Robert Sauls

Robert Sauls
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 21st district
Assumed office
January 9, 2019
Preceded byIra Anders
Succeeded byWill Jobe (elect)
Personal details
Born (1980-05-28) May 28, 1980 (age 44)
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Independence, Missouri, U.S.
Alma materWilliam Jewell College
Websitehouse.mo.gov/MemberDetails.aspx?year=2020&code=R&district=021

Robert Edward Sauls (born May 28, 1980) is a Democratic member of the Missouri General Assembly, representing the state's 21st House district. He currently serves as the ranking minority member on the Crime Prevention and Public Safety committee, in addition to his positions on the following committees; Fiscal Review, Insurance Policy, Judiciary, Rules - Legislative Oversight, and Special Committee on Homeland Security.[1] On April 23, 2019, Representative Sauls was named a, "Freshman to Watch" by the Missouri Times.[2]

Political career

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Robert Sauls narrowly won his three way Democratic Primary in 2018 by only 33 votes.[3] There was no Republican opponent so Sauls was elected unopposed on 6 November 2018.[4][3] Sauls has dedicated much of his tenure in the State Legislature to criminal justice reform, co-sponsoring narcotics control legislation[5] and co-sponsoring veterans treatment courts.[6][7]

In 2019, Sauls was appointed to serve on the Special Interim Committee on Oversight of Local Taxation after it was discovered that the assessment process for the 2019 year in Jackson County, Missouri might have been mismanaged resulting in some residents receiving property tax increases upward of 450%.[8] Jackson County Assessor Gail McCann Beatty acknowledged that the system for processing assessments was "deeply flawed".[9] Sauls became a vocal leader for the oversight and accountability of the local government in resolving the matter, co-hosting town halls and speaking out about the process.[10][8][9]

Professional career

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Sauls is a Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force Reserve and a former Jackson County, Missouri prosecutor.[2] He currently works as a labor and workers compensation lawyer for Boyd Kenter Thomas & Parrish LLC in Independence, Missouri.[11]

Electoral history

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Missouri House of Representatives Primary Election, August 7, 2018, District 21[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Sauls 1,341 37.28%
Democratic Dan O'Neill 1,308 36.36%
Democratic Holmes Osborne 948 26.36%
Total votes 3,597 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 6, 2018, District 21[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Sauls 8,202 100.00%
Total votes 8,202 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 3, 2020, District 21[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Sauls 7,682 50.15% −49.85
Republican Vicki Riley 7,637 49.85% +49.85
Total votes 15,319 100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 8, 2022, District 21[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Sauls 4,033 52.21% +2.06
Republican Dakota Worrell 3,691 47.79% −2.06
Total votes 7,724 100.00%

References

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  1. ^ "Representative Robert Sauls". house.mo.gov. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  2. ^ a b "Freshmen to Watch: Representative Robert Sauls". The Missouri Times. 2019-04-23. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  3. ^ a b Lewis, Kara. "Razor-thin margin: Sauls wins three-person race for open Independence House seat". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  4. ^ "Missouri Election Results - Election Results 2018". The New York Times. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Missouri House of Representatives - Bill Information for HB188". house.mo.gov. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  6. ^ "Missouri House of Representatives - Bill Information for HB547". house.mo.gov. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  7. ^ "Missouri Rep. Robert Sauls On Changing Criminal Justice Laws". KCUR 89.3 - NPR in Kansas City. Local news, entertainment and podcasts. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  8. ^ a b Ricono, Angie. "State committee forms to find property tax solution following concerns in Jackson County". KCTV Kansas City. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  9. ^ a b Schallhorn, Kaitlyn (2019-10-08). "Jackson County assessment director concedes process is 'deeply flawed' as concerns remain". The Missouri Times. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  10. ^ Fox, Jeff. "State lawmaker calls for action on property assessments". The Examiner of East Jackson County. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  11. ^ "Area law firm adds Missouri politician/former prosecutor". Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  12. ^ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. August 27, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  13. ^ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. November 30, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  14. ^ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. December 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2023.