Josh Hurlbert, 34, is running for the Missouri House of Representatives 12th District, which covers a portion of central Platte County and Clay County. Hurlburt is running against Republican Deannette Lemons, who did not respond to the Citizen’s questionnaire. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Wade Kiefer in November.
The Smithville native Hurlburt is married and has two children.
He has been a senior field representative in the office of U.S. Rep. Sam Graves from 2009 to the present. He also serves on the Smithville board of aldermen.
“I have made a career out of serving my neighbors, listening to the concerns of small business owners, and taking to heart what matters to Northland families,” Hurlbert said. “Whether cutting federal red tape or setting budget priorities as a member of the Smithville Board of Aldermen, I feel my experience makes me ready to best serve the 12th District from day one.”
He is running for office because he believes the Northland is an area overflowing with opportunity and that outside industries believe in this, as shown by the recent announcement of plans to build a $2 billion data center in the 12th District.
“However, we cannot let bad policies limit that opportunity,” Hurlbert said. “We need representation that will support free market values and small government policies that enhance the Northland and do not inhibit our community’s opportunity.”
Hurlbert said he is a good choice for the position because his experience and understanding of the issues facing the state puts him in the best position to effectively serve the Northland from day one.
He believes problems facing the county and district include transportation. “Missouri’s geographic location makes it a natural transportation nexus,” Hurlbert said. “However, we still fund our transportation system with a regressive 20th century fuel tax model.”
Corruption is also a concern for Hurlbert.
“County commissioners cannot currently face a recall petition and election,” Hurlbert said. “Given the four-year term, significant damage can be done to the public trust during that time in office, as we have seen in Clay County.”
Hurlbert also believes education needs to be addressed and that Missouri schools are leaving too many students unprepared for the future. Only a quarter of high school seniors are testing college-ready in all four subject areas of the ACT, according to the College Board.
If elected he would encourage the adoption of a 21st Century transportation funding model that can take into account the advances made on electric and other fuel efficient vehicles without leaving the heaviest tax burdens on lower income and rural drivers. A vehicle mileage user fee would be one such solution.
“To address corruption I would build off of the good legislation drafted by state Rep. Ken Wilson to allow county commissioners to be recalled,” Hurlbert said.
Concerning education he believes that schools are often too busy focusing on everything but the classroom. Budgets are skewed too heavily towards administrative costs and regulations weigh schools down.
“These burdens should be reexamined and schools refocused towards what they are designed to do best - educate,” Hurlbert said. “In the meantime, parents should be empowered to make the best choices for their children’s education.”