The Jefferson County Growth Association invited more than 40 political candidates to a candidates’ forum July 23, with many speaking on how they are the best person to lead the county through coming population and developmental growth.
Thirty-six candidates on the Aug. 4 primary ballot, such as those seeking state Senate and House, county executive and circuit clerk seats, spoke at the forum at Jefferson College.
Seven candidates did not attend: Jim Avery, Republican candidate for state senator for District 22; David Robertson, Republican candidate for state representative for District 97; Phil Amato, Republican candidate for state representative for District 113; Bill Lucas, Republican candidate for state representative for District 115; David George, Democratic candidate for state representative for District 115; Misty Whetstone, Republican candidate for Jefferson County Council, District 5; and Tracy Johnson, Democratic candidate for County Clerk.
Each candidate was allowed to speak for four minutes. Jefferson College President Dena McCaffrey emceed the event and reminded candidates and audience members before the speeches began that heckling and rudeness would not be tolerated.
A recording of the forum is available on the Jefferson County Growth Association Facebook page.
State Senate
Democrat Jeff Abney is running unopposed in the primary for the District 22 Senate seat, currently held by Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R-Arnold). Abney of Barnhart is a lawyer and veteran.
“My entire plan, if I get elected, is to make sure our tax money comes back to us,” he said at the forum. “I'm tired of I-55 being under construction; I'm tired of our public schools not being funded; I'm tired of the partisan nonsense that goes on in the state. I normally just argue in front of judges, argue with my colleagues, but I plan on arguing and fighting for the people of Jefferson County in the Senate.”
State House
■ District 97: David Casteel of High Ridge currently represents District 97. Casteel, a Republican, faces challenger David Robertson in the Aug. 4 primary. Dan Schaefer, a Democrat, is also running for the seat and is running unopposed in the primary.
District 97 covers a portion of northwest Jefferson County, including High Ridge, Fenton and Murphy.
Casteel said at the forum that he tries to carry himself with honor and integrity while walking through the Capitol halls, knowing he represents Jefferson County.
“I don’t have any fancy priorities other than passing good bills, making sure we allow the economy to grow properly, organically and for the greater good,” he said. “My biggest priority is continuing to work with the legislators, the six legislators from Jefferson County, which is a large block of people, and we carry a big stick.”
Schaefer of Fenton made a promise to voters at the forum to not accept campaign contributions from corporations or corporate-sponsored political action committees.
“I must remain impartial,” he said. “Now, that's not to say that legislators who do accept this type of campaign money are necessarily biased, but it is fair to question their impartiality when making a decision. When anyone comes to me with an issue, I can listen to their arguments based on the merits of the argument, not based on who wrote me a campaign check.”
Democrat Ashley Drury of Arnold is running unopposed in the primary for District 113.
The district covers a portion of northeast Jefferson County, including Arnold, Kimmswick and Imperial.
Drury is a substitute teacher and waitress in the summer. Her largest goals if elected would be to fully fund public schools and make life more affordable for working families.
“I'm pretty mad about a lot of the things that are going on,” Drury said. “I got mad watching people working harder and not seeing any results from that hard work. Seeing our public schools stretched too thin, with teachers expected to do more with less, parents wondering how they're going to afford groceries or childcare. And I got mad seeing politicians ignore the people that they're supposed to be representing.”
■ District 111: Cecelie Williams of Dittmer currently represents District 111 in the Missouri House. Williams, a Republican, is up for re-election this year and faces Democratic challenger Stacey Hagen of Byrnes Mill in the Nov. 3 election. Both candidates are running unopposed in the August primary.
District 111 covers a portion of western Jefferson County, including Byrnes Mill, House Springs and Cedar Hill.
Williams said she was proud to sponsor a bill during her first term representing District 111 that allows women to divorce their partners while pregnant. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Mike Kehoe in April and takes effect Aug. 28.
“I experienced firsthand what it was like to be trapped in a marriage while pregnant because Missouri law wouldn't allow a divorce,” Williams said. “I know no woman should ever have to experience that, so I filed legislation to change that.”
