Missouri Senate District 9

By Tyler Schneider

Barbara Washington (D)

Washington was elected to represent District 23 in the Missouri House of Representative in a special election three years ago. Now, like House Rep. Greg Razer, the practicing attorney is looking to make the jump to the state senate representing District 9. 

Like many of her contemporaries in the KC metropolitan political community, Washington lists education as her number one priority issue as a legislator. The mother and grandmother of one cites the Hickman Mills C-1 School District’s lack of accreditation as an example within the district. 

An attorney with over 25 years of experience, much of Washington’s decision making will invoke interpretation and precedent. This outlook helps Washington provide a more nuanced take on hot button issues, like defunding the police. 

“Let’s first define what the ‘control’ is now: the KCPD Board of Commissioners (appointed by the Governor). We have to look at how we are going to shift control, what that process looks like. It should not be as political as it is now. We should have a say in who the chiefs and commissioners are. We need to listen to the voice of the people,” Washington said. 

A proceduralist who is particularly passionate about juvenile justice reform and mental health awareness, Washington was a part of a broad variety of teams and committees during her time in the house, including the Economic Development, Judiciary, Government Oversight, and Consent and House Procedure committees and the subcommittee on Tax Credit Review. She was also the Ranking Minority Member of the Special Committee to Improve the Care and Well-being of Young People. 

“I have represented the 23rd District for 3 years. I represent a large number of the 9th District as a member of the board of our community college. I am only one of two Democrats that the governor signed their (mental health) bill. I have created the relationships in our Senate that are going to be necessary going forward,” Washington said of her candidacy. 

Ryan Myers (D) 

The Mayor Pro-Tem of Raytown, Myers is a real estate appraiser by trade and thus holds a particular stake in housing related issues. 

When he was asked a question regarding recent tax hikes collected on residential real estate in South Kansas City, Myers was in a familiar element. 

“As a real estate appraiser myself, Missouri really needs to take a good look at Kansas. JoCo holds national awards for their county appraiser. We can learn a good lesson from our neighbor,” Myers said.

“Cass County had this issue the year prior to Jackson County,” Myers added. “We need to be reporting our sales statewide so we can use that to define what market values are. If we switched over to a different method of establishing market value, it would actually decrease the workload on the office of our County Assessor, and it would not cost as much.”

A third-generation Raytown High School graduate, Myers also holds a degree in economics from Kansas State University. He is currently in his first term on the Raytown Board of Aldermen. 

In his spare time, Myers is active as a board member with the Shepard’s Center of Raytown as well as with coaching youth swim teams and being an active member of Connection Point Church (formally First Baptist Church of Raytown).