Meet the Candidate: Paul Woody

Democrat Paul Woody is running for 15th District state representative against and .

Gov. Jay Nixon called for a special election to replace former State Rep. Sally Faith, who was elected Mayor of St. Charles in April 2011. The winner of the Nov. 8 election will serve the remainder of the term and be up for election for a two-year term in November 2012.

Woody, 31, has spent the last several months going door to door throughout the 15th district in an effort to let voters get to know him and to find out who they are.

He said he's hearing two kinds of concerns from people-- specific issues people are worried about and an overall concern about state government.

"On a state level people feel like we continue to elect people who make a lot of noise in the campaign and who don't go down and get the work done," he said.

Woody cited the failed attempt to pass a jobs bill in the fall session as a prime example of their inability to work together.

"That's just a lack of will on the part of our elected officials to compromise, to work together with people across the aisle and get a bill passed," he said.

Woody said having strong beliefs and positions are good, but legislators still need to get togehter and get the job done. "It’s time to ensure we elect somebody who will go down and fight for St. Charles and be that voice that doesn't care where the solutions come from as long as they help the people," he said.

Paul Woody, 31 

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Lawyer for a small general practice law firm in St. Louis County.

Political Experience: Worked as a policy and communications advisor in the Missouri House Democrats from 2003-2005 and as the public events and travel staffer for Gov. Bob Holden from 2001-2003.

Education: Graduated from St. Louis University, earned law degree from SLU. 

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

What would you do to improve the economy?

Woody said he'd like to look at the tax credit system and make sure the state is investing in tax credits that are effective at bringing jobs to the state and get rid of the credits that end up only benefitting special interests.

Woody said government cannot create jobs, businesses create jobs, however, the government needs to provide incentives to create jobs.

"Right now in a time for the business community when they are finding financing to be very tight... We need a government that will step in and do it's part," he said.

Woody's other priority is to freeze property taxes for seniors on fixed incomes.

What are your priorities for state spending?

"We’ve got to ensure we’re making adequate investments in education," he said. "I’m very concerned about some legislators in this state that have decided the way they are going to get ahead are going to tax our public education workers -- We need to be rewarding those educators who are doing effective job of educating our kids and funding programs like character education so we’re creating well-rounded students.

That is a top priority as well as eliminating those things that are being obstacles to business growth,"

What are your thoughts on education spending?

"We just need to be careful as we all look for ways to live with our means and balancing our budget is a constitutional requirement," he said. "St. Charles nees to continue to stand up for outstanding education."