Missouri Senate District 7 Candidates Debate Abortion, Crime, Taxes and More | KCUR

Missouri Senate District 7, which stretches along the western edge of Jackson County south of the Missouri River, will send a new senator to Jefferson City in January.

Democratic Rep. Patty Lewis and Republican businessman Joey LaSalle are both vying for the open seat after Sen. Greg Razer was appointed to the state tax commission.

Lewis and LaSalle participated in a pre-election debate on KCUR’s Up To Date on November 5th.

Lewis said she is proud of the bipartisan work she has done during her time in the House, despite being part of the state’s Democratic minority. LaSalle argued that Kansas citizens would be better served with someone who could work within the Republican supermajority.

Abortion was another important topic of conversation. Lewis said she clearly supports access to reproductive health care, an issue that is particularly important to her as a registered nurse.

“I think it’s critical that I stay down there (in Jefferson City) to be a solid voice that relies on facts and science,” Lewis said.

LaSalle wouldn’t say whether he would support Amendment 3, the statewide ballot measure on abortion rights, but says he would respect the will of voters.

“I guess I’m a supporter of abortion rights,” LaSalle said.

In the area of ​​taxes and revenue, LaSalle wants to look for ways to reduce taxes and analyze spending.”

“Do we want to continue to provide funding to throw dollars down the toilet and flush them?” LaSalle asked.

Lewis says she fears lower taxes would hurt state programs and thinks Missourians should look to Kansas under former Gov. Sam Brownback as a cautionary tale about cutting too many taxes.

“Public education has suffered. Ultimately, it elected a Democratic governor, which I’m all for, but I certainly don’t want to see our schools and services suffer,” Lewis said.