Incumbent Missouri State Senator Sandy Crawford, for District 28, is running for her second four-year term of office in the Henry County Primary Election on August 2. Although she was unopposed by any other Republican candidates in 2018, Janet Arnold of Bolivar and Bill Yarberry of Fair Play are on the Republican ballot with her this year. District 28 includes the counties of Benton, Cedar, Dallas, Hickory, Laclede, Pettis, Polk and St. Clair.
Senator Crawford assumed her office in 2017 during a special election to replace Mike Parson who left the seat to become Lieutenant Governor, and who was elected Governor in 2018. Sen. Crawford had previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017.
Sen. Crawford was born in Buffalo, Missouri and graduated from Buffalo High School in 1975. She worked in the banking industry, taking college classes at night, and in 1995 earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from SW Missouri State University. She earned an advanced degree from the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado in 1998. She worked at O’Bannon Bank in Buffalo for 30 years before starting her public service career, and has been a resident of Dallas County all of her life. Sen. Crawford has been married to her husband, John, for 46 years. He runs their cow/calf operation. Throughout her busy careers she has remained a Sunday School teacher which she says helps keep her grounded.
During Sen. Crawford’s service in the House of Representatives, her fellow Republicans chose her to serve as House Majority Whip and she remained in that position until August 2017. In the Missouri Senate she belongs to the Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources; Insurance and Banking; Local Government and Elections; and Veterans and Military Affairs committees.
“My accomplishments during my senate service have included general local government bills to assist county treasurers, county collectors and public administration,” said Sen. Crawford. “Another accomplishment a couple of years ago was when we passed the fake meat bill. Plant-based meals were coming into place and beef people wanted to protect meat products. The bill prohibits misrepresenting a product as meat that was not derived from harvested livestock. This protects ranchers, and Missouri was the first to pass that legislation. This year I handled an important integrity voting bill – requiring photo IDs for voting,” said Sen. Crawford.
Sen. Crawford said that her public service career has been satisfying but can also have challenges. She said that this year has not been very productive but 10 of the bills she wrote passed. At the end of an interview with her, she said “I would appreciate your vote. Experience matters. Relationships matter and seniority matters. Bills are referred based on seniority. They are quicker. I am the only one in this race that has acquired these things.”
Janet Arnold says that she is a retired person running for office because “We the people of Missouri need our voice back. It is time to stand and hold the line.”
Mrs. Arnold, husband Joe, and their two children moved from Ohio to Missouri in 1985. She spent 10 years in her small business painting and papering for the Bolivar community and also did dry wall and roofing on mission trips. Then, she became a part of the Quarles Supply Company family before earning a degree as a massage therapist. She said that for 17 years she was able to help people manage their pain in a positive, alternative way.
If elected, Arnold’s top priority is to fight against the vaccine and mask mandates. She said that nobody has the right to tell you what to put in your body at any time and to wear a mask on your face. Another priority is to end the teaching of critical race theory and its principles in Missouri schools. Arnold also does not support allowing biological males to compete against biological females in women’s sports. When asked why voters should choose her over other candidates, Arnold said she will be their eyes, ears and voice in Jefferson City and will keep voters updated with everything going on at the Capitol during the legislative session. She passionately encourages voters to get involved with the political process so they can find opportunities to make a difference and stay apprised of relevant legislation.
Arnold said that her hobbies know no limits and range from remodeling vintage campers to dry wall and roofing. She loves working with her hands and creating.
Janet Arnold for Senate | VC Republicans (republicansofmo.com) gives a rundown of Arnold’s biography and reasons for running for office. The last paragraph at the online site is as follows:
“I will fight for our freedoms! I will keep you informed as to what is going on in Jefferson City and not close my door upon taking office. I am tired of seeing politicians, of which I am not, work hard for your vote, only to shut you out and not have your back in the end. I am a proud U.S. citizen, a proud Missourian and a proud freedom fighter! We cannot take our freedoms for granted. Hear me…we will lose our God-given freedoms, we will lose our state, we will lose our America if we continue to elect those who have no intention of working beyond election day. I want to bring back common sense and fight for the values that restore God to the forefront of our daily lives! Because it is God who allows us these opportunities…the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!
Bill Yarberry, of Fair Play, is also running for the Senate District 28 seat. Although many attempts were made by the Clinton Daily Democrat to contact him, Mr. Yarberry was never able to be interviewed. However, some dated online information was available.
Yarberry ran for the Missouri Representative District 126 seat in 2012 and 2014. NPR’s Kansas City 89.3 radio website reported that he also ran for Missouri Senate District 31 in 2020. In 2020 he filled out a candidacy enquiry as follows. Coronavirus – “The only real hope to addressing the coronavirus is a vaccine; Budget – He said he supports tax cuts but only if the state budget can afford it. He said that if the state budget is in a crisis he would support reversing a corporate income tax cut that went into effect that year. He also said that he wanted the number of state representatives to be reduced to save money; Senate Conservative Caucus – He said political labels are often misleading and he thinks of himself as not the most liberal and not the most conservative - the most common sense; Abortion – He supports providing counseling for women who have an unwanted pregnancy. He said that he actually sees both sides of the issue but as a Christian he thinks abortion is wrong and would likely vote against it.
“However, I am worried about going back to the bad old days when desperate people got not medical doctors to perform abortions,” said Yarberry.
A Republican official in the party where Yarberry used to live knew him and said that he loved talking about politics. She said that he wants the best for his community and state and thinks everybody should have choices.
