Election Q&A: Missouri House District 31: Chris Lievsay

Chris Lievsay, a Blue Springs City Council member, and Sheila Solon, the current state representative in the 55th District, are the Republican candidates for the 31st Missouri House District, a new district which encompasses a square-shaped area in Blue Springs south of Interstate 70, west of Adams Dairy Parkway, slightly south of Colbern Road into Lee’s Summit and west through Lake Jacomo and Blue Springs Lake. The primary election is Aug. 7. The winner will run against the Democratic winner for the seat on Nov. 6.

Lievsay serves as a Blue Springs City Council member and Mayor Pro-Tem. He’s a liaison to the Blue Springs Planning Commission, the Historical Preservation Commission, and the Downtown Review Board.

Lievsay grew up in Blue Springs and attended Blue Springs schools, receiving his associate of arts from the local Metropolitan Community Colleges, and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Business Administration from Columbia College.

You’re a relative newcomer to politics, having served only on Blue Springs City Council for the last couple of years. What made you enter a state political race?
I am running for state representative for the same reasons I ran for City Council. I believe it is important for people to be involved in their community, and my commitment is to continue to work hard to be the representative that looks out for the concerns and interests of those that live in the district. I have been involved in several community organizations prior to my election to the City Council and I will continue to show my passion for this community by being an effective leader on a broader scale in Jefferson City.
 
What three areas will you concentrate on should you be elected?
I will focus on helping Missouri improve its economic position and give businesses the tools they need to expand and create jobs. I want to find solutions to the problems affecting education, specifically unaccredited school districts, imbalanced state funding, and uncertain state policies. Finally I want to protect conservative values and ensure we are applying those principles across the state by reducing the size of government and reining in spending where necessary.

What separates you from your competitor, Sheila Solon?
I support smaller, and more importantly, limited government. I support education and will not support legislation that will take revenue away from its funding, and I believe small businesses will be the key to the economic turn around and we should remove government imposed barriers so businesses can succeed.

By contrast, Representative Solon has sought to increase the size of state government by attempting to bring state influence into several local issues. She was the primary sponsor on more than one bill that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said would “significantly impact DESE’s proceeds,” and she received a poor rating from Missouri Chamber of Commerce for her lack of support for important reforms that would simplify small business operations.

These are important distinctions for true conservatives like myself.

What Blue Springs issues would you focus on if you’re eventually elected to the 31st District?
Specific to Blue Springs, the state needs to fix the Neighborhood Improvement District error that creates a hardship for only communities in Jackson County. I would also like to revive MOSIRA without the embryonic stem cell and human cloning provisions that could otherwise help Missouri Innovation Park in Blue Springs.

Ultimately Blue Springs faces the same issues as everyone in Missouri: jobs, the economy, and education should be a priority for all Missouri legislators.