Dr. Janis Beacham, Ph.D. is asking for your vote for State Representative for District 156 in the November election.
Beacham, a retired educator, is vying for the office currently held by State Representative Brian Seitz, who is seeking his third term in office this year.
Beacham, a native of Missouri, was born in St. Louis and raised in the Jefferson City area.
"I am a retired educator with experience in all levels of education, as well as in business and industry training," explained Beacham. "I began my professional career teaching junior and senior high math in Creighton, Missouri. I developed two national exemplary programs serving disadvantaged and handicapped students in career and technical education. I finished my Ph.D. with my graduate studies in Adult Education, Research and Statistics, Career and Technical Education and Public Administration."
Beacham served as the St. Louis Area Construction Training Tech Prep Consortium Coordinator, where she helped to connect area school districts to the Carpenters, Laborers, Iron Workers, Operating Engineers, Floor Layer and Cement Mason Union Apprenticeship programs.
"My business, Beacham Associates, Performance Improvement Systems gave me the opportunity to work with Fortune 500 companies all over the United States and Canada, including Coca Cola, Nissan, Thermo King and Bank of Nova Scotia," said Dr. Beacham. "We worked with waste management to develop their leadership training that went out to over 62,000 employees, internationally. I've served as President of the Missouri Vocational Special Needs Association, and received the Skills USA National Education Team 10 Year Service Award."
Said Beacham, "When I retired, I chose Hollister for my home. We’ve lived here for eight years and enjoy the lakes, the access to nature and the busy vacation destination area of Branson. I was married to my first husband for 32 years and I have been with my current husband eight years. I have a large blended family, including members in a same-sex marriage, members with severe hearing loss, a member who is developmentally disabled and a member with a severe mental illness."
When asked what she felt were the biggest issues facing Missouri, Dr. Beacham responded, "We need to get government out of reproductive health care. My opponent, Brian Seitz, introduced one of the most restrictive abortion bills in the nation. His bill, HB 2810, would have banned all abortions, even those involving ectopic pregnancies, which are life-threatening. Also, our public education system needs to be fully funded. My opponent supported Senate Bill 727, which expands unaccountable charter schools and vouchers in cities with a population of 30,000 or more. This has absolutely no benefit to our rural school districts, and, in most instances, benefits the wealthy few. The money allocated to support SB 727 should be used to fully fund public education."
Dr. Beacham shared her plans to address these issues, if elected. Said Beacham, "As State Representative, I would fight for reproductive health care. I would also fight against unaccountable charter schools and vouchers, fight for fully funding our public education system and addressing our mental health and illegal drug use. I would fight for good-paying jobs and support systems to ensure all of my constituents have the opportunity to thrive in an economy that works for all of us."
Beacham continued, "I bring a new perspective. I am not a politician. With my experience in all levels of education, as well as business and industry, I bring a knowledge base that will be valuable, as we work to make Missouri, especially HD 156, grow and prosper."
If elected, Beacham promises to fight for those in her district. Said Beacham, "I will be a fierce advocate for health care, especially mental health and reproductive health care. I will fight to fully fund public education and pay our teachers what they are worth. I will fight against public funds needed to fully fund public schools, being used to support private charter schools and vouchers. I am passionate and hard-working. As a lifelong learner and a good listener, I will be seeking your ideas on how to make Missouri, especially HD 156, a better place to live and raise our families."
Dr. Beacham shared that she has no political ambitions beyond being the Missouri State Representative for District 156, adding that she will be working for her constituents and not to advance her political career.
Anyone wishing to reach out to Dr. Beacham with additional questions may do so via email at beachamassociates@gmail.com.
"We can chat over the phone or over coffee," said Dr. Beacham. "I would be happy to meet with individuals or groups."
Comments