Dec 05, 2022

New NW Missouri representatives prepare to take office next month

Posted Dec 05, 2022 6:06 PM

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

Extreme northwest Missouri will be represented by freshman in the upcoming Missouri House legislative session.

Stanberry farmer and business owner Jeff Farnan won the Missouri First State Representative District while newcomer Mazzie Boyd of Hamilton, who has worked in the federal government in Washington, D.C., won the Missouri Second State Representative District.

Farnan emerged from a crowded Republican primary to run for the open seat that represents Atchison, Holt, and Nodaway Counties in the Missouri House.

Farnan overcame the well-fund campaign of Democrat Jess Piper, who pulled in more than $200,000 in her long-shot bid to break through the Republican stranglehold on northwest Missouri. Farnan won more than 75% of the vote.

“It just goes to show that what my beliefs are and what I stand for is that I represent the people of northwest Missouri, that we kind of have the same ideology about the issues,” Farnan tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Jeff Farnan/file photo
Jeff Farnan/file photo

Farnan farms and operates the Spec Shoppe in both Stanberry and Maryville. Farnan says roads will be a priority of his in the coming legislative session.

“Definitely, our roads,” Farnan replies when asked about his legislative priorities. “Our roads are deteriorating right in front of our eyes. So, I’d like to make sure we get funding for those.”

Farnan also will concentrate on agricultural issues.

“Anything farming, agriculture would be of great interest,” according to Farnan. “Kind of thinking right now, the fencing laws, I think they need some work. So, that would be one of my main concerns.”

Boyd also emerged from a Republican primary to breeze to a victory in the General Election. Only, for Boyd, she took on and defeated a Republican incumbent, Rep. Randy Railsback of Hamilton. Initially running for an open seat, Boyd continued her campaign even after redistricting moved her into a race against a sitting representative. The newly configured Second District includes Worth, Harrison, Grundy, Daviess, and Caldwell Counties.

Boyd won the primary and then went on to win the General Election by easily defeating the late Lois Pontius of Ridgeway 82.6% to 17.3%.

“I couldn’t believe it. That was not what we had expected at all,” Boyd tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It felt really humbling, honestly. I felt, I think, more humbled during this entire process than anything else.”

Mazzie Boyd/file photo
Mazzie Boyd/file photo

Boyd, who at 24 just makes the minimum age for a Missouri House member, worked for former President Donald Trump’s unsuccessful re-election campaign. In Washington, Boyd served on the staff of Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Boyd plans to file legislation that would ban using federal money to enact Red Flag laws.

“So, right now, I know (President) Biden is trying to figure out how he can bribe red states like Missouri that have really good 2A (2nd Amendment) laws and figuring out how he can get red flag laws in the state of Missouri,” according to Boyd.

Red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection laws, allow parents or others to file a petition in court to prohibit someone considered a threat to themselves or others from purchasing a firearm.

Boyd also plans to push for legislation that would ban the use of puberty blockers and sex transition surgery on minors.

“Right now, children are the most affected in this day and age and we see such a huge increase of mental health (cases), especially in younger children,” Boyd says. “These are life-long decisions that are very difficult to reverse.”

Both Boyd and Farnan are involved in legislative orientation before the legislative session begins in Jefferson City next month.

Tommy Rezac contributed to this article.