Three-term incumbent Donna Pfautsch, Republican of Harrisonville, is seeking her final two-year term in the Missouri House of Representatives from the 33rd District. She is being challenged by Democrat Pat Williams, a political newcomer. Williams, a union pipefitter, works for Martin Mechanical in Kansas City. He said he is seeking the office to give a voice to Missouri families. “I think the views of the average Missourian aren’t being represented,” Williams said. “My motivation is to give a voice to Missouri families in the state legislature.” Williams grew up on a farm near Windsor and has lived in Pleasant Hill for six years. Some of the issues he said need to be addressed are healthcare and infrastructure. “We need better healthcare. I know we can’t do anything about the national level, but in the state, we need to work to help lower the out-of-pocket expense of health care. Infrastructure is also very important. Missouri received a C-minus rating on its roads and bridges and we need to improve them and hopefully encourage people to move in from other states,” he said. This is Williams’ first run for public office.
Pfautsch served on the Harrisonville Board of Aldermen prior to being elected to the State House of Representatives. She is a retired teacher from the Harrisonville School District. Among the accomplishments she lists are the areas of education, healthcare and government accountability. One piece of legislation gave parents a means to compare the quality of early childhood education providers, Looking forward, Pfautsch said, “My most important goal is to be responsive to my constituents and help solve problems they face in their daily lives. When people talk to me about problems or obstacles they face, I try my best to find solutions. At the end of the day, I consider myself a public servant, which is why I try to stay in touch with the people in the communities I represent. Government is sometimes very good at creating problems but not so good at solving them.”
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