Ready to vote? Questions presented to area candidates

The Branson Globe sent a list of questions to candidates in all of the contested races for Taney and Stone County. Below are the questions posed to each candidate and their responses. 

QUESTIONS

1. Give me a little background on yourself—job history, family, how long you've lived in the area, etc.

2.  What prompted you to run for this office?

3.  What are the three most important issues our area is facing, and how do you plan to help with that?

4.  What can you bring to the office you're running for?

5.  What are your core values?

6.  What else do you want our readers to know about you?

7.  How about just a few lines encouraging people within the district to vote for you?

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 138, CHRIS DAUGHERTY and BURT WHALEY

Chris Daugherty’s responses

1. "I lived in Christian County and went to school in Clever. My family and I moved to Stone County in 1999. I've been the City Clerk for Hurley for nearly 15 years, and I'm the Chairman of the Stone County Ambulance Board. My wife and I have been married for 35 years."

2.  What pushed me into running this year was a combination of poor representation and legislation coming out of Jefferson City. Our representatives don't listen to us, even when we make it very clear. And they have ceased to fund public schools at the needed levels."

3.  "My top legislation priorities are taking on the state budget to realign our priorities to our people, and working toward a balanced budget again. Our kids need our help to achieve by fully funding schools, and our adults need our help to maintain health and dignity by fully funding social and health programs. Also, our small municipalities need help with maintaining service and compliance on water and sewer projects."

4.  "I can bring a spirit of service to the office that has been missing."

5.  "My core values are kindness and service to the community."

6.   "I was strongly against Amendments 4 and 5 in August, and I am strongly for 6 and against 7 in November."

7.  "If you are pleased with a state budget that is headed for deficit status, pleased with your voice being ignored and pleased with school funding cuts, keep voting for the incumbent candidates across your district.  If you don't like any of these things, I would appreciate your vote in November."

Burt Whaley’s responses

1. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, have been married to my wife for 41 years, am the father of four adult children, the grandfather of twelve grandchildren, and a lifelong resident of Missouri. We purchased our land in Stone County in 2010 and moved there when I retired from my career in education in 2018. I have served We the People as a retired U.S. Army veteran, primarily in the Military Police; a retired teacher, coach and founding principal of an alternative school serving mostly at-risk youth; a school board member; a youth center board member; a civic organization member; a Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsor; and a lay leader in church youth and adult ministries. I have participated in and led local, national and international mission trips. I have also instructed active shooter and intruder response courses for schools and churches, served as a security consultant to help schools and churches improve their physical safety and security, and been both a member and a leader in local Republican organizations. I am honored to be endorsed by U.S. Congressman Eric Burlison, the NRA, the Missouri Firearms Coalition, the Stone County Sheriff, Missouri Freedom Principles, the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors, the Missouri Freedom Caucus, the Stone County Missouri Republican Assembly, and MO Clean Skies. I have served one two-year term in the Missouri House of Representatives and am seeking a second term.

2. Save the unborn babies first and foremost. I also saw what was happening during Covid and felt the need to support and defend our constitutional rights and serve the people in the 138th Legislative District.

3. 1) Saving the unborn babies. I filed several personhood bills in 2025 and 2026, and I will file the same bills in 2027. In addition, I actively support the local pregnancy life line center and serve on the Health and Mental Health Committee. 2) Continue to address human trafficking concerns in our area. In addition to being one of four representatives involved in HB 2273, “Modifies and established provisions relating to the protection of children and vulnerable person,” which was signed by the governor on 4/7/26, I actively support the local sheriffs, the Pathways Project and Stone Soup. 3) Continue to support tourism and agriculture in the 138th by supporting legislation, actively participating in the Table Rock Lake and Sparta Chambers of Commerce, and meeting with local businesses and farmers. Furthermore, I am a member of the Special Committee on Tourism and the Agriculture Committee.

4. I bring experience from my former careers, community involvement, civic service and two years of service in the Missouri House of Representatives. Moreover, I bring a belief system and ideology that guide my decision-making and honor our country's and state's biblical foundations, the U.S. Constitution, the Missouri Constitution, the Republican Platform and the needs of my fellow Missourians.

