Name: Stacy Bax
Age: 44
Hometown: Loose Creek
Occupation: Self-employed
Position sought: Missouri House of Representatives-61st District
Previous political experience: Board Member, Osage County SB 40 Developmental Disabilities Board for approximately 10 years.
Website or social media page: baxformo.com
Why are you running and why should people vote for you?
I am running because I believe the people of House District 61 deserve a representative who actually shows up for them, not one who shows up for special interests, leadership, or lobbyists.
I grew up on a small family farm in Osage County, raised my family there, and have spent over twenty two years advocating for individuals with disabilities and their families. I know what it looks like when systems fail the people they're supposed to serve, and I know what it takes to fight back.
I am running because Missouri ranks 49th in teacher pay and our classrooms are suffering. Because data centers are being built in our communities behind closed doors without input from the people who live there. Because working families are being asked to subsidize billionaires through tax abatements while their roads go unfixed and their schools go underfunded.
People should vote for me because I am not a career politician. I am a mother, an advocate, a small business owner, and a neighbor who has spent her life showing up for people in her community. I will bring that same commitment to Jefferson City.
What are your goals if elected?
My goals if elected are straightforward: show up, listen, and fight for the people of House District 61.
I want to invest in our public schools and teachers. I will fight for competitive teacher salaries, adequate classroom funding, and the resources our students need to succeed.
I want to protect our communities from development that happens without their input. Whether it is data centers, utility rate increases, or any other large-scale project, the people who live in these communities deserve a seat at the table before decisions are made, not after.
I want to restore accountability and transparency in Jefferson City. That means opposing tax abatements that subsidize corporations at the expense of local schools and roads, and supporting legislation that puts Missouri families first.
I want to support small businesses and family farms. As a small business owner myself, I understand the uncertainty and challenges facing rural Missouri. I will advocate for policies that help family farms and local businesses thrive.
What issues are most pressing for your constituency?
The issues I hear most about from constituents in House District 61 are education, economic fairness, and community protection.
Education comes up constantly, and it goes deeper than teacher pay. Public schools in this district are being buried under an ever-growing list of state mandates and requirements, while the funding to meet those requirements keep shrinking. Schools are forced to cut programs, drain reserves, and operate with little margin for the unexpected, because every dollar is already spoken for just to stay in compliance. That is not a funding problem alone. It is a policy problem, and it needs to be addressed at the state level.
The data center development has become a defining issue for many in this district. Residents are angry that a deal of this magnitude was made behind closed doors without any community input. They want protections for their water, their land, and their way of life. That is the bare minimum these communities deserve to have.
The rising cost of living is a real concern, particularly for working families, small business owners, and farmers already operating on thin margins.
And across all of these issues, there is a deeper frustration. That the people in Jefferson City have stopped listening. Constituents want a representative who shows up, tells the truth, and fights for this community even when it's inconvenient.
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