Press "Enter" to skip to content

Wessels looks to continue strong service in 81st district

ST. LOUIS — Among legislators entering the House this year, Fred Wessels might have some of the biggest shoes to fill. The St. Louis Democrat will replace termed-out Minority Floor Leader Jake Hummel.

Wessels
Wessels

But as the long-time alderman said, Hummel was Wessels’ constituent before he represented him in Jefferson City. And Wessels said he’d bring the same straight-shooting style from his days an alderman to the General Assembly.

“I think I’m a straight-forward kind of guy,” Wessels said. “I think people will get to respect my judgement and to understand that I pretty much tell it like it is and they can trust my word once I give it to them. I’m good for it.”

Wessels looks to bring that attitude to the Legislature on several issues. He said his main goal would be expanding Medicaid, along with other healthcare issues after 40 years as a healthcare manager.

“I’ve been in the health care management field for 40 years here in St. Louis,” he said. “I’m going to be really interested in issues that relate to health care. I think over that time I gained a certain understanding of health care issues.”

Wessels also said he’s against right-to-work, opposed to the reduction of historic tax credits and for full funding of the education formula. He also said he wants to see more work on ethics reform and was glad to see the steps the Legislature took last session.

“Ethics reform is important to me and important, I think, to both parties,” he said. “The House made a good attempt last year and I’m going to do everything I can to support the speaker in making some, I’d say more progressive changes this coming year.”

Before he works on his priorities, Wessels knows he needs to get to know his colleagues and let them get to know him.

“The first thing I’m going to do is I’m going to spend some time to get to know them and give them the opportunity to get to know me,” he said. “I’m going to do that before the session starts and early on in the session. I think what they’ll find with me is somebody who’s pretty much a centrist.”

He’ll also have to confront working from within a super-minority after years of working on a board of alderman with few, if any, Republicans.

“On the Board of Aldermen, we have differences based on geography and other factors, and that’s allowed me to work with people across the region in St. Louis,” Wessels said. “I hope to do the same and plan to do the same in Jefferson City. I’ve been told by other people that I’m the kind of guy that can do that.”

After winning his primary, Wessels will not face an opponent in the general election.