5. "I believe all people are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." It is my fundamental belief that faith, morality, law and education are the foundations of liberty. Our culture and our way of life are derived from Almighty God. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." — Psalm 33:12

6. Praise the LORD, I have a proven conservative voting record, as reflected in the following legislative scorecards out of 163 legislators: 96% rating by Americans for Prosperity; Ranked 6th (2025) and 7th (2026) by the Lock and Smith Foundation for constitutional voting; Ranked 6th by Independent Legislative Review; Ranked 7th by Missouri Freedom Index; Ranked 7th by Act4Missouri; Ranked 11th by the Conservative Political Action Conference; Ranked 12th by Freedom Principles; Top 20 by Club for Growth

7. It is my pleasure to have served the people of the 138th District and the State of Missouri as your representative for the past two years. God has blessed me with the experience, passion and purpose to serve. Not only would I appreciate your vote on November 3, but I would also encourage you to learn about each of the people asking for your vote and to read the “full text” of each constitutional amendment and proposition on the November ballot. An educated public is a public that keeps the republic. Refer to “2026 Ballot Measures” at sos.mo.gov and get out and VOTE? Be blessed.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 155, JOSHUA BERZINS and MATTHEW OVERCAST

Joshua Berzins’s responses

1. "I grew up in Thornfield, Missouri, where my family moved when I was 11 years old after purchasing a ranch. I was homeschooled, and much of my upbringing was spent working alongside my family and getting to know the people of our community. Some folks might remember me from selling homemade breads and pastries at the farmers market in Ava. I also spent several years working at a local coffee roastery and cafe, where I had the opportunity to get to know people from all walks of life. Today, I work in photography and creative production. I've spent most of my life here in the Ozarks. This is my home, and I care deeply about what happens to our communities and the people who call them home."

 2. "I decided to run because I'm tired of watching our rural communities get left behind by politicians in Jefferson City. Our public schools are being asked to do more with less. Working families are struggling to get ahead, and now we're facing the possibility of massive AI data centers being built in our communities without the consent of the people who live here. I don't believe we have to accept any of this.  I believe government should serve ordinary people, not wealthy donors, corporate lobbyists, or special interests. And I believe the people of the Ozarks deserve a representative who will stand up for them, even when that means standing up to powerful interests in Jefferson City. That's why I'm running."

3.  "First. we need to properly fund our rural public schools. Our schools are the backbone of our communities. They're where our children learn, where our neighbors work and where much of our community life takes place. Yet our state continues to send millions of dollars toward private education while rural public schools struggle to keep up. I will fight to ensure public tax dollars fund public schools, increase state funding for rural districts, improve teacher pay and make sure every child has the opportunity to receive a quality education, regardless of their family's income. We can do this without placing additional tax burdens on working families by ending corporate tax giveaways and reversing tax breaks that overwhelmingly benefit Missouri's wealthiest residents. Second, we must keep AI data centers out of our communities. I am firmly opposed to the construction of AI data centers in Douglas, Ozark, Taney, and Stone counties. These facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, threaten to drive up utility costs and offer relatively few permanent jobs in return. Our farmland, our communities and our way of life should not be sacrificed so that a handful of wealthy technology companies can make even more money. I support an immediate statewide moratorium on new data center development, an end to taxpayer subsidies for these facilities and legislation giving local voters the final say over whether they're built in their communities. Third, we need to protect our privacy and constitutional freedoms. I've been outspoken in my opposition to Flock license plate surveillance cameras being installed in our towns. I don't believe ordinary, law-abiding citizens should have their movements recorded and stored simply because they drove down a public road. Our Fourth Amendment rights matter, and we shouldn't have to surrender our privacy in the name of public safety. I will work to restrict mass surveillance technology and protect the privacy rights of Missouri citizens."

4. "I can bring something I think Jefferson City desperately needs: a willingness to put people ahead of politics. I'm not running because I want a career in politics. I'm running because I see problems in our communities that aren't being addressed, and I believe we can do better. Throughout this campaign, I've spoken with people from across the political spectrum. Democrats, Republicans and Independents have told me many of the same things. They're worried about their children's education, the cost of living, their property rights and the future of their communities. We may disagree on some issues, but that doesn't mean we can't work together on the things that matter. I'll bring an independent voice to Jefferson City, one that isn't beholden to corporate PACs or wealthy donors, and one that isn't afraid to challenge either political party when the people of our district are being ignored."

