Grill remains positive about re-election, challenger Schieber on the attack

State Representative Jason Grill is running for a third-term in Missouri’s 32nd district encompassing southern Platte County. While Grill ran unopposed in 2008, this election cycle he’ll find a challenger running against him in Republican Ron Schieber. Both have been talking to voters over the recent months to convince them that they should be the one to represent them in Jefferson City.

Grill, 31, is a lifelong resident of Platte County where he graduated from St. Pius X High School, Saint Louis University, and University of Missouri School of Law. He has served in the legislature since first elected in 2006 and has most recently on the House Ways and Means, Judiciary, Real ID, and Financial Institutions committees where he served as a ranking member. He currently resides in Parkville.

Rep. Jason Grill

“If re-elected I look forward to continuing to serve on influential House committees, as well as potentially filling a seat for our area on the Economic Development and Job Creation committee. The relationships I have built with Republicans and Democrats will be instrumental to our community and our state,” Grill said.

Although Schieber did not respond to several requests for information from The Citizen, his website indicates he grew up in Maryville, Missouri and is a 1983 graduate of Northwest Missouri State University. He’s been a resident of Platte County since 1993 when he moved here with his family. He and his wife, Stephanie, have five daughters in Rachel, Kelsey, Heather, Madison, and Alysa. Schieber has worked in the finance and banking industry, most recently as a home mortgage consultant with Wells Fargo.

When not serving in the legislature, Grill, is an attorney at King Hershey, a law firm which specializes in economic development, public finance, and commercial transactions. He says his work in the private sector has fueled his interest in improving the way the State of Missouri provides incentives to businesses and promotes job creation in the legislature.

“There are a wide range of innovative options available to produce revenues for Missouri which include stopping the loss of businesses moving to Kansas,” Grill said.

Jobs have been a focus of Schieber’s, with his campaign indicating tax cuts across the board and less regulation are a few of the ways Missouri can create jobs. As a former member of the Park Hill School Board, Schieber also believes he can be a strong advocate for education and student achievement. Even though Schieber has taken a broad approach to the two main issues of jobs and education, Grill contends his record shows those are already two of his top priorities which is why he’s earned endorsements from the National Federation of Independent Business and several education organizations including the Missouri National Education Association.

Grill has committed much of his campaign to telling voters about what he believes are some significant accomplishments and measures he has helped pass in the legislature over recent years including being a lead sponsor on a bill passed into law that now requires insurance companies to cover treatments for children with autism.

“As a fiscal conservative, I’m proud to have supported balanced budgets without raising taxes and responsible economic policies which include co-sponsoring a balanced budget resolution at the federal level,” Grill said.

Contrarily, Schieber’s website makes it clear that he believes Grill’s approach is self serving which has resulted in, with less than two weeks to go until Election Day, the Missouri Republican State Committee funding several negative ads through television, phone, and mail to attack Grill with comparisons to President Obama along with ‘big government liberals’ over the last week. In a district which tends to lean moderately Republican, it is yet to be seen how the ads will affect the race and how Grill will choose to respond, but voters can be sure they aren’t being taken for granted this cycle.

Caldwell, Higdon face off for open 29th District seat

With State Representative Martin Rucker running for the State Senate, the 29th Missouri House district seat which encompasses southern Buchanan and northern Platte Counties is an open contest pitting Democrat Bill Caldwell against Republican Galen Higdon. Both candidates bring a long history of community involvement in and outside of their respective careers.

Caldwell, 65, of Dearborn, is a 46-year veteran of Trans World Airlines and American Airlines where he has held a variety of positions within those organizations including opportunities to work with NASA on the Apollo 11 launch team, the city of New York in the aftermath of the tragic crash of TWA Flight 800, and other projects in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration. Along with activities related to his work at TWA, he has been an advocate on the state level for workers’ rights and workforce development. Caldwell distinguishes himself as a moderate Democrat with conservative stances on gun control and fiscal issues. Bill and his wife, Marie, have been married for 44 years and have one daughter.

Bill Caldwell

“I think my experiences of working at many different jobs for my employers over the years, gives me a perspective that makes me the best candidate,” Caldwell said. “I have held many positions of trust and have worked all over the world for TWA having received many awards from my employer as well as outside the company.”

Higdon resides in St. Joseph and is recently retired after a 30-year career as a deputy of the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department and has been active in specialized law enforcement education throughout his career. He served as a member and later Vice-President of the Missouri Sheriff’s Association as well as a member of the Mo-Kan Regional Council of Government Transportation Advisory Committee. Higdon says he has a conservative approach with a desire for smaller government. Galen and his wife, Lou Anne, have been married for 36 years and have three daughters along with four grandchildren.

Galen Higdon

“I have spent my entire life serving the residents of the community as a law enforcement officer,” Higdon said. “I saw another opportunity to serve the people of my community, and decided to announce my candidacy to fight for the citizens of the 29th District in Jefferson City.”

The candidates’ top issues parallel closely their careers. Higdon’s work in the public safety field makes it one of his top concerns, but his belief that education should be the top priority in the state legislature is something that has earned him support from the Missouri State Teachers Association. Overall, Higdon says he would represent the interests of his constituents.

“I would work to become a vocal leader who fights for the interests of Platte and Buchanan Counties in the State legislature,” Higdon said. “I do not have a specific agenda going into this election and would focus my efforts on working for the betterment of the citizens of the 29th District.”

On the other side, while Caldwell believes education is a priority and has earned the endorsement of Missouri Association of School Administrators, he thinks the tough economic times call for work on economic recovery and job creation.

“This would be a continuation of my work on the Northwest Missouri Workforce Development Board which I have served on for many years,” Caldwell said of his background in economic development.

Two distinguished careers in their respective fields leave voters with a decision between two long-time residents of the area, both with experiences that have shaped their view of the purpose and role of government, along with dedicated time spent in the community outside of their careers.