By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph Board of Education President, LaTonya Williams, is now a candidate for the Missouri House.
Williams says she was approached a couple of years ago about running for the state legislature. She then began to pay more attention to the work of the legislature in Jefferson City.
“I’m in the middle of my second term (on the Board of Education) and I know all too well about the shortfalls of the state when it comes to public education,” Williams tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Williams, who is executive director of the Bartlett Center, says her priorities will be education, health care, jobs, and safety.
Williams says she plans to run a grass roots campaign and would seek to better represent the residents of the district if elected.
“And that just means a government that works for the actual people you represent and not any other group, special interest, anything like that,” Williams says. “I live in this community.”
The 10th state representative district incorporates the heart of St. Joseph, extending out the Rosecrans Memorial Airport.
Williams says she understands she is taking on a tough task.
“I completely understand, you know, that as a Democrat I’ll be looked at as an underdog and I know that I will not be able to raise as much money as the other party. I already know that,” Williams says. “Okay, but the thing about it is it’s not about who’s got the most money or the more connections, it’s about the voters, it’s about the vote.”
Williams urges St. Joseph voters to closely watch the workings of the Missouri General Assembly, which is in the firm control of Republicans.
“If you’re looking at things now and how they’re going, do we want more of that or do we want to change? If we want to change, then I’m the person.”
The 10th currently is representative by Republican Bill Falkner who cannot run again due to term limits.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