JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Jessica Kent began her politically active life earlier than most. She was about six months old when she was in her first campaign event, where a friend of her father, a police officer, was running for sheriff.
“I knew I was passionate about politics from a very early age,” Kent told The Missouri Times. “My grandpa was really into politics, and he taught it to me as a kid.”
Kent said even at a young age, she felt passionate about local public school ballot initiatives. In high school, as an active member of her Thespian Club, Kent ran for and won the position of Vice President of the Missouri State Thespian Conference, because of her interest in advocacy, which was the main purpose of the organization.
She testified before a Senate committee in the Missouri Capitol as a high school student about Fine Arts funding in education and, after a successful chat with a staffer for then-state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, she earned a summer internship in Steelman’s office.
Kent went to Truman State University after her internship for a majority of her undergraduate studies before finishing at Central Methodist University. She was active in College Republicans and worked on the campaign for Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown.
Now, Kent is the legislative assistant for Rep. Jay Houghton, R-Martinsburg.
“Before re-districting, [Houghton’s] district was in [Munzlinger’s], so the two of them obviously interacted,” Kent said. “I met Jay and he needed someone for his office and I knew the district pretty well and I’ve always loved the area, so it seemed to fit.”
Even though she loved campaign work, Kent says working for Houghton in a Capitol office has changed her outlook on the kind of work she wants to do.
“I love campaign work, I do, but the more I work in an office, the more I realized that what I’m really passionate about is working on this side of things,” she said. “I love working here and getting to take a role in making things happen, and running the office.”
So even though she once saw herself becoming a high-powered campaign manager, she’s now far more interested in working as a chief of staff in an “executive office” somewhere where she could really help run the show.
Her office schedule keeps her busy, but Kent — who married in October 2011 and purchased a home in Jefferson City at the same time — manages to find time to be President of her local sorority alumni chapter, Alpha Sigma Alpha. And, thanks to memories of following her father to bowling leagues as a child, she has a healthy obsession with bowling alleys.
“Bowling alleys are my favorite places,” Kent said. “I was like four [years old] when I would go with my dad and I used to get to eat French fries and work behind the little counter.”
So, perhaps to preserve the memory, her and her new husband bowl every Sunday.
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.