5.  "My values are rooted in fairness, freedom, compassion and responsibility to our neighbors. I believe in working hard, treating people with dignity, standing up for those who are being taken advantage of and leaving our communities better than we found them. I believe everyone deserves the freedom to live their life without unnecessary government interference and that includes protecting our privacy, our property and our personal liberties. Above all, I believe we have a responsibility to the next generation. The decisions we make today will determine what kind of communities our children inherit. I want them to inherit an Ozarks where our schools are strong, our freedoms are protected and families can afford to build a good life."

6.  "I want people to know that this campaign has never been about Democrats versus Republicans. It is about our communities and what kind of future we're going to build together. I know there are people in this district who disagree with me on certain issues, and that's OK. I don't expect everyone to agree with me on everything. But I do believe that we can agree that our children deserve good schools, that our communities should not be sold out to corporate interests and that our constitutional rights are worth defending. We have spent too much time allowing partisan politics to divide people who share the same struggles and want many of the same things for their families. I want to move past that. I want to bring people together to do something good for the place we all call home."

7.  "On November 3, we have an opportunity to choose a different direction for the Ozarks. We can fund our rural schools, stop AI data centers from taking over our communities, and protect our privacy by getting Flock cameras out of our towns. We can put aside our political differences and start building a better future for our children and grandchildren. I'm asking for your vote on November 3, not because of the letter beside my name, but because I believe our communities are worth fighting for. I hope you'll consider voting for Joshua Berzins for State Representative in District 155." 

Matthew Overcast, State Representative Incumbent, District 155, did not respond to our questions.  

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 156, TRENT DAVIS and BRIAN SEITZ

Trent Davis’s responses

1. "I am a Branson native. I was born and raised right here in the area and have lived here for the majority of my life. I currently live in Hollister where I went to high school and met my amazing wife who I have been married to now for 15 years. Together we have three beautiful daughters: Ashley (15), Sophia (11) and Jane (9). They also go to Hollister schools as well. Most of my job history has been in the service industry, and for most of that time I've been in management. I have been a cable installer, and I have helped build wind turbines in states like California and Texas. So, handling difficult and ever-changing issues has been a major part of my job history. I am currently a team lead at Flaming Margaritas at the Branson Landing, where I am in charge of training all servers and ensuring a high-quality experience for everyone who walks in."

2.  "I ultimately decided to run because I watched how the current and past General Assembly consistently overturned the will of the Missouri voter. Missourians would vote to pass legislation that would improve the everyday life of people, and our legislators would turn around and overturn it or completely gut it. What that has done is made the people in this state believe that their votes don't matter, that their voices won't be heard, that no matter what we do, it will just be overturned! This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I am an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, and they took us on a tour of the Capitol for the Citizenship in the Community merit badge. They took us onto the House floor, and I was able to sit in one of the representatives' chairs. I looked around and told myself that I was going to be here one day."

3.  "The three most important issues that are facing this area: one of them is privacy issues and direct violations of the Fourth Amendment with the use of Flock cameras in our area. Our state already does not allow red light cameras; we can use the same court cases in this state to get those cameras off our streets! I also want to work closely with our local law enforcement to crack down on the trafficking in the area. Child care is becoming more and more expensive and becoming more of a luxury item, which has caused many parents to have to make other cuts to their budgets. I want to have an extension of my education bill to offer grants/loans to facilities and encourage them to keep prices lower by keeping the interest rates down if they are helping keep the prices low for the kids."

4.  "I bring years of leadership that I have learned in my career, sports and my time in Scouting. I have had to handle difficult and ever-changing issues daily, and finding solutions to problems is what I do best. I will bring honesty, integrity and a selfless attitude. My main goal is to restore voter confidence, because when people see that their voice matters, they will be encouraged to vote in every election."

5.  "My core values have remained the same since I have been a Scout. To be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. I have lived my life by that oath. Treat others the way you want to be treated, and leave a place better than when you found it. I believe in the constitution as a whole, and the pledge I said every morning before school shaped who I am to this day, and I took those words to heart."

6. "I had mentioned earlier the education bill I want to introduce once I am elected. I am calling it the Dolly Parton Act, and what it entails is providing universal breakfast and lunch to all students, no matter how much the household earns; it will raise teacher pay to the national average, fully fund our schools, and fully fund the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. I feel very strongly about ensuring our kids are fed in school. It is a bipartisan issue as well; Brian Seitz introduced a similar bill earlier this year that would provide universal breakfast and lunch to most students. Sadly, that bill did not make it out of committee and died there. Currently, Missouri is 49th in teacher pay, and 48th in education funding! That has to change. Twenty years ago, Missouri was ranked eighth in education, and now we are 48th. I hosted a town hall on October 28 at the Del Showers Community Center in Merriam Woods."

