By RYAN SKAITH
Former Platte County Commissioner John Elliott announced his bid for Missouri State Representative in District 13 today, aiming to succeed Rep. Sean Pouche.
The district comprises parts of Platte and Buchanan counties.
“I’m running to bring common sense conservative leadership from Platte County to Jefferson City,” Elliott said, identifying his core goals as “standing with law enforcement, fixing a broken property tax system, protecting life, and defending Missouri land and agriculture from foreign control.”
According to a press release from Elliot’s campaign, public safety serves as a cornerstone of his platform. Elliott noted that his local community “depends on strong law enforcement to maintain our quality of life,” promising he “will back the men and women who keep us safe and push back against policies that weaken public safety.” He also extended this focus to food security, asserting that “foreign ownership of agricultural land and critical infrastructure is a growing concern” and that “Missouri families and farmers—not foreign governments—should control our land and food supply.”
Reflecting on his previous experience in county government and his background as a small business owner, Elliott emphasized his connection to the district. “My wife Julie and I understand the challenges local businesses face,” he said, adding that he intends to be “a voice for families and family-owned businesses—not corporate insiders in Jefferson City.”
Elliott also signaled his alignment with state-level tax reform, backing the elimination of the state income tax. Closing with a nod to his conservative philosophy, he quoted Ronald Reagan’s warning that “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction,” concluding that he intends “to do all I can to pass that torch to the next generation.”
