VIENNA — Maries County residents will determine Nov. 3 who will represent them in the state House of Representatives District 143 for the next two years.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Bennie Cook, of Houston, is campaigning on supporting rural Missourians in Jefferson City. His challenger is Democrat Marsha Snodgrass, of Rolla, who is running on supporting school funding and opposing data centers.

Each candidate received a similar set of questions to answer about their priorities if elected to the House.

To maintain neutrality and fairness, responses are not edited for length or clarity.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Snodgrass: My name is Marsha Snodgrass, my family has been in Missouri since before it was a state and so I have a deep love for this state and its people. As a small cattle rancher and mother and wife - I raised cattle for 30 years while also raising our two children and tending a huge garden to feed my family. My husband worked away from home for the railroad so it fell to me to run the farm on a shoe string for those years and make ends meet - so I understand the struggle of young families and of farmers.

Cook: I am a sixth-generation rural Missourian. We live on a family farm outside Houston, where my wife and I strive to instill in our children the importance of faith, family, hard work and serving others.

Before being elected to state representative, I served as a commissioned deputy sheriff with the Texas County Sheriff’s Department and volunteered as Emergency Management Director for Texas County and the city of Houston. I served as director of the Texas County Food Pantry and Salvation Army before joining Congressman Jason Smith’s team as a field representative and constituent specialist.

For six years, I have represented the 143rd District in the Missouri House and currently serve in house leadership as House Republican Conference Chair. I am a Deacon at Oak Hill Christian Church, Secretary of the Houston Lions Club, Chair of the Texas County Shop With a Hero Program and serve on the Texas County Farm Bureau Board.

Q: What are your greatest accomplishments in the state House?

Cook: For the past six years, I have had the honor of representing rural Missouri. While I am proud of the legislation we have passed, some of my most meaningful accomplishments have come from helping constituents resolve problems with state government and working alongside our communities.

I have worked with schools, hospitals, businesses and community leaders to secure funding, pursue grants and support healthcare, infrastructure and economic development projects.

Legislatively, I have helped strengthen public safety, expand pharmacy services, improve rural healthcare and establish an appeals process for students and parents dealing with MSHSAA eligibility decisions.

Working with local students on community projects has been especially rewarding. I also started the Capitol Christmas Choir Program, bringing approximately 15 rural public schools to our State Capitol each year.

Public service is about more than passing legislation. It is about showing up, listening and helping our communities move forward.

Q: What are some critiques of Bennie Cook’s record in the state House?

Snodgrass: I am disappointed in Benny, I would not be running if he were voting for the people of this district. If he were not supporting the governor in his push for data centers, if he had not voted to cut your children’s school’s funding, if he had not voted to raise your sales tax and to tax the services that you depend on every day. I will never vote to raise your sales taxes. I will never vote to cut your school funding and I do not support data centers destroying your communities.

Q: What are your highest priority issues if elected to the Missouri state legislature?

Snodgrass: My biggest priorities are to get a moratorium in place so that these data centers can not just push their way into your towns before the citizens have a say in what they want.

Second -I want to write a law that states that any school that receives taxpayer voucher money has to meet the same requirements, standards, and testing requirements as every other public school in Missouri. I think this is just common sense.

Cook: My priority has always been standing up for rural Missouri and making sure our communities have a voice in Jefferson City. We must continue bringing good-paying jobs to our area, supporting farmers and small businesses, and improving infrastructure.

Rural healthcare remains a priority, including supporting our hospitals, pharmacies, EMS providers and healthcare workers while improving access and reducing costs.

Our public schools need stronger funding protections, including transportation funding, better pay for experienced certified teachers and less unnecessary paperwork.

Other priorities include supporting law enforcement, protecting the unborn, defending our constitutional rights and advancing welfare reform that encourages work and personal responsibility while helping those truly in need.

I also have serious concerns about artificial intelligence, large data centers and government surveillance. We must protect personal privacy, property rights and constitutional freedoms.

Most importantly, I will continue listening to our citizens and standing up for rural Missouri.

Q: Voters this November will choose whether to repeal abortion as a right in Missouri. This would prohibit gender transition procedures for minors. It would also allow the legislature to expand protections for the unborn. How would you vote or advocate on legislation on these issues?