Williams said she believes government exists to serve the people, not the other way around. She said every bill she filed and vote she cast was guided by the question: Will this make life better for the people she represents?
“I believe we’ve lost something in politics that we desperately need to get back, and that’s simple human decency,” she said. “As this election approaches, I hope you'll look beyond the noise, the insults, and the political games. I hope that you'll ask yourself one simple question: Who has spent their time working to solve problems instead of creating them?”
Hagen said she is a nurse and educator, and previously had no intention of running for a political position.
“I’m here today, honestly, because I am so fed up,” she said. “I have been watching a lot of legislation coming out of Jeff City, and I'm often asking myself, ‘Who does this serve?’ The answer is rarely the majority of the people in this state. My assessment is that there is a festering disease called corruption there. These politicians have become puppets for wealthy donors and have forgotten they owe a duty to us to represent us, to fight for us, to protect us.”
■ District 112: Democrat Dave Rekosh and Republican Ed Callahan are vying for the District 112 House seat, currently held by Renee Reuter. Both candidates are unopposed in the August primary.
District 112 covers a northern portion of Jefferson County, including Imperial, Barnhart and Otto.
Rekosh of Barnhart said he decided to run for the seat because Missouri legislators are not listening to the will of the people. For example, he said, Missouri voted against a right-to-work law in 2018, which would have prohibited requiring non-union employees to contribute to the cost of union representation.
“(Legislators) have pre-filed, I believe, every year to try to do it again,” Rekosh said. “The first time they see a window, they're going to try to push it through again. I’m a union member, my wife is a union member, my dad's retired union. My mother-in-law is retired union. My brother is a union member. I don't want it, (and) I think most of Missouri doesn't want it. It was proven by the vote, but they don’t care.”
Callahan of Imperial has been a pastor for 40-plus years. He said it’s important to instill Judeo-Christian values in the community; have strong law and order; build up the economy; eliminate taxes where possible; reform insurance and bolster social services.
■ District 114: Three candidates are running for the open Missouri House District 114 seat: Republicans David “Dave” Broach and Ann Moloney and Democrat Jessie Shepherd, who is running unopposed in the primary. The seat was left vacant when Ken Waller died in August.
District 114 covers a portion of eastern Jefferson County, including Pevely, Herculaneum and Festus.
Broach of Hillsboro said at the forum that he’s an experienced legislator who can navigate Jefferson County through future population growth. He was elected to the state House for District 102 in 1993 and 1999.
“The biggest reason why I'm running is for family values, to keep this country conservative, the way it always has been, and the way it needs to continue,” Broach said. “In that effort, I think one of the things that we need to look at is the growth in this county. We need infrastructure, and I believe, based on my past experience, I can help bring more dollars here.”
Moloney of Barnhart said the biggest concern she’s heard from District 114 residents while door knocking is the development of hyperscale data centers. She supports a moratorium on new data center projects until “strong, enforceable regulations are in place.”
“I am trying to listen to the people’s needs here,” Moloney said. “People are not saying they're against economic growth; they are saying they want growth done responsibly. They want to know how projects will affect their neighborhoods, their water, their utilities, their property values, and their quality of life before irreversible decisions are made that will affect generations to come.”
Shepherd said she graduated from Hillsboro High School and attended a few college courses before realizing higher education wasn’t for her. She said her career path is similar to many in Jefferson County. She currently works for a St. Louis County nonprofit that supports and advocates for people with disabilities.
“I ended up going into a variety of different jobs. I have worked in everything from retail to sales to management to warehouse work,” Shepherd said. “I’ve even done a short stint as an elevator operator, but that’s a story for another time.
“This might not be the experience that you would expect from a candidate for the House of Representatives, but the experience that it does give me is the lived experience of most people in Jefferson County. I have lived your lives. I have experienced your problems, and I can help you grow through those problems as well.”
County executive
Two Republicans and two Democrats are running for the county executive seat. Republicans Tim Whitney and John Stockton, along with Democrats Anthony Dwayne Ruble and David Frank, will face off at the Aug. 4 primary.
