A bittersweet goodbye: Doug Mann reflects on his time in the Missouri House

by Molly Miller

Missouri News Network

After serving one term in the Missouri General Assembly, Rep. Doug Mann, D-Columbia, is preparing to say his goodbyes.

In October, Mann announced he would not be seeking reelection to refocus on his mental health.

Last week, Mann reflected on his time in office as the Missourian followed him throughout the day at the state Capitol.

Mann represents Boone County alongside three other Democratic representatives, one Republican representative and one state senator, President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia. The group of Democratic House members often operate as a unit, deliberating on issues to present a united front.

The group could be seen conferring with one another on the House floor while it was in session. They were expecting a large K-12 education omnibus bill to be heard on the House floor. One of the provisions in the bill, which would allow charter schools in Boone County, was a non-starter for the local Democrats.

The bill did not come up that day. After the session, Mann sought out Rep. Adrian Plank, D-Columbia, to discuss House Bill 2876. That bill would be heard later in the day by the Committee for Emerging Issues, which Mann sits on.

The pair discussed the bill, a piece of legislation about public employees and unions. Plank, a union carpenter, talked out various scenarios and considerations with Mann to help him prepare questions he could ask at the committee hearing.

Throughout the day, Mann could often be found interacting with his colleagues throughout the building. In between debates on the House floor, Mann’s intern, Raelyn Stecker, came to tell him about student research projects in the rotunda. Mann’s face immediately lit up with the prospect of talking to students about science.

During interactions with Mann, his outgoing personality shines through. His intentionality during conversations is evident as he takes the time to listen.

However, what may not be obvious on the surface is a struggle Mann has been exceedingly open about during his time as an elected official: mental health.

“After speaking with my doctors, my family and I do not believe it is responsible to myself or my constituents to add the pressures of a contested campaign to my legislative and professional duties during the upcoming year,” Mann said when he announced in October that he would not seek reelection for his seat in the 50th District.

When asked how he feels about his decision now, Mann said he is still working through his feelings on the transition. He added that he is unsure how the decision is affecting his experience.

“It’s hard to gauge whether or not I feel more free because I have my feet underneath me and I’m able to do more positive things,” Mann said, “or if it’s because I feel free because I don’t have to worry about winning an election again.”

By publicly disclosing his struggles with his mental health, Mann said he felt that he further reduced the stigmas for others, even if it just helped one or two people.

“My goal, and almost everything that I do, is trying to make the world just a little bit better,” Mann said.

Mann has lived with chronic depression for his entire life. In June last year, he said his depression progressed to becoming treatment resistant.

So when it came time to think about reelection, Mann could not guarantee he would be able to give 100% to the campaign.

“I wanted to allow space for someone else to step in and build that infrastructure so that the people I advocate for, the people that I care about, the people that are the reason I ran the first time, have the best chance possible to have an advocate for them in the building,” he said.

Mann will finish out his term. The legislative session is scheduled to end May 17 with a veto session set for September.