7.  "I'm going to make three promises to you right now. 1) I will always be accessible to you. 2) I will always be honest and transparent with you. 3) I am always going to fight for you! Even if you don't vote for me, I will fight for you! Because When Missouri Speaks, Trent Listens!" 

Brian Seitz’s responses

1. "Originally from Michigan, I moved to Missouri in 1986 to attend and graduate from Southwest Missouri State in Springfield. It was there I met my wife Valerie and we moved to Branson in 1991. With over half my life having been lived here, I consider myself a local. We have three grown children, all graduates of Branson High School, one of which, Daniel, graduated from the College of the Ozarks before attending law school, and eight grandchildren. Prior to living in Missouri, I served in the United States Army with the 82nd Airborne Division, achieving the rank of sergeant. For 15 years I owned and operated Branson’s Music Country News, pastored Sovereign Grace Baptist Church and for 20 years managed a multi-million-dollar business, Splash Carwash."

2.  "I ran for State Representative when I saw the country, and sadly, this area, begin to move left politically and socially. Having been president of College Republicans while at SMS, I had been acquainted with and mentored by numerous well-respected office holders in Republican politics.  Another major impetus that propelled me into office, even beating a former two-term Branson Mayor, was the government tyranny associated with the “pandemic.” My message of individual responsibility resonated with the average voter, and I’m proud to say that following my election, my son Daniel, having worked in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma governments, and I began to ‘clean house’ by helping to put other liberty-minded, Christian conservatives into area offices. I hope that we, in some way, slowed or stopped democrat incursions into this area. We now need to maintain vigilance."

3. "As one of only two elected officials serving as a commissioner on the Missouri State Tourism Commission and the Chairman of the House Special Committee, keeping the revenue stream coming into our Southwest region has always been a priority. People need jobs, especially during these tough economic times, and tourism fills that need.

To that end, myself and Senator Hudson have twice received state funds to be utilized on the 76 Project, to the tune of over $10,000,000 (four million is currently be held by the governor’s office). We’ve also gotten $3,000,000 for a new water tower in Hollister, also withheld by the governor's office, and we hope soon to be released.

I’ve been a constant advocate for affordable housing in the area and have signed off on numerous county-wide, and beyond, projects. My support for childcare and early education has also seen me step outside of party lines, at times, as it is a pressing need in my district. I’ve also worked well with area superintendents and supported public schools, while at the same time championing school choice. I’ve voted in favor of teacher pay raises and increased funding. Police and fire have also been a priority."

4. "I bring an unparalleled tenacity and ‘will to win’ to the office of State Representative. My six years’ experience in state government has given me a voice unlike any previous area representative. While we all have served honorably in the time periods during which we were elected, it is at this specific time in history that I’ve found it necessary to utilize all of the gifts that God has given me. There are distinct differences between political parties, the Republican Party representing liberty, the Constitution, lower taxes, the Second Amendment and the right to life, while the other side of the aisle is trending towards socialism and a wholesale destruction of our basic societal underpinnings. Bottom line, I’m a fighter and I don’t quit."

5. "My core values stem from a clear understanding of scripture and a biblical worldview. My faith enters into every vote I take and every piece of legislation that I offer. This area promotes faith, family, flag (and fun) and I exemplify those institutions." 

6. "I’d like my constituents to know that I have done my best to serve them with honor and to mirror the areas thoughts, ideas and beliefs. Going into my final term-limited next two sessions, I’ve built the relationships necessary at the Capitol to ensure success in area representation. At a time when America is being destroyed from within, particularly by the other political party or apathy, I am one of the most powerful voices in the Capitol to advocate for those, really of both parties, values that have created the most powerful nation on earth."

7. "Once again, for the final time as State Representative, due to term limits, I am asking for your vote. I’ve built the relationships necessary in Jefferson City to get good legislation passed and to stop the bad. Through me, your voice, in fact 37,000 voices within the district, are amplified in all areas of state government. It has been, and will be, once again, an honor to serve and fight for you, in a world that sometimes looks like it has gone mad."

Three candidates—incumbent Eric Burlison, Missi Hesketh and Kevin Craig—are vying for the position of United States Representative for District 7. None of the three responded to our questions.

No matter which political party your support or which candidates you select, please head to your polling place on November 3, cast your ballot and let your voice be heard.