Elect Jessica O'Neal-Slisz

Callaway County currently has no Emergency room or urgent care clinics. Just around Fulton we have the State Hospital, FRDC, Callaway Nuclear Plant, and many manufacturing jobs. Not only do the residents of our county need health care, but the workers at these facilities do as well. Finding ways to bring in a reliable and reputable hospital is critical for the health and safety of our families. Health care is not a privilege, it is a human right.

Our children are our future. As such, we must prepare them with the best education possible to accomplish the many great things they will do. A few things I would like to do are, first, fully fund our schools and their transportation while also raising teachers' salaries to a living wage. Find security solutions to increase the safety of our children while encouraging a warm and welcoming learning environment.

For our High Schools I would like to see equal focus on college as well as trade schools. Many high paying jobs are in trades such as construction, welding, and specialized mechanics. Introducing apprenticeship programs to students would help not only provide more information but encourage all youth to be proud of their chosen career paths.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” -US Bill of Rights

I believe that the above quoted Bill of Rights gives all humans the right of bodily autonomy. When making decisions about our bodies, it is in the interest of self preservation, life; our own personal freedom to choose, liberty; and overall mental wellbeing, happiness. We should have the ability to seek care and make the best decisions for our body without government interference.

Being the daughter of a Union construction worker I know the importance of having a union to back your trade. My father was able to retire before 60 with a pension, we always had great health insurance, and I knew many of the people he worked with. The union was and still is a family. Supporting our unions and their families is a top priority for me. Along with the Unions we need to encourage our youth to consider careers in trades and agriculture.

Farms feed America. As a former member of the FFA and living in the rural town of Hams Prairie, I know that family farms are important. We need to ensure family farms can stay in families while accessing needed monies and markets. We need to support grown here, processed here food. Support our local farmers markets, have incentives in place for buying locally produced food and goods.

When we have an emergency or we need assistance our police (local and county), firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders are always available. These are our local heros and I believe they are one of, if not the, best in the state. We need to continue supporting these brave men and women. We can do this by making sure they are adequately funded, with a portion going specifically to training, hiring and voting in leaders that care about out community, encouraging better community relations/involvement, and maintaining safe work environments.

Supporting our unseen officers, such as Corrections Officers and Probation/Parole Officers, is vital to the safety and security of the community. Keeping those who break our laws and/or cause harm to community, with the goal of rehabilitation, is vital. We need to make sure this is reflected in our laws and reality. We need to make sure that these officers have the resources and support to carry out the sentences or treatment the state has mandated. The officers in these facilities need to be shown just as much appreciation as the officers on the street.

I will make sure I am involved with the leadership of our public service departments to make sure that these community heros have what they need to make our community safer. I will advocate for support for our heroes and their families, who sacrifice to make the community better.

Many households have a budget. As the one who handles the bills in my family, I am always looking for ways to get the most from each paycheck. I browse the sales ads, clip coupons, and negotiate premiums. As a state, we have a responsibility to our citizens to make sure the budget is balanced while making sure to put some back for a rainy day fund. No one likes the surprise of a flat tire mid week after paying bills. Missouri needs to make sure it has the funds to weather upcoming storms and still provide the best services with excessive redundancy stopped.

All companies and individuals should pay their fair share of taxes. Giving tax cuts to billionaires and expecting our working families to pick up the slack is not working. We have to revise how Missouri taxes its citizens and companies to stay prosperous and continue financial growth.