Voters in southern Jefferson County will have a choice when it comes to electing a state senator in the Nov. 8 general election.
The incumbent in District 3, Republican Gary Romine of Farmington, is running for a second four-year term. He is being challenged by Green Party candidate Edward R. Weissler of De Soto.
Romine, who did not return a Leader candidate questionnaire, is president and chief executive officer of Show-Me Rent to Own.
State senators are paid $35,915 a year plus a weekly allowance for miles traveled going to and returning from meetings, and expenses for each day the General Assembly is in session.
District 3 includes the southern half of Jefferson County, including De Soto, Hillsboro and Olympian Village and parts of Cedar Hill, Dittmer and Festus. It also takes in all of Ste. Genevieve, St. Francois, Washington, Iron and Reynolds counties.
WEISSLER, 67, lives at 14402 Hilltop Drive, De Soto. He and his wife, Beth, have four children and four grandchildren. He is a retired salesman who also worked for the Missouri Department of Corrections. He attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in De Soto.
Social media: Facebook: EdwardWeissler
What role, if any, should the General Assembly take on regulating abortion?
Weissler: Abortion is a medical issue and should be regulated by medical professionals, not politicians.
What should be done to address partisan nastiness in the Legislature?
Weissler: One thing voters can do is stop the habit of automatically voting along party lines. We can start voting for someone who actually shares our values, and someone who is not beholden to a party or to its donors. Our rural hospitals have closed due to partisan nastiness about Medicare expansion. We can eliminate this behavior through the election process.
What programs or services should be cut to balance the state budget?
Weissler: Talking to people in our district, there are two areas of great concern – health care and education. They tell me how the lack of good medical services, impossible health care costs and cuts to our schools have impacted their lives. Budget cuts from our legislators resulted in hospital closures and cuts to school programs and staffing. I draw the line at leaving our health care workers and educators short of the money necessary to carry out their mission of service.
Explain your position on Medicaid expansion.
Weissler: It is a catastrophe that our rural hospitals have closed and others are threatened. Missourians must stand together to keep health care available to all. We need the Medicare expansion program. It will go a long way to help our residents and help our rural hospitals survive.
Should the General Assembly impose limits on donations to political campaigns? What changes would you advocate, if any?
Weissler: The General Assembly must impose limits on donations and limits on what can be spent on political campaigns. The Green Party is the only party that does not allow Super PAC billionaire and large donation corporate funding. There is no room for legislation to be bought and sold. I believe every Missourian, in good conscience, does not want to see a price put on their representative.
Do you support your party's nominee for president? Explain why or why not.
Weissler: Don’t blame me for Hillary or Donald. I voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary, then helped get the Green Party on the ballot in Missouri. I support Dr. Jill Stein, and am happy to have helped give us someone to vote for instead of candidates to vote against.