While State Rep. Jeff Myers expressed some frustration at political infighting while the legislature was in session earlier this year, he was still able to vote on and move through a number of measures of note during the session. 

One of those bills was HB 1486, which appropriated funding for pre-K and early education programs. The Warrenton Republican who represents the 42nd District feels childcare continues to be an important issue especially for young families within his constituency. 

“Let’s take a look at the demographics of our area, predominantly middle class, two income households,” Myers said. “So that means the mother and the father are both working, … and the one thing that’s missing around here is childcare.”

He then drew attention to other resources in the area that people would not be able to take advantage of without adequate childcare, like trade schools. He wanted his constituents to be able to take advantage of those opportunities like a new trade school that is planned east of Foristell as a part of a new campus for St. Charles Community College.

“That’s going to be a big deal to be able to provide those kinds of opportunities for employment, skilled employment,” Myers said. “But if you don’t have childcare to where you know that your kids are being taken care of safely and securely then that hampers all of that.”

He also expressed some frustration at the infighting that occurred during the previous session and felt that it played a role in curtailing a bill that he had sponsored that died in the senate after he was able to move it through the legislative process in the house. 

The bill focused on human trafficking, which Myers saw as a legislative priority especially with his law enforcement background as a retired state trooper. HB 1706 would have provided law enforcement agencies with additional tools to combat criminals attempting to move trafficked individuals in the state. 

“I went out and interviewed stakeholders in the field and asked them what they needed, put those things into a bill and ran it and got it through the house,” Myers said. 

Unfortunately, even with eight weeks left in the session when the bill reached the senate, it never went to the floor for debate and was never voted upon.

“It was that part that left me a little bit frustrated, the fact that the senate was so dysfunctional,” Myers. 

Undeterred, Myers said that combating human trafficking in his constituency and statewide will remain one of his legislative priorities should he be re-elected in November.

He continued, saying that the scope of the problem, while largely contained to the interstate, is larger than many residents realize. 

“That’s a Warren County problem, but it’s also a statewide problem, and that’s going to be one of the things I focus on,” Myers said. 

He also hoped he could act as somewhat of an example to other members of the legislature and work to bring together a Republican caucus in the house and senate that he described as “fractionalized.”

Speaking on re-election, Myers felt confident that he was in tune with the desires of his constituents and was able to legislate in a manner they would approve of. While he acknowledged he also felt some responsibility to law enforcement because of his background he assured voters that he was in Jefferson City to represent their views. 

He asked voters to consider his record and called back to an old campaign slogan that he joked may not be the most effective, but he felt was accurate to his style as a legislator. 

“If I’m not your cup of tea then go and vote for someone else,” said Myers. “But understand that when I go up there, I’m going up there to look out for the best interests of the folks in Warren County.”

Myers, who was elected in 2022, is running unopposed in the Aug. 6 primary and will face Democrat Shaun Sparks, also of Warrenton, in the Nov. 5 election. The 42nd District covers all of Warren County and the eastern portion of Montgomery County. 

Myers currently serves on the Crime Prevention and Public Safety, General Laws, Rules - Administrative Oversight and Transportation Infrastructure committees. 

District 42 Representative Jeff Myers was elected to the state legislature by Warren County residents in 2022 and will seek re-election this November if he is selected in the upcoming August 6 primary elections. 

Myers currently serves on the Crime Prevention and Public Safety, General Laws, Rules - Administrative Oversight and Transportation Infrastructure committees.