Missouri House of Representatives District 81 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Missouri, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Missouri House of Representatives District 81 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Missouri House of Representatives District 81

Incumbent Steve Butz defeated Jake Koehr in the general election for Missouri House of Representatives District 81 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Steve Butz (D)	77.7	7,592
		Jake Koehr (R)	22.3	2,183

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,775
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Jake Koehr (R)

I want to eliminate the LRA (Land Reutilization Authority), see my website for details.

Crime is running rampant in St. Louis City. I support returning control of the SLMPD to the State level

I am pro-choice, because I don't believe government should be involved in reproductive health decisions. Abortion should be safe, legal, rare, and never past the 1st trimester.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Jake Koehr (R)

Land use bureaucracy

Crime Pro-choice

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Jake Koehr (R)

Honesty, transparency, intelligent

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Jake Koehr (R)

There is a reason for the separation of powers and our checks and balances system. The legislature will do their job, and then it is up to the Governor to say yes or no, once it has gone through both houses. So there should be minimal interaction beyond those basic functions.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Jake Koehr (R)

We need to drastically overhaul our political landscape to encourage new and exciting business opportunities so that we are no longer just a flyover state. We are squandering our strategic central location.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Jake Koehr (R)

Absolutely not. The reason we have term limits, so we can get out the old and in with the new. If you can't provide for your state in 8 years in office, then we don't need to give you a lifetime career.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Jake Koehr (R)

No. Legislators should vote for what's right and they either agree with me or they don't I'm here to represent my constituents, not make friends in Jefferson City.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Jake Koehr (R)

Budget. Slash it.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Jake Koehr (R)

Justin Amash

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Jake Koehr (R)

Alderman, Mayor

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Jake Koehr (R)

I am against emergency powers. Those who sacrifice freedom for safety, deserve neither. - Benjamin Franklin

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Jake Koehr (R)

No, compromise after compromise means everybody loses. We need to come to the right decision and make it.

See also

More about these elections:

• Missouri House of Representatives elections, 2022

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