September 17, 2026
September 17 Issue of the Week: Put First Responders First
Summary
Every year when I watch the coverage of 9/11, I am immediately taken back to that day and the days that followed.
I remember the fear. Wondering if there would be another attack. Planes grounded. The stock market closed. New York city was devastated and shutdown. For a few days, it felt like the entire country was holding its breath.
But the images that stay with me most are the first responders.
While thousands of people were trying desperately to get away from the World Trade Center, firefighters, police officers, EMTs and others were running the other direction. Toward the towers. Toward people they didn't know. Toward danger because someone needed them.
That is an extraordinary thing to ask of another human being.
And yet we ask it every day of the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, dispatchers and other first responders who protect our own communities.
So every year around 9/11, I find myself asking the same question:
Are we doing enough for the people we ask to run toward danger when the rest of us are running away?
-
Let’s Put First Responders First
State Representatives have a real role in helping keep our communities safe, and that starts with knowing and supporting the people we ask to protect them.
• Show up. The first responders in my district will know who I am, and I will know them. Long before I thought about running for office, my family would bring treats to the fire station down the street just to say thank you to the firefighters serving our little piece of District 33.
I intend to visit fire and police stations throughout the district, listen to what is working and what isn't, and understand what they need from the state. I won't care who they voted for. If elected, I represent everyone in this district.
• Support the people doing the work. I'm proudly endorsed by Kansas City IAFF Local 42 and Blue Springs IAFF Local 3133. I will support the physical and mental health, safety, training and resources our first responders need to do difficult jobs and come home safely.
• Recognize their service. I want people throughout District 33 to know the men and women serving their communities and the sacrifices their families make along with them.
• Build stronger connections. Schools, churches, civic organizations, businesses and first responders all serve the same communities. Sometimes government doesn't need to create another program. Sometimes it just needs someone willing to get people in the same room and help make the connection.
None of this is "rocket surgery"... (ohmage to my friend who coined this phrase and now I use it all the time)!! It requires a State Representative who shows up, listens and follows through.
I want that to become such a routine part of how I serve District 33 that it doesn't feel like an event or a photo opportunity. It's simply part of doing the job, and part of becoming a better-informed representative of the people who sent me there.
Key 33 Details – Show Me 33
My district includes Blue Springs, Greenwood, Lake Lotawana, Lee’s Summit, and Lone Jack. Each one of those police stations and fire stations has different opportunities and challenges. While they are supported by their respective municipalities, the state still plays a role in their ability to do their jobs safely and securely.
If you've met me, you know I like to talk to people, but more importantly, I like to listen. Some of the best things I've learned throughout my life have come simply from asking someone about their work and experiences and then being curious enough to hear the answer. I've already had many of those conversations with first responders and local leaders during this campaign, I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge and reach to serve those who keep us all safe.
A Better Path Forward & Conclusion
While I disagree with my opponent on so very many issues and how to serve the people, it as been really disappointing to me how little she has built relationships with the individuals in our communities who take care of us. If you want to see her, you must go to her.
I will be different. I will go to the people I serve. And I will start with the people who also serve you- the first responders, the teachers, the local government leaders, local union leaders, local civic and church leaders. I will listen and learn. I will stay objective and build community the best way I know how- one conversation and one connection at a time.
It’s the best way to build a better future for our district and all of Missouri.