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Unopposed Beard, replacing Cox, focusing on family

SEDALIA, Mo. — For attorney Nathan Beard, who will be replacing Rep. Stan Cox, R-Sedalia, in January, family is the top priority. Beard has emerged unopposed in the primary and general, which surprised him, but has not hindered his motivation to become more connected to the 52nd District.

Beard is the son of former state Rep. Richard Beard, with whom Beard currently practices law with in Sedalia, the county seat of Pettis County, as well as the home of the Missouri State Fair.

“That’s not what I do, I’m a family man,” Beard said of his legal profession. “I’ve got five kids, my wife of almost 11 years. That’s what I do. Everything else I do is really in support of that.”

His law practice has motivated his legislative agenda, causing him to take a family-oriented look at state law.

“Legislatively, I think it’s important that family have as much opportunity to govern themselves as possible,” Beard said. “I’m not interested in government trying to step in and trying to take over many of the functions that traditional families can handle. I think that cripples families. We got to keep the money in the family.”

Specifically, Beard wants to try to reduce the national and federal debt by reducing the amount of federal programs that Missouri participates in, such as Medicaid.

“I do not want to be one of those states that takes money just because they can and it is available,” Beard said. “That is just more federal money and debt. I want to get the debt under control and I want Missouri to focus on our needs.”

Being budget-conscious comes naturally to Beard, who says witnessing overspending “drives him nuts.”

Beard with wife and two of their children
Beard with wife and two of their children

Beard and his wife have looked towards public service for some time, but with five kids under the age of 9 at home, did not think it would come so early. The combination of Cox’s retirement and no opponent have expedited their long term plan to serve. The immediacy and large family have not hindered Beard getting out to meet more of the district. He has many connections in the district already through his role as an attorney and involvement in the Boy Scouts, which he says “helps young men train to become good husbands and fathers.” He and his wife also do real estate on the side.

“The campaign is always on,” Beard said. “I’m brand new to politics. My father was a state representative back in 1982, when I was 5 years old. He ran for attorney general a couple years later. I was young, so I don’t really remember campaigning. As far as the campaign goes, it has been quite the undertaking to get out and meet the people and see how I can represent them.”