Frank of De Soto said Jefferson County is in a defining moment where decisions made over the next four years will impact growth, infrastructure and public safety for decades to come.
“The real question is who is the best person prepared to help Jefferson County successfully navigate this period of change,” he said. “I'm a Marine Corps veteran. I've led great men through difficult periods successfully and effectively. I'm also a proud husband and father of four daughters. I guarantee you, the latter was the hardest and scariest of all three.”
Ruble of Festus said he’s lived in Jefferson County for 26 years and was inspired to earn his master’s degree in public administration after serving on his homeowner’s association.
“My goals are to make the government more efficient,” he said. “We're still using time cards. We're still using outdated software. Time is money, and I'm really against wasting taxpayers' money.”
Stockton of Festus plans to draw on his experience as a business owner if he’s elected. He said the county needs a broader tax base if it intends to grow, and that could be created through industrial parks or shopping districts.
“Planned regional centers will create jobs and bring more sales tax revenue to our county,” he said. “This will also help fund a new justice center and courthouse. And I don't know if he's here tonight, but maybe we'll call it the (Sheriff Dave) Marshak Center.”
Tim Whitney of Festus said he’ll draw on his experience as undersheriff and chief financial officer of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office if elected.
“I lead more than 250 county employees and manage a budget that exceeds $30 million annually,” he said. “That experience has taught me that leadership is about much more than giving speeches and making promises. It means building a capable team, making difficult decisions, managing taxpayer dollars responsibly, and accepting accountability when something goes wrong. As leaders, we should be willing to plant trees whose shade we may never get to sit beneath, and be willing to make decisions today, knowing the greatest benefits may not be realized during our term, and ultimately, someone else is likely to get the credit.”
County Council
■ District 1: Two candidates are facing off for the Jefferson County Council District 1 seat. John T. Parker and Richard “Stumpy” Durham are running on the Republican ticket. No Democrats filed for the seat.
District 1 covers the northwest portion of Jefferson County, including Fenton, High Ridge, Byrnes Mill and Eureka.
Parker of High Ridge said his experience serving in the Air Force has shaped the person he is today.
“When you're entrusted with responsibilities, with consequences of every decision that are significant, you learn preparation matters, integrity is non-negotiable, and that accountability is not optional,” he said. “You learn to stay calm under pressure, ask tough questions, rely on your team and always put the mission and the people you serve first.”
Durham of House Springs said he would work to make the Hwy. 30 corridor safer for motorists if elected.
“We need some major safety improvements here,” Durham said. “I recently had a conversation with a good friend of mine, Chief Frank Selvaggio of the Byrnes Mill Police Department, and one of the things we talked about is an ordinance that several other counties and areas have that could potentially make a big impact on Hwy. 30, called a traffic safety zone.”
■ District 3: Jefferson County Council District 3 Councilwoman Lori Arons, a Republican, faces a challenger in the Aug. 4 primary: Johnathan Sparks. No Democrats filed for the seat.
Arons of Imperial said one of her proudest achievements while representing District 3 was helping reopen the Aging Ahead Senior Center in Arnold, where she now volunteers twice weekly. She also worked with the Missouri Department of Transportation to bring two new stoplights to Jeffco Boulevard, which she said has made the area safer.
“These improvements may seem simple, but they protect our drivers, our students, families bringing their children to and from school every day, and the public that walks along our roads,” Arons said. “My heart, my family, my commitment remains here in Jefferson County. I am proud of the good work that I have started, but I am not finished.”
Sparks of Imperial has served on the Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission for more than three years. He said he holds petitioners, who bring development and zoning requests to the county, accountable by asking tough questions.
“I like my position with planning and zoning; I'll be there if I'm not elected to this position,” Sparks said. “But the problem with me in that position right now is I just make suggestions, and the county can take those votes and not do anything with them or change. I want my vote to count because I think I hold a higher standard and degree of accountability.”
■ Four Republicans and a Libertarian candidate are vying for the Jefferson County Council District 5 seat. The four Republicans, Anthony Pousosa, Tim Bennett Jr., John J. Lee and Misty Whetstone, will duke it out at the Aug. 4 primary. Libertarian Danielle “Dani” Elliott will face the winner of the primary at the November election.
