Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

As I near the end of my final month due to term limits I want to give a “Shout Out” to five Fine Ladies who have helped me through 8 years of serving House District 125. I was fortunate to have them all join me recently at Colton’s Steak House in Jefferson City for a reunion.

First is a great big thank you to my wife Marla. It’s not always easy for spouses to answer the phone or take the criticism that comes along with being married to an elected official. However, Marla has always been polite and respectful in difficult situations. She has been my biggest supporter and encourager. She is actually head and shoulders a better campaigner than I am. There were many times on weekends and week nights that special community events, meetings and or activities at the Capitol would take us away from home but she always attended with me. I am deep in debt on Honey-Do Jobs and have added them to my Big-Bucket list, of which I need to get started on.

I want to shift gears now and recognize my LA’s. By the way LA stands for Legislative Assistant and I’ve been fortunate to work with three outstanding LA’s. My first LA was Debbie Poire. Right after I won the Primary election in 2012 I received several resumes from LA’s seeking a job for the upcoming Session. One of the resumes had several years of working with our past Senator Delbert Scott. I immediately asked Marla to go with me to Jeff City for an interview with Debbie Poire. Marla asked me, “Well, what’s the hurry”? I said, “she looks like a good one and I don’t want someone else to hire her”.  I did get her hired and we worked together until she retired at the end of Session in 2015.

So once again I sent out a notice seeking a new LA. After several interviews there was one of a kind Kelley Rogers that came wheeling into my office in a wheel chair (she had fell and injured her knee), but that didn’t dampen her spirits. She was even more Southern than myself, had a passion for history, a big smile and a cheerful attitude. Kelley and I worked together until February of 2019 when an opening came up for her on the Senate side with Senator Denny Hoskins. It was a great opportunity for her and she took it.

There was a four week span in March of 2019 that I was once again seeking an LA. For two weeks I hired Sammie Arnold III out of Kansas City which turned out to be a steppingstone for him to transfer to another State Representative. My next two weeks I had the help from a former retiree. Then my current LA, Amy Helton was seeking an in-house transfer which turned out to be a Godsend. Amy and I also share a common interest in history. She shared with me that she writes a blog and I thought immediately I could sure use some help writing my weekly reports, since I have written a weekly report for 7 newspapers and hundreds of email recipients for 8 years.

Last but not least to recognize is “Hidden Figure” Teresa Smith. Teresa appeared like an Angel to Marla and I while we had a campaign booth set up at the Warsaw Jubilee Days. It was our first time to meet her. We discussed issues and I shared some of my literature. A few days later she offered to be a volunteer to design and set up my website. I took her up on the offer and that started an 8 year relationship. Each week she posted my Capitol Report plus kept all my Legislative activity up to date. The “Discover More on Route 54” project was started in April of 2013. She stepped forward as the Secretary/Treasurer and volunteered her excellent computer skills and spent countless hours designing the wonderful website www.discover54.com. Facebook also provided another way to promote Tourism and the local economy and she was the administrator of the 100 Mile 54 Yard Sale & Discover 54 Yard Sale.

Teresa is a Veteran, very Patriotic and has a vast knowledge of the Civil War. She helped in The Missouri Civil War Passport Program, launched by Fry’s Lyon Foundation in 2019. It provides an opportunity for learning about Missouri’s role in the Civil War through visits to significant Civil War-related sites, including eight state parks and several museums. A certificate of completion, signed by Lieutenant Governor Kehoe, is awarded to those who visit all 40 sites and obtain a visit stamp from each. The bicentennial program is active now through December 31, 2021. Pocket-size passport books with maps and information about each site are $12, and a larger book is available for $14. Books may be purchased at some of the visit sites (check the website for book availability at the separate sites), or from Amazon.com for the same price, but shipping will be added. The website is www.mo-passport.org.

I tip my hat to all these Fine Ladies who have guided, directed and encouraged me for 8 years as I Represented the Constituents of House District 125.

Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday next week, I will not be sending out a report. Marla and I wish you a safe and happy holiday week. This Thanksgiving may be different for many of us but we still have so much to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

Interim hours: Now that Session is over for 2020, I will be back in District full time. If you need any assistance my Legislative Assistant Amy Helton will be happy to help you Monday-Thursday.

It is my honor to serve the constituents of District 125. If you ever have questions, concerns, or input, please feel free to contact me any time at (573) 751-4065.

YOUR District 125 Capitol office is 413B, and YOU are always welcome!

If you would like to be added to the e-mail list to receive our Capitol Reports, you may e-mail me at warren.love@house.mo.gov or call the Capitol office at (573) 751-4065 and speak with my Legislative Assistant.

Representative Warren D. Love   I    State Capitol Building, Room 413B   I   (573) 751-4065.