A New Voice in Our Community

Clay Rodgers, a business representative for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), has announced his candidacy for the 55th District seat in the Missouri House of Representatives from Blue Springs. Rodgers is a Democrat.

The seat is currently held by Bryan Pratt. a Republican who is stepping down due to term limits.

Ryan Hobart, communications director of the Missouri Democratic Party, said there are no other announced candidates for the seat from either party. Primary elections will be in August 2010; the general election will be in November.

Rodgers reported in October that in the previous quarter he raised $10,300 in campaign contributions from 30 donors.

In a biography included on his campaign Website, Rodgers includes the following information:

“I moved to Grain Valley when I was 3 months old and have lived in the 55th district for 42 years. My father was a Union floor layer and my mother was fortunate enough to stay home and raise five kids. I attended and graduated Grain Valley High School in 1985. I have been married to my wife Lisa for 9 years and have three children, Samantha, Jack and Joe. Samantha will be in eighth grade at Moreland Ridge Middle School and Jack will be a second grader at Cordill-Mason Elementary.

“I graduated from Central Missouri State University in 1992 with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Management. I was treasurer of Lamda Alpha Eplison, the professional criminal justice fraternity. I am a 15-year member of the Floor Layers Union 1179 and currently a business representative for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). I am also a proud member of the Sons of the American Legion (SAL) Stanley-Pack Post 499 in Blue Springs.

“I am running for State representative of the 55th district because I feel that the issues that matter to most residents of the district are not being addressed. We need affordable health care, jobs or the retraining of displaced workers and a representative who will work across party lines to help Gov. Jay Nixon move Missouri forward. I have seen too much party line voting and not a true representation of the ideals of the constituents of the 55th district. I have 15 years experience representing hard working, middle class workers through my involvement on the executive board, by-laws committee and now as a business representative/organizer for the IUPAT.”

We are currently looking for great volunteers in the 55th District to host a Coffee in their neighborhood to give voters a chance to meet and get to know Clay.  Please take a moment to click on our NEW link above to get more information about hosting a Coffee for Clay.