Get to know: Taylor Crouse, Republican Primary Candidate for Missouri Representative District 11

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Taylor Crouse is a father, proud small business owner in St. Joseph and hopes to be the next District 11 Representative in the Missouri House of Representatives.

"I've always been a part of a small business. My parents, small business. I've always been a small business owner. And that's the reason I'm running. I think that there are a lot of obstacles to becoming an entrepreneur," Crouse said about some of his inspiration behind declaring a campaign for the Missouri House.

With that, some of Crouse's campaign promises focus on money and businesses.

If elected to Jefferson City, he would like to attempt to keep Missouri government out of its citizens' pockets. Doing so, he would like to focus on fiscal responsibility within the state's government and supporting small businesses within the state to make sure they feel they have just enough of a chance as larger businesses.

"We've got business owners. We have mechanics. We've got people at lawn care, we've got cosmetologists, and they've been in the business for 30 years. And by trying to force a sales tax on those folks," Crouse said about small businesses. "That's not only going to hurt them, but it's going to discourage others from getting into similar businesses. If you think about all of a sudden they've got to collect some type of sales tax for the first time ever, "

Other ways Crouse would like to assist Missourians financially, in his words, are to attempt to keep taxes low. He is also an avid defender of the Second Amendment and would like to help fight for it in the state capital.

"I want to make sure that the voice of northwest Missouri is heard down there. I am running as a Republican, but I'm running as a northwest Missourian first. I'm not going to go down to Jeff City and have people in other parts of the state that are Republicans try to tell me what's best for northwest Missouri, because a lot of them have never been here."

Crouse said he takes pride in the backing he receives from local first responders and would like to do what he can to fight for them in Jefferson City if elected later this year in the general election.

"I'm backed by the Fraternal Order of Police, I'm backed by the firefighters. I'm backed by Missouri Right to Life. I've got the highest possible rating from the NRA, and I'm very proud of that. And I think that those all show that I'm a true conservative on race."

Crouse is up against another St. Joseph resident, Tina Goodrick, for the Republican spot in the general election for Missouri House District 11.

To learn more about Crouse and his campaign before the primary election, click here.