This is the final part of our six-part series, “Meet the freshmen.”
Jon Carpenter, D–Kansas City –
Hometown: Kansas City
Education: University of Southern California
Career Highlights: Owns a marketing firm in Kansas City.
Key Issues: Taxation issues and Education.
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Jeremy LaFaver, D-Kansas City
Hometown: Kansas City
Education: Bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University.
Political career highlight: Winning his first election.
Key issue: His long term goal is to rehire every child care provider in the state to be licensed. “In Missouri, you need a license to cut hair and paint toenails, but not to care for children including giving them medicine,” he said.
What people don’t know about you: Between 2005 and 2006, he served with the Peace Corps in Turkmenistan as a community health education volunteer. He was nearly fluent in Turkmen, the country’s official language.
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John Mayfield, D-Independence –
Hometown: Independence
Education: B.A. Communication from William Jewel College, Master’s in Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Career Highlight: Being elected and “serving my community.”
Key Issues: Public education, public safety issues and a labor issues.
What people don’t know: “I’m a really big San Antonio Spurs basketball fan.”
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Joe Don McGaugh, R-Carrollton –
Hometown: Carrollton
Education: B.A. in Agricultural Economics from University of Missouri — Columbia, J.D. from University of Missouri — Kansas City
Career Highlight: “Being able to represent my home county of Carroll County. I’m the first State Representative from Carroll County since the early 1960s.”
Key Issues: “Issues this session for me are job growth and increased economic opportunity for the state, protecting and expanding agriculture, supporting education and making good use of tax dollars.”
What people don’t know: “I interned for State Representative John Quinn in Jeff and Congressman Kenny Hulshof in D.C. while in college or was Sen. Jason Crowell’s Legislative Assistant during the 2007 legislative session until I went to law school.”
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Jim Neely, R-Cameron –
Hometown: Cameron
Education: Kansas City University of Medicine and Bio Sciences
Career Highlight: “My military service is my career highlight.”
Key Issue: Child Abuse
What People Don’t Know: “I’m 62 years old, and I’ve got two twin 7-year-old boys.”
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Shawn Rhoads, R-West Plains –
Hometown: West Plains
Education: Missouri Sheriff’s Academy
Career Highlight: “Working in this amazing, historic building.”
Key Issue: Focusing on long-term legislation, not short-term bills.
What People Don’t Know: “I love dirt track racing.”
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Noel Shull, R-Kansas City –
Hometown: Kansas City
Career Highlight: Served on the Small Business Administration National Advisory Council under four consecutive presidents.
Key Issue: Economic Development
What People Don’t Know: Saw first hand the flight of a Blackbird SR-71, the fastest plane in the world.
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Kenneth Wilson, R-Smithville –
Hometown: Smithville
Education: Criminal Justice degree from Missouri Western State University.
Political career highlight: Winning a tight primary in a new district and being elected to the House. He noted, “I do have desires to be in leadership in my career as a representative.”
Key issue: “Right to farm” legislation, pro-gun bills.
What people don’t know about you: Enjoys golf, and serves as the pastor of a small country church where he’s been able to pursue his passion of mission trips — of which “the most rewarding has been my two trips to Indonesia following the tragedy of the tsunami.”
