By Kellie Houx
KHoux@cherryroad.com
CLAY COUNTY— State politics newcomers Ken Jamison, a Democrat, and Mike Jones, a Republican, will be on the November ballot for election to the Missouri State House District 15 seat. The winner will serve a two-year term. The district covers a portion of Clay County including Kansas City-North, Gladstone and Oakview.
To help provide voters information on where candidates stand on issues affecting the district, the Courier-Tribune and Gladstone Dispatch sent questionnaires to each candidate and asked them to limit their responses to 50 words per answer. Answers longer than 50 words have been cut off at the end of the closest sentence with an ellipsis (…) in place of missing words.
The following are their answers, printed in alphabetical order of last name.
What is the biggest issue facing the district and how will you work to resolve it if elected?
Jamison: “I will fight to fund infrastructure projects to create good paying jobs, economic opportunity and keep our families safe, increase funding for higher education to train and retain an educated workforce and give small businesses the resources and support that they need to grow and thrive.”
Jones: “I believe the biggest issue facing our district is that of economic development and infrastructure improvements. The bigger issue is helping to develop the Northland Career Development Center. We need to build our workforce with qualified tradespeople and the plan that is being developed for the career development center seems to be a viable one that needs state support. …”
Do you support efforts for increased school choice and voucher programs in the state? Why or why not?
Jamison: “Oppose. I am a product of Missouri public schools from kindergarten to college and will treat education as a top priority. We need to increase educational opportunity and access to education by investing in technical schools, increasing public funding for state colleges and fully funding and protecting K-12 education.”
Jones: “I believe school choice is an important issue that parents need to be able to choose which school their child attends. I also support vouchers for those parents who need assistance with private/parochial education for their children. I believe we are blessed to have a very strong, quality school district in the NKC Schools, but not all the schools are good for all children. …”
Amendment 2 would allow legalization of sports betting in the state. Do you support the amendment? Why or why not?
Jamison: “Support. Thirty-eight states have legalized sports betting. We need to pass Amendment 2 to compete with our peers, including Kansas. If Amendment 2 is passed, it is estimated that approximately $24 million would go to public schools and higher education.”
Jones: “I am voting ‘no’ on Amendment 2, not so much because I am against sports betting, I’m against the problem of amending our state constitution with every whim that comes around. I’m committed to addressing initiative petition reform in Jefferson City. It doesn’t make sense to me that our constitution has to be amended with things such as this. …”
Amendment 3 would provide the right to reproductive freedom including reversal of the abortion ban. Will you vote “yes” or “no” on the measure? Please explain your answer.
Jamison: “I will fight to protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions without interference from the state. We must overturn Missouri’s radical abortion ban, which includes no exceptions for rape or incest. Complicated medical decisions are best left to women, their families and their doctors – not the government.”
Jones: “Absolutely no! When Roe vs. Wade was overturned and handed over to the states, Missouri outlawed abortion on demand, and the stipulations or allowances for abortion in the case of incest, rape or a threat to the mother’s life were in place. I am sternly pro-life and I believe the life of the child has to be defended. …”
Proposition A is a ballot issue that would raise the state’s minimum wage. Do you support this proposition? Why or why not?
Jamison: “I support raising the state’s minimum wage. I will always fight for workers, jobs, wages and health care. In addition, as a small business owner, I am committed to promoting responsible economic development and attracting good-paying jobs to the Northland.”
Jones: “I am against the move to raise the minimum wage. This is yet another burden on small businesses that are already suffering from increases in the cost of doing business. It just means that workers will get fewer hours, cost of goods will go up and the already-suffering buying public will see even more cost increases. …”
How will you ensure you reach across the aisle and not play partisan politics to work for what is best for Missourians?
Jamison: “I served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. I served with Marines from all backgrounds and demographics. We didn’t care about our differences. We cared about our common mission. I will work hard to bring that same mindset to Jefferson City.”
Jones: “I will gladly work across the aisle to do what is right for Missourians. It has nothing to do with politics, but has everything to do with what is morally right, economically sensible and is good for my constituents. Anything that doesn’t fit those parameters will not get my vote.”
Amendment 7, if approved, would ban ranked-choice voting of candidates by Missourians with an exception for St. Louis. Will you vote in favor or against the measure? Please explain your answer.
Jamison: “Although I have concerns that there could be additional costs related to potential new voting machines, I support ranked-choice voting. Under our current system, candidates have the incentive to appeal to the extremes of their parties. Under ranked-choice voting, more moderate candidates are more likely to be elected.”
Jones: “Amendment 7 is the only amendment I will vote for. The idea of ranked-choice voting is just another way to circumvent the idea of fair elections. It is also a way to allow for illegal immigrants to vote. This is not good for Missouri or Missourians. I’m not against immigration, but I insist that it is done according to the law. …”
CANDIDATE BIO: Ken Jamison
Educational background, including any degrees earned: BA, University of Missouri; JD, University of Missouri
Occupation: Attorney
Social media/website contact info related to campaign: KenJamison.com
Prior civic and/or governmental public service experience that aids your ability to serve: Clay County Constitution Committee, helped write the new county constitution
CANDIDATE BIO: Mike Jones
Educational background, including any degrees earned: Studied architectural engineering at K State and KU, did not get degree, but went on to successfully establish a reputation in historical renovation and then home building; self-employed in the sports facility industry, selling both capital equipment and sports field construction services, building athletic fields
Occupation: Retired, but make small living building custom furniture and other types of custom woodworking projects
Social media/website contact info related to campaign: Facebook as Mike Jones for Missouri
Prior civic and/or governmental public service experience that aids your ability to serve: Volunteer in numerous campaigns