District 5 includes a southeastern portion of the county, including Festus, Crystal City and Herculaneum.
Pousosa of Festus is a registered nurse. His family moved to Jefferson County in 2019. He previously served as an alderman in Green Park, which he said gave him the experience necessary for a position like county councilman.
“I’m a newbie, but a fresh perspective is what I bring to the table,” Pousosa said. “We developed an industrial park in Green Park, and we had lots of development during that time. I know how to ask the questions that need to be asked in order to move either a development or a piece of legislation forward, and I think that's something that we need to have.”
The council appointed Bennett of Festus to fill the District 5 seat in March following the resignation of Scott Seek.
“Service has always been the center of my life,” he said. “Whether serving in law enforcement, coaching young athletes, raising my family, or working in the community, I've always believed that leadership isn't about titles. It's about showing up, doing the right thing and putting others before yourself.”
Lee of Festus has worked as a Shelter Insurance agent for 27 years. He said he’d like to cut spending in the county while also finding funding to replace the aging Jefferson County Courthouse and jail.
“On Aug. 5, and I’d like to keep this in this room and just between us and the watchers out there on social media, I want to start a foundation and endowment called the Jefferson County Endowment Foundation for building the new courthouse and the new Sheriff’s Office,” Lee said.
Elliott only had a few things to say, focusing on her concerns about Amendments 4 and 5 on the primary ballot, which was not allowed under the guidelines of the candidate forum, according to McCaffrey.
“I will be on the ballot in November for sure,” Elliott said. “I don't have to deal with the pesky primary. It's a perk of a third party.”
■ Incumbent Bob Tullock is facing a challenge on the Republican ticket from Josh Williams for the District 7 seat. No Democrats filed for the seat.
District 7 includes a portion of southwest Jefferson County, including House Springs, Cedar Hill and Dittmer.
Tullock, 60, of House Springs said he’s dedicated to serving the people of District 7. He said he has a 100 percent attendance record at council, special and committee meetings.
“Being a county councilman means showing up,” he said. “Since taking office, I have personally helped more than 350 of my constituents with problems ranging from county services to neighborhood concerns. You can choose a candidate with a proven record of showing up, listening, leading and keeping his promises, or someone else with no legislative record or experience. I find it particularly interesting that someone who is not a senior claims they can better represent our seniors.”
Williams, 44, of Dittmer is a fourth-generation Jefferson Countian. An HVAC technician, Williams said he’ll represent working families if elected.
“We need somebody who is going to actually get some things done and try to keep the infighting down amongst our council,” he said. “I do have time to serve the constituents of District 7. I have a great career, and my employer understands what it means to be able to serve your community, and I'm open to be able to be there for my constituents, take calls, respond to emails, be at all the meetings I need to be at. I will serve District 7 very well, and you don't have to be retired to serve your community either.”
County clerk
There’s a three-way race within the Republican Party for county clerk. Steve Wyatt Earp, Jaclyn Riebold and Brent Myers are running on the ballot. One Democratic challenger, Tracy Johnson, runs unopposed in the primary.
Earp of Hillsboro has worked in politics for 25 years. He said he wanted to enter the race when he learned that others running for county clerk supposedly wanted to hand-count ballots on election day.
“I know what hand counting can do to an election,” Earp said. “We need to trust the process that has worked for us with the electronic tabulators, not hooked up to the internet, and it's been successful so far. I'm running because I don't want our system that has worked to be changed.”
Myers of Hillsboro said his campaign is built on a simple principle: secure elections run by people of high integrity.
“While I would have preferred hand counting because of the transparency it offers, Jefferson County does not have the resources or manpower to efficiently hand count every ballot at this time,” he said. “We will continue to use the ballot scanners. That means we must ensure that the election systems that we do have are operated by people of unquestioned integrity who faithfully follow the law.”
Riebold of Cedar Hill refuted Earp’s allegations that she was a proponent of hand counting ballots.
