Get to know: Sean Pouche Republican Primary Candidate for U.S. Senate District 34
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Sean Pouche is currently in the Missouri House for District 13, but now has his sights set on the Senate, being a Republican candidate for the State Senate District 34 primary election.
"It came down to people asking, constituents in Platte and Buchanan County," Pouche said. "Never had my sights really on it. But the people asked me to serve. Based upon my six years in the House, I've gained their trust and confidence. There's still some more work to do, and I'd like to be that person in the Senate."
Pouche has served 28 years in the military and 15 years in the corporate world.
His family has owned a small business since 1987.
He says those experiences help him relate to everyday Missourians.
"I spent 15-plus years in the corporate world navigating large corporation decisions and managing people," Pouche said. "My family's had a small business going all the way back to 1987. Just seeing the trials and tribulations my brother goes through, he's going through the same stuff that other small business owners have been going through. That gives me a wide variety of how to relate to people."
On the top three issues facing Missourians, Pouche lists property taxes, government transparency, and budget efficiency as topics he wants to take on in the Senate.
"Property tax right now is something that people have felt in their pocketbooks immediately," Pouche said. "Quite a few counties have had their property taxes increase 20, 30%. We find ourselves taxing our older residents out of their homes that they've been in for 30, 40 years. Now that they're on fixed incomes, they can't afford to do that."
"I've tried to find out where our money is going, legal fees, contracts the state is involved in, to show that to every Missourian," Pouche continued. "I think there's a lot more transparency needed. I'm pretty sure from my time in the corporate world that every department can probably trim a bit. We're getting a little too heavy administratively across the state."
Pouche says the Senate is more deliberative than the House, which he says suits his approach of working in small groups across the aisle, and he wants to introduce a common-sense approach to keep government smaller.
"The Senate has been a little more deliberative; they'll take more time constructing laws and finessing them," Pouche said. "I find myself doing most of my work in smaller groups, one-on-one with other representatives and senators, on both sides of the aisle. You've got to put your ego in check and figure out what is the most important part and how do you make changes."
Above all, Pouche believes that the government should be for the people, and wants to keep money in Missourians' pockets.
"I believe that I offer the people of Buchanan and Platte County a common sense approach to keeping government out of their lives and ensuring that all the services government is supposed to be providing are being provided," Pouche said. "I will do whatever I can to keep as much money in people's pockets as possible. Missourians can decide how to spend their money better than anybody else. That's why I appreciate your vote."
