NEOSHO, Mo. – Neosho Mayor Ben Baker, a Republican, has announced his candidacy for the state house to replace termed state Rep. Bill Reiboldt.
Baker is the Dean of Students and a professor at Ozark Bible Institute, where he studied theology. A lay minister who attends Bible Holiness Assembly of God, he has also been involved with Ozark Christian Missions, where he has traveled to India, Africa, and South America leading various teams on mission trips.
Baker owns and operates Artisan Construction, a homebuilding business in Neosho, where he resides with his wife Naomi and their four daughters.
Baker is a staunch conservative who vows to support life, to protect the Second Amendment and to push for legislation that will increase job growth and economic opportunities for Southwest Missouri.
As mayor of Neosho, Baker proved to be an effective and responsive leader after the area incurred two natural disasters and an attack from an anti-religion group all within the span of one month.
He was also instrumental in organizing a rapid response after a tornado and devastating flood impacted the southwest Missouri area. He was also able to successfully oppose an out-of-state, atheist group that had demanded the removal of a cross from Big Spring Park. The cross had been there since 1930.
“I want Missourians to know that I will fight relentlessly for the values that they hold dear and represent their interests with tenacity and integrity,” Baker said. “The same work ethic I apply in everything I do will also be applied when representing the 160th.”
Baker played an instrumental role in the Cruz campaign, where he volunteered as an organizer for the southwest Missouri region. He has retained Axiom Strategies to consult on his campaign.
