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Baldwin, Ervin vie for House seat
By Kevin M. Smith
Challenger Jim Baldwin is trying to unseat three-term incumbent Doug Ervin in District 35 for the Missouri House of Representatives seat.
Ervin, R-Kearney, is running in hopes of serving a fourth and final term. Ervin said he had the same three reasons for running as he has had the first three times: his three daughters.
Ervin said he wanted his daughters to have the same opportunities he had when he graduated college.
Baldwin, D-Holt, said he was ready for a change in representation.
“I just feel like it’s the time, not only in my life, but because the condition our state and country are in,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin said the word “representative” was not understood by many elected officials and he wanted to focus on constituent input if elected.
Ervin touted progress in opportunities for youth in Missouri by increasing scholarships by $71 million in the past few years.
Ervin said he had also worked on creating job opportunities for recent college graduates in Missouri.
Ervin said another statewide issue was health care.
“Health care is the No. 1 issue that comes back,” Ervin said.
Ervin said many small businesses in the state do not offer health insurance to employees, but do often offer extra money to buy insurance. Ervin said that typically wasn’t good enough.
Ervin said because of changes during his time in office, Missouri leads the nation in health care and now he’s looking at issues related to access and improvements for the high-risk pool.
“We have a long ways to go,” Ervin said.
He also said the economy was a high priority.
“The economy is a big deal right now,” Ervin said.
Ervin said Missouri is in better condition than many other states, but it needs to continue to attract jobs and keep jobs — like the Ford Motor Co. plant in Claycomo.
Baldwin said the economy would be his highest priority if elected, noting fuel prices need to be reduced, and health care would be No. 2 on his priority list.
“These are the things I hear from the people,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin also talked about providing jobs and keeping jobs in Missouri.
Ervin said what District 35 needed from its representative was clear communication and someone to do what was right.
Baldwin had a similar answer to what District 35 needs.
“Somebody that people can pick up the phone and call when they have a problem,” Baldwin said.
Missouri House District 35 includes Kearney, Holt, Smithville, Missouri City, Mosby, Pleasant Valley, Nashua and parts of Kansas City.
Kearney Editor
Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or kevinsmith@npgco.com.
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Ervin, R-Kearney, is running in hopes of serving a fourth and final term. Ervin said he had the same three reasons for running as he has had the first three times: his three daughters.
Ervin said he wanted his daughters to have the same opportunities he had when he graduated college.
Baldwin, D-Holt, said he was ready for a change in representation.
“I just feel like it’s the time, not only in my life, but because the condition our state and country are in,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin said the word “representative” was not understood by many elected officials and he wanted to focus on constituent input if elected.
Ervin touted progress in opportunities for youth in Missouri by increasing scholarships by $71 million in the past few years.
Ervin said he had also worked on creating job opportunities for recent college graduates in Missouri.
Ervin said another statewide issue was health care.
“Health care is the No. 1 issue that comes back,” Ervin said.
Ervin said many small businesses in the state do not offer health insurance to employees, but do often offer extra money to buy insurance. Ervin said that typically wasn’t good enough.
Ervin said because of changes during his time in office, Missouri leads the nation in health care and now he’s looking at issues related to access and improvements for the high-risk pool.
“We have a long ways to go,” Ervin said.
He also said the economy was a high priority.
“The economy is a big deal right now,” Ervin said.
Ervin said Missouri is in better condition than many other states, but it needs to continue to attract jobs and keep jobs — like the Ford Motor Co. plant in Claycomo.
Baldwin said the economy would be his highest priority if elected, noting fuel prices need to be reduced, and health care would be No. 2 on his priority list.
“These are the things I hear from the people,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin also talked about providing jobs and keeping jobs in Missouri.
Ervin said what District 35 needed from its representative was clear communication and someone to do what was right.
Baldwin had a similar answer to what District 35 needs.
“Somebody that people can pick up the phone and call when they have a problem,” Baldwin said.
Missouri House District 35 includes Kearney, Holt, Smithville, Missouri City, Mosby, Pleasant Valley, Nashua and parts of Kansas City.
Kearney Editor
Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or kevinsmith@npgco.com.