“That is not accurate,” she said. “I have no plan to eliminate those tabulators. They allow ballots to be processed efficiently and help provide timely, unofficial results on election night. What I do support is strengthening confidence in the process by enhancing hand count verification audits that certify the election. Verification audits are important safeguards because they help confirm that the tabulators are functioning properly and that results are accurate.”
Associate circuit judge
Two Republicans will vie for the Jefferson County Division 12 associate judge position: Renee Reuter, state representative for District 112, and Colby Smith-Hynes, deputy director of legal services for the Jefferson County Juvenile Office.
Reuter of Imperial said she’s served Jefferson County for 16 years, 12 of which as a county councilwoman.
“I'm not afraid of taking on new challenges or taking on new jobs,” she said. “I was the very first county council member for District 2, and I was elected to be the very first chair of the county council. According to a study by the National Center for State Courts, over 50 percent of Americans believe that they are treated unfairly in our court system. They're afraid that decisions are impacted unfairly by politics, by money, by court system complexity, and I can promise you, I will do my best to make sure that that is no longer the case.”
Smith-Hynes of Hillsboro said he has more than 20 years of experience as a municipal judge.
“This is the first time I've ever run for an elected office. I will have to say, watching how the sausage gets made is not appealing,” Smith-Hynes said. “I have presided over almost 30,000 cases as a judge, the types of cases that actually come before an associate circuit court judge. I believe the right experience does matter.”
Three Republicans are seeking the Division 15 associate circuit judge’s seat: Charlie Argana, who was appointed by Gov. Mike Parson to the seat in 2025, Antonio “Tony” Manansala, who currently presides over Division 12, and Michelle Hughes.
Argana of Festus said he was proud of his division, which successfully implemented the Hope Card program, giving survivors of domestic violence and abuse a clear and convenient way to enforce their orders of protection once they are given.
“We're able to give them right there in the courtroom at the time they are granted an order, a small wallet-sized card that they can carry with them at all times,” Argana said. “It's discreet. It helps law enforcement do their job. It helps secure more convictions and prosecutions for violations of ordered protection. It's a small thing that the courts can provide to make people feel safer and like they're heard and like they have a chance at making it through the complex court process.”
Hughes of High Ridge has practiced law for more than 20 years.
“I learned how to handle guardianships; I practiced in the juvenile court; I did orders of protection, divorce, custody, anything that touches on family,” she said. “Those types of cases really impact the everyday citizens in this room. Somebody in this room knows somebody or has even personally experienced those types of difficult cases, and I have been practicing them for 21 years.”
Manansala of Cedar Hill took the bench in 2015. He said experience is important when electing a judge “by the people for the people.” He used a portion of his speech to sing a cappella a song he wrote, called “250 More Years.”
“The refrain goes like this: Jefferson County is where I wanna be. No place like home. Please come and see. Come sing this song as we say, it’s Jefferson County, USA,” Manansala said. “Want to see the rest of my song? It’s on my website.”
Circuit clerk
Incumbent Mike Reuter faces two challengers for Jefferson County circuit clerk, Heather Langhans and Joe Maddock, for the Republican Party’s nomination. No Democrats filed for the office.
Maddock of Arnold said he’d make the office run more efficiently.
“There were a number of people who said, ‘Don't go there. Don't get involved there. It's good old boys, and you'll never get anywhere going in and talking to those people. But I refused to let that stop me,” he said. “What I will commit to you, if you elect me to be your next circuit clerk, is an unwavering commitment to getting the job done every day.”
Langhans of Dittmer said those who come to the courthouse deserve to be treated with kindness, respect and dignity.
“Like many people in our community, I've walked into the courthouse as a citizen,” she said. “I know what it feels like to be anxious, confused and overwhelmed, wondering where to go, what paperwork is needed, or what comes next. Those experiences stayed with me and inspired me to ask a simple question: How can we make this experience better for the people we serve?”
Reuter of Hillsboro has served as clerk for the last 11 and a half years.
“I took an office that was functioning minimally and turned it into one of the top circuits in the state,” he said. “My staff is being sought after by the state of Missouri and even the national courts to go on to teach and to mimic our system we are presently performing.”