JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Brandon Alexander, Legislative Assistant to Rep. Tony Dugger, R-Marshfield, has politics in his blood. His first memory of politics was during grade school when he posted flyers around the town of Memphis, Mo., for a mayoral candidate.
The candidate was his father, who won the spot.
For 13 years, Alexander’s father was mayor of Memphis and his son isn’t ready to rule public office as a possible career path.
“Maybe someday down the line when I’m older, greyer and wiser, I might run,” Alexander said. “It’s definitely something I’ve thought about, but right now it’s about figuring out how to get from point A to point B and building relationships where I might want to run.”
Alexander, 25, started working in the Capitol as an intern in the office of Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Lewis County, while he was a college student. As history and public affairs double major, Alexander stayed busy but fell in love with the environment of the Capitol.
“It was just really fascinating to me to see the classes and how things were supposed to work and then going into the building and seeing how things actually got done,” Alexander said. “You learn so much more by coming here and doing it.”
Alexander originally intended to go to graduate school after finishing his bachelors degrees. However, after spending time in the Capitol, Alexander decided to stay and cut his teeth in politics.
“You never know what will happen day to day,” Alexander said. “And it’s easy to get excited about the work. “And I really like my boss and in the workplace, for me, that’s something that carries its weight in gold.””
Alexander said he’d like to remain with Dugger until he is termed out, which will be during 2016 and then explore options of either returning to grad school, or continuing to work in the building, or basically anything else.
“I like [Dugger’s] approach to legislation,” Alexander said. “He’s smarter than a lot of his colleagues know, especially about elections and things like that. He was a county clerk for a long time so he is very knowledgeable in that area. He trusts me to do some things that a lot of other legislative assistants might not get to do on the legislative end.”
Alexander has been able to work closely on crafting and reading legislation, something he said is his favorite aspect of the work. He was pleasantly surprised how much he enjoyed working on elections when Dugger chaired the House Elections Committee during the previous General Assembly. Since his move to the Chair of Financial Institutions Committee, Alexander has had a wealth of new experience.
“I just really enjoy working so closely with someone who has access to these issues,” Alexander said. “You don’t know necessarily what you’re going to find interesting or what you’ll like until you try it and I’ve really enjoyed the work I’ve had the chance to do with [Dugger].”
Alexander spends most of his time in Jefferson City, leaving occasionally to do district work for Dugger. He hasn’t worked on Dugger’s campaign yet, but that’s only because Dugger hasn’t really had to campaign. Since his election, he’s had no primary challenge and largely uncontested general elections.
But like most of the work, Alexander said he’s always willing to try it.
“If he wanted me to come to campaign work I’d do it,” Alexander said. “I like policy and legislation but it’s all part of the same system, and you don’t really know what’s going to peak your interest unless you just try it.”
Collin Reischman was the Managing Editor for The Missouri Times, and a graduate of Webster University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.
