefferson County treasurer, 2005-2008; County executive, 2011-2018; County clerk, 2019-2022; East-West Gateway Council of Governments, 2011-2018; Comtrea Mental Health Fund Board, 2011-2018; Missouri Association of Counties, 2011-2018; Economic Development Corp of Jefferson County, 2011-2018; Jefferson-Franklin Community Action Corp, 2011-2018.
Shepherd: I am chair of the Democratic Party of Jefferson County, a member of Women Democrats, a volunteer with League of Women Voters, a graduate of LeadMO Cohort and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Citizens Academy. Additionally, my work in disability supports and advocacy has taught me a lot about our state Legislature, our state budget and the funding needs of state-funded programs and agencies.
What specific needs exist in your district, and how would you address them?
Waller: My district, and Jefferson County as a whole, needs big investments to help spur economic development. My biggest priority is developing the Jefferson County Port to give our people access to opportunities not seen since the days of Chrysler. Once fully developed, the port would be the biggest industrial port on the Mississippi. As a member of the elections committee, I would like to see initiative petition reform immediately. Additionally, we always have a need to improve infrastructure. I would like to see the Missouri Department of Transportation spend less money in St. Louis and more in Jefferson County.
Shepherd: The main challenges Jefferson Countians face include poverty, underemployment the opioid epidemic, underfunded public schools and unaffordable health care and child care. I welcome conversations from all constituents to understand and address the issues important to them.
I will sponsor and support legislation to bring well-paying jobs to our county and strengthen our commitment to unions; provide treatment, rather than punishment, to those with substance abuse disorders; ensure public dollars stay in public schools and increase access to affordable health care.
According to many state legislators, the latest session wasn’t as productive as they would have liked with a near record-low number of bills passed. What do you think needs changed to address the problem?
Waller: Personality conflicts and an election year combined for grandiose floor speeches and little time to dedicate to the legislative process during the last session of the House. I am hopeful with new, fresh faces (first session welcoming new leadership and membership since 2023) that we will pass more legislation and focus on the needs of our constituents. I will do all I can to help ensure the process moves efficiently.
Shepherd: Twenty-two years of Republican control in our state capitol has created a rift amongst the majority party with extremist Republicans creating gridlock within their own party. The current makeup of our Legislature allows Republicans to pass bills without any votes from Democrats. However, this is not happening because of dysfunction and infighting amongst Republicans in Jefferson City. A Republican supermajority does not represent the best interests of citizens. A Legislature that more accurately reflects the constituents does. You have the unique opportunity to build a Legislature that represents your needs by researching the candidates and voting people over party.
State legislation recently was passed that raises the minimum teacher salary to $40,000, with no state funding mechanism attached. Do you think the state provides enough funding for education and why?
Waller: Missouri lawmakers have not agreed on how to fund education. I believe it is essential to fund students, not systems. We have to make sure our per-student spending keeps up with inflation and the cost of living. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is under new leadership, and I am confident we will learn more next session about education reform. At the end of the day, parents need have control over their children’s education. We have great public schools in Jefferson County, and I will do my best to ensure they have the tools they need to succeed.
Shepherd: Sadly, Missouri still ranks in the bottom five states when it comes to starting teacher salaries. The unfunded pay increase has left districts across the state scrambling to find money in their already stretched-thin budgets. Many will not be able to comply with the mandate and will be forced to make tough decisions, like dropping to four-day school weeks or reducing bus routes. Additionally, voucher systems will only further harm our teachers and the vital education of our students and future workforce by siphoning funds from schools that are already struggling.
State legislators have proposed bills aimed at making it harder to amend the state constitution through an initiative petition. Do you support these efforts and why?
Waller: I believe the first priority of the Legislature should be to make it harder to amend the constitution. It is far too easy for outside interests to fund initiatives to be added to the constitution. There are downsides to having a Republican supermajority – the Democrat solution is to circumvent the legislative process by using the initiative petition. We must make it so initiatives go through the statutory process, leaving them subject to legislative oversight after a period of time has passed.
Shepherd: I strongly believe the initiative petition process must be protected and preserved in its current form. Our Legislature has a long history of disregarding the will of Missourians, from puppy mills to Medicaid expansion to medical and recreational marijuana to so-called right to work laws. The citizen-led petition process is the last line of defense for us to make our voices heard. I encourage anyone who believes the current process makes it too easy to amend our state constitution to introduce their own petition and learn firsthand just how difficult it is in practice.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Waller: The people of Jefferson County have trusted me as their county clerk, county executive and state representative. It is my goal to make Jefferson County the envy of Missouri. That starts with developing the port, kickstarting economic development like we’ve never seen before. I like the saying, “If you build it, they will come.” We are in a prime position to be the region’s leader because we are a common sense, conservative, business-friendly county. I want to leave Jefferson County better than I found it so the next generation and make a life at home.
Shepherd: I love our county and am driven to make it the best it can be. Beyond my career in disability advocacy, my work experience includes food service, retail, warehouse labor and sales. This may not be the experience one would expect from a state representative, but the experience it gives me is the lived experience of the average Jefferson Countian. We have enough doctors, attorneys and insurance agents in Jefferson City. It’s time to send people who understand you and your struggles there. I know I am that person and would be honored to receive your vote.