Joey LaSalle: I promise to fight for Kansas City’s interests in the Missouri Senate | Opinion

I’ve lived in Kansas City’s District 7 for 17 years. But I am not a politician. I’m a taxpayer who is frustrated by politicians who are failing our beautiful city. And I am frustrated by the lack of real representation for Kansas City in the Missouri General Assembly.

We can all agree that ours is the most important city in Missouri. Yet Kansas City taxpayers’ needs are continually overlooked. Our district’s state Senate and House leaders in Jefferson City accomplish little to nothing. Instead of setting the tone for the state, Kansas City just accepts what is given. We deserve more.

As your state senator, I would ensure that our voices are not only heard, but acted upon. My education, resume and life lessons make me the only candidate equipped to be your District 7 senator. I strongly believe in being tough on crime. The soft on crime incumbents have emboldened criminals to brazenly increase illegal activity even in broad daylight. This must be stopped.

I believe in hard work, good jobs, lower taxes and less government involvement. I’m for hand-ups, not handouts, and I know that real progress comes with economic prosperity for all.

While we may not agree on everything, I can promise the core issues I am focused on are the issues that matter most to all Missouri residents. And I will not have to struggle working across the aisle.

I have 20-plus years of leadership experience at Cerner Corporation (now Oracle) leading hundreds of team members in managing everything from small rural hospital programs to a billion-dollar Veterans Affairs program. Now, as the chief financial and operating officer of a small business, I understand what it takes to run organizations and navigate financial challenges. With an honors degree in finance and real estate from Mizzou, I know how economics, taxes and inflation work, and I’m committed to fighting for tax fairness at the city, county, and state levels.

Forgive me for being redundant, but crime reduction is personal for me just like most all Kansas City residents. Safety is a basic human right that has nothing to do with being a Democrat or Republican. I support strong policing, strict prosecution, increasing the cost of cash bail and taking decisive action. We need real solutions, not programs.

Fighting crime in Kansas City has been an afterthought for many years, with the current state legislature defiantly trying “soft” answers. Never trust a person who promises to do tomorrow what they had the power to do yesterday. I would do it — I would fight for your safety starting on day one.

If I fail to make significant progress on my priorities — on crime, on taxes, on helping this district — then I wouldn’t deserve another term. In fact, I would not run again. I would step aside and help someone who is better suited to make real change. This is not about holding a title — it’s about delivering results.

Results. That is why I am running to be your state senator. I would be honored to represent the taxpayers, to serve you, to dig in, to facilitate the changes that District 7 and the greater Kansas City community is begging for. I ask for your vote on Nov. 5.