Sara Walsh, Republican
Age: 39
Family: married six years to Steve Walsh
Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration from Columbia College, master's in public affairs, non-profit management and public management from University of Missouri-Columbia
Work: incumbent state representative
Residence: Ashland
Sara Walsh said she is running to keep her seat in the Nov. 6 election to "continue to serve and work hard for citizens of the 50th district."
"As ambitious as I am and as hard as I'm working, you can't get everything done in the first year," Walsh said.
Walsh won the special election in August 2017, defeating Democrat Michela Skelton, to represent the district following a vacancy left by Caleb Jones.
During the legislative session, she said some of her biggest accomplishments were the passing of SB 800 and SB 819.
Part of her strategies now include knocking on doors, listening to community members and attending events. She said ballot issue Amendment 1, referred to as Clean Missouri, is important to her and she will vote "no" because of how involved she seeks to be in the district.
"To me that is going to be incredibly difficult to represent and to really hear the voice of the people," Walsh said.
She also mentioned the importance of investment in education and infrastructure. Listening to what constituents in the district want is how Walsh plans to effectively represent the diverse district. Parts of the district touch Boone, Cole, Cooper and Moniteau County.
She said she feels confident she'll win the election, but doesn't want to take anything for granted. If elected again, she said she would continue to work full time, be involved and continue to get to know the district.
"As with every election, it's very important that everyone goes out to vote, elections are won by who shows up," Walsh said.
Walsh knew she wanted to be involved in state politics, for as long as she can remember.
For the past 10 years, she has volunteered for Republican efforts in Missouri and worked in former representatives' campaigns and promoted party efforts. She's lived in Mid-Missouri since 1986.