If Shane Roden of Cedar Hill is to win a third term representing District 111 in the Missouri House of Representatives in the November general election, the Republican first must turn back a challenge from Democrat Phoebe Ottomeyer of Cedar Hill.
Roden did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire.
The district includes northwestern Jefferson County.
State senators and representatives receive a $35,915 annual salary plus mileage and $115 per day in expenses for each day the General Assembly is in session.
OTTOMEYER, 58, lives at 7258 Lakeshore Drive, Cedar Hill. She was married to the late Dennis Ottomeyer, and has two stepdaughters and three granddaughters. She is a retired state probation and parole officer who worked in St. Louis and Hillsboro. She received an associate degree in liberal arts from Triton Community College in 1981 and a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1985. She is a member of the Cedar Hill Elks and is a member of the Jefferson County Democratic Central Committee and is the Big River Township committeewoman. She was a member of the Hillsboro Eagles Ladies Auxiliary and was involved with the Synergy Community Crisis Intervention Center in Carbondale, Ill. and the Jackson County (Illinois) Adolescent Crisis Intervention team.
Social media: Website: ottomeyer111.com Facebook: Phoebe Ottomeyer for House District 111
What are your thoughts on how to protect insurance coverage for Missourians who have pre-existing conditions?
Ottomeyer: Missouri needs to expand Medicaid to receive federal dollars. We should look to Massachusetts as an example of how to implement comprehensive statewide health care management reform that includes people with pre-existing conditions. Massachusetts approaches health management as a shared responsibility among individuals, government and business using federal money, incentives and penalties to broadly spread the costs and manage the risks. Identified stakeholders were a large part of the compromise process that ultimately resulted in a model for state health care management that received bipartisan political support. We can do the same in Missouri.
Missourians voted overwhelmingly against a “right to work” amendment in the August election. Legislative leaders have said they may introduce a similar bill next year. If “right to work” comes up during your term, how will you vote and why?
Ottomeyer: I would vote against “right to work.” Before retiring, I was a public-sector union member and a union steward. Unions raise wages for both union and non-union members, provide greater job safety, pensions and benefits. Overall, “right-to-work” states have lower wages and a lower likelihood of benefits for both union and non-union members. The goal of “right to work” is to undermine workers’ wages, collective voice and power. Missourians have rejected it on more than one occasion. It’s time Jefferson City listens to and respects the voters.
Will you vote for or against Proposition D, the transportation tax on the November ballot? Why?
Ottomeyer: Proposition D is a regressive tax that I oppose. The League of Women Voters has expressed concern that this will put more burden on lower socioeconomic individuals. I share those concerns. Average Missourians will pay more at the pump and for goods and services. We need fair and balanced taxation to support our public infrastructure. Corporations and the wealthy in Missouri need to pay their fair share.
If the U.S. Supreme Court rules that Roe v. Wade is a state matter, what would you advocate for?
Ottomeyer: If Roe v. Wade is made a state matter, I would advocate that a woman’s right to privacy regarding personal medical decisions is protected by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which the state cannot regulate without good cause. I understand that people have deeply held religious beliefs about this issue which also are personal. I am not comfortable with the government interfering in personal, individual matters including medical decisions or practices of faith.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Ottomeyer: Voters should elect me to be their state representative because I am not a politician but actually worked in state government for 28 years, 25 of which were in Jefferson County. I’ve lived in my district for 27 years. I’ve seen first-hand what heroin is doing to our community. We need to focus on harm reduction using common-sense, evidence-based measures. We need fair and balanced taxation that does not put the burden of government on middle- and lower-income families. We need to improve transparency, accountability and integrity in state government.