A south county native has announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin, in the 2nd Congressional District.
Mark Osmack, a fourth-generation St. Louisan, was born and raised in south county. He attended public schools and graduated from Lindbergh High School before attending the University of Missouri-Columbia.
During college, Osmack worked at Busch Stadium and local grocery stores as a member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655. He later joined the Army and he served two combat tours in Afghanistan, earning a Bronze Star.
“I learned very early on from my family there is no higher calling than public service,” Osmack stated in a news release announcing his candidacy. “I was raised to protect others and listen to those whose voice is often ignored.”
Osmack’s father is a nurse practitioner and former Army reservist and his mother is a chaplain at local hospitals. Both of his brothers joined the U.S. Marine Corps and his sister is a nurse.
As an Army officer, he understands there is no single solution to such challenges as health care, immigration and the economy, but by recognizing complex and varied viewpoints, a path exists to unite and benefit all Missourians, the release stated
“In the Army, officers eat last and never expect anything they have not done themselves,” Osmack stated. “Sadly, Congress does the opposite. Today’s politicians are not public servants who serve for the greater good, but instead regularly enjoy privileges and benefits not available to the very people they represent.”
Utilizing the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Osmack earned a master of public administration degree from George Washington University while working on national defense and veterans’ affairs issues for Iraq war hero and U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth.
Today, he works to help agencies and departments of the federal government operate more efficiently as a consultant in the St. Louis office of Deloitte Consulting LLP.
Osmack also serves as an Army Reserve company commander.