To the editor:

Thank you for your editorial addressing the vacancy in Missouri House District 95 following the resignation of Representative Michael O’Donnell in January 2025. It is frustrating that District 95 residents may not have representation in Jefferson City until 2027, since it increasingly appears that Governor Mike Kehoe does not intend to call a special election. 

Last session, state lawmakers took the unusual step of redrawing Missouri’s congressional maps mid-decade, following pressure from the federal government. These lawmakers also reversed recent ballot measures that voters across South County passed, including support for earned paid sick leave and health care decisions. And yet, these important decisions were made while the voices of over 30,000 residents in Oakville and Mehlville were silenced.

Going forward, we should consider who can best represent our district in Jefferson City. I am encouraged to see a serious candidate emerge in Meredith Sumenek, who is prepared to represent our district. She has the backbone to engage in the discourse in Jefferson City and has given in-person testimony on behalf of South County residents. That kind of participation and follow-through deserves attention as the upcoming election approaches.

Rebecca Wood

St. Louis County, resident of Missouri House District 95