Snodgrass: I will vote no on 3. First, it is already illegal for a minor in Missouri to have a gender transition surgery. Second, abortion bans kill women, the death rate for pregnant women nearly doubled for atopic pregnancies in states with a ban imposed. I will never vote for a bill that will put the lives of Missouri women at risk and this bill will do just that.

Cook: As a Christian, a husband and a father of five children, protecting the unborn and standing up for our children is something I take very seriously. Every child is a gift from God and we have a responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

I support Amendment 3, and I hope and pray it passes this November. I am pro-life, and we must continue working to protect unborn children. 

We must protect our children from life-altering medical procedures intended to change their sex. God created us as boys and girls, and I do not believe parents should authorize irreversible procedures that attempt to change that. Our responsibility as parents is to love, guide, and protect our children.

I will continue standing up for the unborn, protecting our children, and defending the values we all believe in. Vote for Life. Vote for our Children.

VOTE YES ON Amendment 3!

Q: Voters in August rejected phasing out the state income tax. How would that inform your priorities on keeping costs affordable for Missourians?

Snodgrass: I believe that people in my district are hurting and that they are not wealthy and that the next two years are going to be hard, so that said — I will vote to repeal the capital gains exemption --— that only benefits a few over the many. I will vote to freeze the property taxes up to a certain amount- for veterans. I will vote to allow tax exemptions for 100% of the money that teachers spend on their classrooms. I also want to look at how we tax small farms and see if we can’t get them some relief.

Cook: Keeping costs down for Missouri families remains a priority. Rising grocery, gasoline, utility and everyday costs are hurting hardworking families. We must help them keep more of their hard-earned money.

We must continue working with our elected officials in Washington to help lower gasoline and energy costs, especially for rural families, farmers and small businesses.

I have worked on legislation to lower prescription drug costs and improve patient access. We must continue pursuing meaningful tax relief while protecting essential community services.

As a member of the House Government Efficiency Committee, I have worked to reduce unnecessary spending, regulations and government costs.

Meaningful welfare reform is also needed. Welfare should be a helping hand, not a way of life. Able-bodied adults should be encouraged to work, become self-sufficient and take personal responsibility while protecting those who truly need assistance.

The government must live within its means and spend taxpayer dollars wisely.

Q: After multiple court decisions, voters will determine whether to vote under the Republican-leaning congressional maps for the 2028 and 2030 elections. How would you would you address gerrymandering concerns, and what would you prioritize going forward?

Snodgrass: I will vote No on 1 -  I respect our constitution and our Missouri Supreme Court. I believe in the rule of law and the independence of our state.

I want to make it illegal to gerrymander our state by passing a law. I believe that most Missourians would support this. Let’s put it before the people!

Cook: I support the Missouri First congressional map. I believe it does a better job of keeping our counties and communities together while giving rural Missouri a stronger voice in Washington. As someone who has lived in rural Missouri my entire life, I know how important it is that our communities have a voice when decisions are being made.

The Missouri First map actually reduces the number of counties and cities divided between congressional districts. The Missouri Supreme Court also upheld the map against challenges involving compactness and other constitutional requirements.

Going forward, my priority is keeping our communities together whenever possible, and making sure rural Missourians are represented. I have always advocated for rural Missouri, and that will not change.

Q: Why should voters consider you over your opponent?

Snodgrass: This is a simple question, do you want a fighter, that is going to fight for you or do you want a yes man. I can only tell you that I will spend the next two years of my life working my tail off for you, to make your lives better.

But I will tell you , I am not running again- If elected I will find someone younger than me who believes that being your representative is a Service and not a job, that you are there to represent your people and not yourself! And I will put that person out there to replace me.  I am a ONE TIME SPECIAL. If you want me - Vote and Vote Early.

Cook: For six years, I have represented rural Missouri, helping pass legislation strengthening public safety, improving rural healthcare, protecting students and parents, and securing funding for our communities.

Helping constituents navigate state government is equally important. I cannot solve every problem, but I will always listen and do everything possible to help.

My Christian conservative values guide me in putting God first, protecting the unborn, defending our Second Amendment rights, supporting law enforcement, and standing for faith, family and hard work.

There is still work to do, and that is why I am seeking a fourth and final term. Rural Missouri needs someone who lives here, raises a family here, goes to church here and understands our way of life.

I remain committed to defending our freedoms and honoring my constitutional oath. Serving rural Missouri has been a blessing, and I humbly ask for your support November 3rd.