Republican Dan Shaul of Imperial is seeking a second two-year term representing District 113 in the Missouri House of Representatives, but he faces a challenge in the Nov. 8 general election from Democrat Karen Settlemoir-Berg.
District 113 covers northeast Jefferson County.
State representatives serve two-year terms. The pay is $35,915 per year, a weekly allowance for miles traveled going to and returning from meetings, and expenses for each day the General Assembly is in session.
SETTLEMOIR-BERG, 59, lives at 501 Noble Court, Imperial. She and her husband, Gene Berg, have three children and six grandchildren. She is a union representative and vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655, a union representative and health and welfare trustee. She formerly was a manger for Dierbergs Markets. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management from Sanford Brown College. She is a 1975 graduate of South County Technical High School.
Settlemoir-Berg is the president-elect of the Labor Employer Relations Association’s Gateway chapter, has been a United Way volunteer since 1985 and on its mental health allocations panel since 2011. She is a delegate to the St. Louis Labor Council and executive board member of the Jefferson County Labor Club. She also is a member of the National Rifle Association and AARP.
Social media: Website: www.BergforChange.com Facebook: BergForChange Twitter: @KarenBerg113
SHAUL, 47, lives at 925 Falcon Drive, Imperial. He and his wife, Kim, have three children. He is a director for the Missouri Grocers Association. He also served in the U.S. Air Force from 1987-1990. He received an associates degree from Parks College. He is in his second three-year term on the Windsor C-1 Board of Education.
Social media: Website: voteshaul.com
What role, if any, should the General Assembly take on regulating abortion?
Settlemoir-Berg: The Missouri Legislature has taken significant steps in the past few years to restrict abortion across the state. They’ve done this so rigorously, it’s hard to imagine what else could be done that is within their power.
Shaul: I am pro-life and believe we should always do what we can to protect innocent life.
What should be done to address partisan nastiness in the Legislature?
Settlemoir-Berg: Our elected officials should focus more on having open discussions on where we can compromise on the issues that matter to our constituents rather than focusing on using the issues we disagree on to score points with the public. Also, elected leaders should not cut deals in backrooms with lobbyists; we should have an open discussion on the issues.
Shaul: We should focus on the issues that unite us, not the issues that divide us. That’s why I’m proud to have fought hard for a pro-job agenda for Jefferson County. I’ve worked to reduce regulations, eliminate wasteful spending and create jobs for our community.
What programs or services should be cut to balance the state budget?
Settlemoir-Berg: Fortunately, state law requires that we balance the budget every single year. Our elected leaders should focus on eliminating programs that favor the very wealthy, as opposed to favoring the majority of Missourians. If elected, I will look at every program that is presented to me to ensure that it is the best use of our tax dollars.
Shaul: I’m proud we were able to balance the budget without making cuts to investments in our future. We provided record funding for our schools and made smart investments in our communities’ assets, like the Jefferson County port. However, we should always look for ways to eliminate wasteful spending, fraud and abuse in state government.
Explain your position on Medicaid expansion.
Settlemoir-Berg: Health care access should be a focus of every elected official. No Missourian should go bankrupt or die due to an illness. Expansion will create tens of thousands of new jobs. As health care costs continue to rise and rural communities continue to suffer from more limited access to care, it’s critical that we make expansion a priority.
Shaul: I believe in a strong safety net for those most in need. Our health care system is broken and Obamacare has been devastating for families. I oppose expanding a broken system that will divert millions of dollars away from smart investments in our jobs, our schools and our future.
Should the General Assembly impose limits on donations to political campaigns? What changes would you advocate, if any?
Settlemoir-Berg: Our elections should not be bought by a couple of billionaires. Each Missourian should have the same access to the ballot and to their lawmaker no matter the amount of money they have in their bank account. We must have a transparent election system so no money is spent on influencing voters unless we know where it comes from. I would advocate for a cap on donations so every Missourian has the equal opportunity they deserve.
Shaul: I was proud to support numerous ethics reforms this session, including a ban on lobbyist gifts, an end to the revolving door between legislators becoming lobbyists and other provisions that will improve the culture in Jefferson City. Campaigns should be transparent for voters to see who is funding campaigns. However, arbitrary limits have proven futile for decades as money has continued to find its way into campaigns, often through non-transparent means.
Do you support your party’s nominee for president? Explain why or why not.
Settlemoir-Berg: As the daughter and granddaughter of men who fought for our country, as the mother-in-law of a veteran and reservist, I cannot ignore Mr. Trump’s comments about our military and the disdain he has shown for brave men and women who fight for our country and their families. As an NRA member, I do not agree with Secretary Clinton’s views on several issues, but the name-calling and inappropriate behavior of Mr. Trump has deeply troubled me. I believe that change comes locally first. We need to elect local leaders who have our values and who will endlessly fight for our families.
Shaul: The past eight years in Washington, D.C., have been a disaster for Jefferson County families and businesses. I am strongly opposed to Hillary Clinton because I know she will be more of the same. Donald Trump will do what America desperately needs and that is put our families, our jobs and our values first. I’m proud to support Donald Trump.