Meet the Candidate: Bill Slantz

Libertarian Bill Slantz, 53, is running against and for the 15th District state representative seat. 

Former State Rep. Sally Faith vacated the seat after she beat Patti York to become mayor of St. Charles in April. Gov. Jay Nixon called a special election for the seat earlier this year.

Slantz, a political newcomer, said he wanted to run because he believes each person should give back when they can.

"I feel like the time is right for me," Slantz said. "I feel like people in district 15 need some good leadership. I come with some good leadership background skills and experience."

Slantz said he believes the government has run amok. The government should be providing no more than three different services to the public: Provide for the security of citizens, build sound and robust infrastructure, and oversee monetary policy on the national level.

"Everything else as a libertarian I think should be handled at the local level," he said. "Each one of us, or each one of our communities should make up its own mind as to how we run ourselves."

Slantz said most of his campaigning has been through word of mouth and social media.

Bill Slantz, 53

Party: Libertarian

Occupation: I'm a self-employed broadcasting consultant for 13 years.

Political Experience: I have none. I've been involved in all the different social programs, Lions Club, Kiwanis.

Education: I have some college, never graduated from college, went to public high school in Pennsylvania.

Campaign website: http://www.billslantz.com

What would you do to improve the economy?

"I have two philosophies. This might come as a bold-headed shocker: I don't believe it's the government's job at all to work on or improve the economy if free market and free trade is allowed to prevail. The economy is not something the government controls or should control. It's best for the government to get out of the way. Stop regulating, choking business to the point they have to leave to go somewhere else. Stop taxing them. I would try to release the chokehold the government has over business--business being the ones who actually are going to be hiring and firing employees.

What are your priorities for state spending?

"Well, I believe the state should spend its money on police and fire departments and overseeing security of its citizens -- the things that are not kind of run on a national level, like your roads and bridges and infrastructure within the state. They should spend very little. The state doesn't need very much."

What are your thoughts on education spending?

"These things can't be resolved overnight. This is stuff we have to start working toward.

I don't believe the state should be involved in educating children at all. It's not that I don't believe in public education or social availability of education for all. Education starts from the families, the children and parents and teachers themselves. You provide them education in the local community for each and every child.

I'd discourage Missouri from being involved in educating children. I don't think they should. You can't make these types of changes by flipping a light switch. It's the type of thing you have to ease into over time."