MALDON, Mo. – Rep. Kent Hampton (R-Malden), a Republican, is currently a representative in of the District 150 , composed of parts of Pemiscot and Dunklin counties. He previously served as state representative for the District 163 before redistricting.
Before jumping into an empowering and fruitful career in Missouri politics, Hampton worked at Noranda Aluminum for 38 years, much of which was spent serving in management positions.
This will be Rep. Hampton’s final year in the Missouri legislature. He has chosen to relocate his political career to closer to home, and is running for the Dunkin County clerk against an incumbent Carol Hinsely.
“Dunklin County is special to me, I have lived here all of my life,” Hampton said. “These are real people, the kind of people who do things for other people and do not except a form of compensation in return.”
Hampton says his decision to retire from the Missouri Legislature was fueled by a desire to return to his wife and family of two daughters, five grandchildren and one soon-to-be great grandchild. He aims to be a vehicle of service to both his family and the people of his home community.
“I enjoy the ability to be a public servant, and I want to continue serving Missouri, but I want to be able to be home to do it,” Hampton said.
If elected, Hampton aspires to encourage people to become engaged in the local clerk’s office as well bring stronger integrity to the election process and continue to carry out the local budget assessments and community record keeping.
“I want regular training for my election judges and poll workers, because truly there are a lot of changes that take places from one year to the next,” Hampton said. “I want to invite the public to know who the county clerk is, and feel that they have a friend and neighbor in the county clerk’s office.”
Hampton aims to create an air of transparency and accessibility for the county clerk’s office, creating an office for the people.
During his time in Jefferson City, Hampton brought through the Missouri government a bill specifying regulations on special event motor vehicle auction licenses, one that aided in the authorization of several highway and bridge designations, as well as sponsored and cosponsored many other pieces of legislation in his four years.
Rep. Kent Hampton remembers his time in the Missouri House of Representatives with great fondness and enthusiasm.
“I’ve had two or threes bills that have gone that way and been signed by the governor – but that is not my proudest moment,” Hampton said. “My proudest moments are being able to help constituents of mine who have a dire need of figuring out how they are going to put groceries on the table, or how they are going to provide assistance for their family — to be able to help them over hurdles is the most rewarding part.”
With Missouri being a vast state, comprised of diverse communities and landscapes, Hampton emphasized the essential role of state government to unify individuals from differing backgrounds for the same cause: to serve the public.
“One of the first good friends I made in Jefferson City lived the farthest away from me you can in the entire state of Missouri,” Hampton said. “I live Arkansas/Tennessee border, and he lives on the Iowa border. Even though we are in different locations, there were so many things we had in common.”
Hampton recalls a friend spurring him to begin involvement in the political landscape. Prior to his time in the Missouri Legislature, he has served in several community board and civic groups, but has never held an officer position — not even in school. Intrigued by the idea of serving the public on a broader and more influential level, Hampton thoroughly considered what it would take to run for office.
“I am one of those people who either does something 100% or I don’t do it at all. 99% is not close enough,“ Hampton said.
Hampton did not take the opportunity lightly, and in 2009, he decided he was ready to give the position everything he had.
As his campaign duration nears it ends, Hampton recalls how much kindness and support he encountered throughout. Despite the outcome of the race, he is delighted to be going back to family and hometown community.
Kelsey Wingo is the multimedia reporter for The Missouri Times, and a senior at the University of Missouri. She will be graduating in Spring 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Readers can contact Kelsey by calling her cell phone at 417-343-0508 or via Twitter @kels_wingo.
