Michela Skelton, Democrat
Age: 33
Family: married six years to Chris Skelton; two children
Education: Bachelor's degree in political science, master's degree in public administration and policy analysis from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville; law degree from Washington University, St. Louis
Work: stay-at-home mother
Resident: Ashland
Michela Skelton said she felt unheard by the previous representative, Caleb Jones, and knew she could do better. In a special election in August 2017, Skelton was defeated by current representative Sara Walsh, R-Ashland. The seat became available after Jones was elected deputy chief of staff to former Gov. Eric Greitens. Now, Skelton is hopeful that this general election will be different.
"There's a lot more people that are interested in paying attention now," Skelton said. "More people have seen the way that our state has continued to go and I think more people are ready for a different direction."
After working in the private sector and federal government, Skelton said she got a sense of how politics changed. Skelton is now the Democrat candidate for the Missouri 50th House District in the Nov. 6 election. She said she believes in service, responsibility and community - values she says are missing in the opposing party.
"The more I watched and the more I got involved behind the scenes for both Democrats and Republicans, I really came to know that those values that I grew up with were not the values that the modern Republican party is based on," Skelton said.
District 50 covers northern Moniteau and southern Boone counties, as well as northwestern Cole County and a part of southeastern Cooper County. Before Skelton, a Democrat nominee has not run in the area since lines were redrawn in 2011.
"My primary responsibility to my constituents will be to listen to their concerns and to also bring tangible benefits to our communities, through things like raising the minimum wage so people who work 40 hours a week can live a life of dignity," Skelton said.
She has been a resident of Boone County for six years, where she is excited to raise her family. She said some of the biggest issues the state is facing is "getting 'big money' out of politics," such as lobbyists and the cost of healthcare.
"As a patriot, as an American, as a Missourian; I am angry at our government for leaving people out of the conversation," Skelton said. "I want people to be able to know me; if they have questions, send me an email, give me a call, reach out to me on social media.
"I don't want to be one of those politicians (who's) unavailable and who hides from their constituents; I want people to be able to get to know me."