Government

Meet The New Missouri Lawmakers From Kansas City And Beyond

KCUR

Published January 9, 2019 at 5:00 AM CST

Gov. Mike Parson will oversee his first General Assembly session starting Jan. 9. He won't be alone: There are dozens of new state lawmakers.

All over Kansas City, its suburbs and outlying areas, new Missouri lawmakers will be taking their seats this week in Jefferson City. Who are the people representing you? Read on.

Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer

Luetkemeyer takes over for Sen. Rob Schaaf in Platte and Buchanan counties.

Age: 34
Party: Republican
Resides: Parkville
Job: Attorney
Represents: District 34 (Platte and Buchanan counties)
Top issues: Establishing a prescription drug monitoring program, adjusting term limits

Rep. Vic Allred

Allred represents portions of Platte County.

Party: Republican
Age: 56
Resides: Parkville
Job: Restaurateur; former president of Missouri Restaurant Association
Represents: District 13 (Platte County, including Parkville and East Leavenworth)
Top issues: Tourism, education, workforce development

Rep. Jeff Coleman

Coleman represents parts of Jackson County.

Party: Republican
Age: n/a
Resides: Grain Valley
Job: Financial adviser and insurance broker, Grain Valley School Board member, former Grain Valley city alderman
Represents: District 32 (eastern Jackson County, including Grain Valley and portions of Blue Springs and Oak Grove)
Top issues: Economic growth, infrastructure funding, workforce development

Rep. Keri Ingle

Ingle represents parts of Jackson County.

Party: Democrat
Age: n/a
Resides: Lee’s Summit
Job: Social worker
Represents: District 35 (Kansas City, portions of Lee’s Summit)
Top issues: Public safety programs, job growth, education

Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove

Manlove represents parts of Kansas City.

Party: Democrat
Age: 32
Resides: Kansas City
Job: Accounting
Represents: District 26 (Kansas City)
Top issues: Criminal justice reform, economic development, education

Rep. Jon Patterson

Patterson represents parts of Jackson County.

Party: Republican
Age: 39
Resides: Independence
Job: Surgeon
Represents: District 30 (Kansas City, portions of Independence)
Top issues: Health care, infrastructure, workforce development

Rep. Doug Richey

Richey represents portions of Clay County.

Party: Republican
Age: 45
Resides: Excelsior Springs
Job: Senior pastor, Pisgah Baptist Church
Represents: District 38 (Clay County, including Excelsior Springs and portions of Liberty)
Top issues: Education, public safety

Rep. Wes Rogers

Rogers represents portions of Clay County.

Party: Democrat
Age: 36
Resides: Kansas City
Job: Attorney; former Clay County assistant prosecutor
Represents: District 18 (Clay County, including portions of Kansas City and North Kansas City)
Top issues: Education, health care, workers’ rights

Rep. Matt Sain

Sain represents portions of Platte and Clay counties.

Party: Democrat
Age: 28
Resides: Kansas City
Job: Law clerk
Represents: District 18 (Platte and Clay Counties, including Riverside and Platte Woods)
Top issues: Education funding, affordable health care, ethics reform

Rep. Robert Sauls

Sauls represents portions of Jackson County.

Party: Democrat
Age: 38
Resides: Independence
Job: Attorney; former Jackson County prosecutor, former Buchanan County public defender
Represents: District 21 (eastern Jackson County, including Independence)
Top issues: Criminal justice reform, education, Medicaid expansion

Rep. Brenda Shields

Shields represents portions of Platte and Buchanan counties.

Party: Republican
Age: 56
Resides: St. Joseph Job: Retired; former CEO of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph, former teacher
Represents: District 11 (Platte and Buchanan counties, including Edgerton and West Platte)
Top issues: Early childhood education, workforce development

Samuel King is the Missouri government and politics reporter at KCUR 89.3. Follow him on Twitter: @SamuelKingNews