Get to know: Mike Jones, Republican Primary Candidate for U.S. Senate District 34
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Mike Jones is currently in the Missouri House for District 12, but now has his sights set on the Senate, being a Republican candidate for the State Senate District 34 primary election.
"I've been in maintenance my whole life, a blue-collar family," Jones said. "I've been blue collar my whole life on a really small painting company. Property taxes has for a long time been a problem. I checked in to see what the state of Missouri is doing for our 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans. The answer to that question was nothing. So I jumped in."
Jones says the top three issues facing Missourians are property tax reform, the cost of living, and public safety.
"Property tax relief reform has to get done," Jones said. "It's crushing a ton of people, especially people on fixed incomes. The cost of living is still, it was higher during my last campaign, but it's never going to go back. My son is 25 years old with a new family and he's like, 'Dad, I'm never going to be able to buy a home. The average age now to buy a home is 40 years old.'"
On public safety, Jones points to legislation he's championed, including a drone bill authorizing law enforcement to take control of unauthorized drones over large crowds and a school bus stop-arm bill with mandatory minimums for drivers who blow past buses loading and unloading kids.
"I've championed a lot of public safety bills," Jones said. "I've gotten a few to the governor's desk. I'm trying to work as hard as I can on the issues I heard during my first campaign and the ones I'm hearing now, to get people to a place where not only do they feel safe, but they can be prosperous as well."
Jones says he's been working on legislation to lower the cost of buying a home by eliminating green energy mandates that add $30,000 to $40,000 to the price of a new home.
"These regulations are a silent killer of not only the economy, but people being able to afford everyday things," Jones said. "Every $1,000 the cost of a home goes up, it eliminates about 2,000 Missourians from being able to afford it. Builders don't want to build in places that have these mandates, and it's starting to spread across the state."
He also continues to push for property tax relief for 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans, a bill he says got close to passing but was stifled by his own party.
"That one drove me into this," Jones said. "I got it close to the finish line my first year, and then my second year, for whatever reason, got stifled by my own party. Those are still in my back pocket, trying to get something done, trying to move the ball down the field."
Jones says his blue-collar background and responsiveness set him apart.
"I pride myself on being one of the most responsive legislators in the building," Jones said. "If it's a phone call, I call people back. Usually people are shocked. The ability to listen, to respond, to take action- you want somebody that is willing to be effective, to move the ball down the field and get transformational legislation done. My passion for the people comes with action at the Capitol and the ability to get things to the governor's desk."
