Three vie to be on November ballot in 51st District

Perhaps you’ve seen them out and about.

Democratic Missouri House of Representatives 51st District candidates Ira Anders, Jeremy Ploeger and Travis Richey all say they’ve taken to the streets of northwestern Independence and Sugar Creek daily in support of their campaigns. All three candidates contend that job creation remains among their top priorities for constituents.  

“Everybody’s objective is to try to create jobs in any area, especially in the area that you represent,” Anders said. “You try to get businesses to expand and to provide more jobs for people.”

Anders taught for 28 years in the Independence School District, worked as a computer technician for six years and served as a board of education member for one six-year term. He also has served as the board of education representative on the Independence Council for Economic Development board and as a member of the western Independence Enhanced Enterprise Zone board.

His legislative goals include the creation of jobs for middle class workers; completion of the Lewis and Clark Expressway; effective campaign finance reform; medical care for uninsured and unemployed residents; and supporting public education.

“We’ve already had to cut some of those programs here in Independence, and that’s not a good thing,” Anders said of the education system. “We can’t continue to do that; we’ve got to find some way to fund them.”

Anders’ endorsements include the Missouri National Education Association, the Missouri Association of School Administrators and Taxpayers Unlimited Inc. (on behalf of fire fighters, EMS workers and assistant prosecutors of the Greater Kansas City, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 42).

Ploeger, a self-proclaimed small business consultant who serves as vice chairman of the Jackson County Board of Zoning Adjustment, said he considers himself a leader and called himself the best candidate to create jobs. He received endorsements from the Jackson County Committee for County Progress, the Kansas City Pride Democratic Club and the Four Freedoms Democratic Club.  

His priorities include the economy and job creation, especially in the environmentally based industries; the expansion of the Lewis and Clark Expressway; health care reform; and the general quality of life for northwestern Independence and Sugar Creek residents.  

“This side of our district is dying. Businesses are going east to off of I-70,” Ploeger said. “We have to find a way to revamp the northwest side of the 51st District.”

Earlier this week, The Examiner received an anonymous letter raising concerns about civil actions concerning Ploeger’s “putting families first” campaign slogan and pointing out several civil suits publicly available through mocase.net. Ploeger denied allegations raised against him.

“Everybody gets speeding tickets. Toward the divorce and the multiple restraining orders that my ex-wife put toward me and the custody battle, more than half of all marriages end in divorce,” Ploeger said. “That doesn’t defer from the fact that I’m a hard worker, and I know our district, and I’ve knocked on peoples’ doors.”  

Travis Richey, a real estate consultant for Chartwell Realty, said he has taken a hands-on approach in communities like Fairmount, Englewood, Maywood and the Square. Maywood Baptist Church Pastor Bob Spradling and state Sen. Victor Callahan have endorsed Richey.

“There’s a lot of people in this community fighting tooth and nail to get things done over here, and those are the people who inspire me,” Richey said. “Those are the people who are going to hold me accountable. I think there’s a lot that needs done, on a state level and on a local level. I definitely feel like I can get things done around here.”

His main concerns include job creation, health care and education cuts.

“I think it’s unfortunate that government cuts education first when times get tough, and we can’t continue to do that,” Richey said.

The winner of Tuesday’s primary will face Republican Jeff Workman, Libertarian Kevin L. Kobe and Constitution Party candidate Michael Cogan on the Nov. 2 ballot. The 51st District serves northwestern Independence, Sugar Creek and a portion of Kansas City. State Rep. Ray Salva, a Democrat, was term limited following this year’s session.