Name: Jeff Myers
Age: 58
Hometown: Warrenton
Occupation: Retired
Position sought: Missouri House of Representatives-42nd District
Previous political experience: Elected as state representative in 2022
Website or social media page: myers4mo.com
Why are you running and why should people vote for you?
I ran for office in 2022 to be a voice for the values of the people of Warren and eastern Montgomery Counties. These are not just my constituents, they are my neighbors, my family, and my friends. We are rural, conservative communities that value quality public education, low taxes, individual freedom, and safe communities. We believe government has an important role to play in protecting our safety and our freedoms, but that it should do so in a limited and responsible way.
What are your goals if elected?
I have been honored to serve for the past two years as the Chair of the Crime and Public Safety Committee. As Chairman, I have a significant role in the policies under the perview of the committee for the people of Missouri. Areas I have focused on have been in issues to curtail the problem of sex trafficking, child sexual abuse material, increasing the penalties for related crimes, as well as reforming several statutes that have been outdated.
Beyond the committees on which I serve, I continue to watch closely for issues affecting education, agriculture, labor, and our small businesses, which are the backbone of our local economy.
I am also working on a model that would give local communities the ability to rebate property taxes when commercial growth generates significant new revenue. The goal is straightforward, when new development substantially expands the local tax base, the people who already live and pay taxes in those communities should have an opportunity to benefit directly from that growth.
What issues are most pressing for your constituency?
Data center development and Flock cameras are the two issues I hear about most lately. Property taxes also remain a significant concern throughout the district. The issue needs to be addressed in a way that the State doesn’t create unintended consequences as property taxes are approved at the local level by the residents that pay them to fund local services. Fuel costs, while a concern nationally, have an especially significant impact here because a majority of our neighbors commute outside the district for work. For many families, the cost of fuel has a direct effect on the household bottom line.
Related to that is the I-70 expansion project. Once completed, the project will literally give hours back to the lives of constituents who travel I-70 every day, but the growing pains are real. Staying in close contact with MoDOT and the companies working on the project, addressing concerns as they arise, and helping ensure the project is delivered on time and on budget are priorities as well.
