- Cynthia Davis
-
Cynthia L. Davis Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 19th districtIn office
2003–2011Preceded by Charles F. Nordwald Succeeded by Kurt Bahr Personal details Born November 23, 1959
Chicago, Illinois, United StatesNationality American Political party Constitution Party Spouse(s) Bernie Davis Children John, Benjamin, Cathryn, Matthew, Amanda, Susanna, and Philip Alma mater Nyack College Profession Politician Cynthia L. Davis (born November 23, 1959) is a former Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives. She lives in O'Fallon, Missouri.
Contents
Personal life
She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Needham High School in Needham, Massachusetts. She majored in music at Nyack College of Nyack, New York before marrying Bernie in 1980.
After moving to Missouri Christmas Eve of 1984, she with her husband opened the Back to Basics Christian Bookstore in O'Fallon in 1989.
Political career
In 1992 she was appointed to chair the legislative committee for the O'Fallon Business Association. She was first elected to the O'Fallon Board of Aldermen in 1994, served as its president in 1995, and was thereafter elected to five consecutive terms. She was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Other elected offices: Republican Committeewoman for Dardenne Township, State Committeewoman for the Second Senatorial District, Vice-President of the First Capitol Federation of Republican Women
She formerly served on the following committees: Chairman of the Children and Families Committee, Chairman of the Interim Committee on Poverty, Member of Healthcare Policy Committee, State Parks and Waterways Committee, and Elections Committee.
Davis filed a bill calling for a state ban on elective abortions.[1] She said the bill would "protect public safety, health and welfare".
Davis left the Republican Party to join the Constitution Party over what amounts to a loss of party principles. She sent a letter to Republican Central Committee declaring her reasons for leaving. On October 2, 2011, she announced her run for Lieutenant Governor as a Constitution Party candidate.[2]
Lunch controversy
In June 2009, remarks made by Davis in her constituent newsletter received local and national criticism. Davis attacked programs providing subsidized meals for school-age children from lower-income families during the summer months, claiming that such programs "could break apart more families" and asserting that "Hunger can be a positive motivator." [3]
The Daily Star-Journal said that Davis "seems to have missed a lesson in humanity," concluding that "Schools provide real parents a real place where their real children can get a real meal, which is a lot more filling than empty advice from politicians."[4] St. Louis Today characterized Davis as "oblivious," declaring that "When you chair a state special committee on children and families, you probably ought to learn something about the needs of children and families."[5] Springfields New-Leader columnist Roger Ray called Davis "clueless" and noted reports that Davis had been seen "stealing food at state dinners to take home to her children.".[6] Missouri House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota requested Davis be removed as chairwoman of the Children and Families Committee.[7] And Missouri's junior U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill responded that "Fagin agreed that hunger was a motivator for children. I don't."[8]
Davis was named the daily "worst person in the world" more than once on Countdown with Keith Olbermann for her comments.[9] Stephen Colbert mocked Davis's comments about the motivational effect of hunger, telling Missourians "If you see Representative Davis at a restaurant or a hot dog stand or even through the window of her own dining room, do the right thing and take her food away."[10] Los Angeles Times columnist Patt Morrison concluded that "Questioning the need for school meals doesn’t prove that there is no need for them – only that someone’s not paying attention, or chooses not to.".[10]
Davis has responded by stating her comments were taken out of context, saying "We all agree on the importance of feeding children, but we differ on who should do this."[11] Ms. Davis is no longer a Missouri State Representative (term limits). She lost a primary race for state senator in 2010. She also lost an election for the St. Charles County Ambulance Board. She recently stepped down as the head of the St. Charles County GOP Committee to concentrate on further elective political office; there was controversy with the Committee about her tenure.
References
- Official Manual, State of Missouri, 2005-2006. Jefferson City, MO: Secretary of State.
- ^ Kult, Nina (2007-03-08). "Legislator files bill to ban elective abortions". Suburban Journals. http://suburbanjournals.stltoday.com/articles/2007/03/08/news/sj2tn20070308-0309stc_abort_1.ii1.txt. Retrieved 2009-07-14.
- ^ "Rep. Cynthia Davis Joins Constitution Party". Constitution Party Home Page. 2011-09-30. http://constitutionparty.com/news.php?aid=1394. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
- ^ http://www.cynthiadavis.net/PDFs/cpr090604_Summer_Food_Program.htm
- ^ "Opinion (2009-07-06). "Rep. Davis shows no understanding of poor". http://www.dailystarjournal.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=5197&TM=61235.09.
- ^ "Editorial Board" (2009-06-15). "Oblivious to the needs of Missouri’s hungry children". The Platform. http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-platform/published-editorials/2009/06/oblivious-to-the-needs-of-missouris-hungry-children/. Retrieved 2009-06-30.[dead link]
- ^ http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090708/OPINIONS05/907080389/1006/OPINIONS
- ^ "Democrats call for Cynthia Davis' removal as committee chair; Olbermann jabs state rep again". Kansas City Star. http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/19038. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
- ^ https://twitter.com/clairecmc/status/2325207801
- ^ "Olbermann, Dems pile on criticism of Cynthia Davis". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/political-fix/2009/06/olbermann-dems-pile-on-criticism-of-cynthia-davis/. Retrieved 2009-06-27.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Opinion L.A". The Los Angeles Times. 2009-07-08. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2009/07/hungry-kids-make-better-americans-bite-me.html.
- ^ Davis, Cynthia (2009-06-24). "Missouri Rep. Cynthia Davis offers rebuttal". http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/staff1245876457. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
External links
- Lt. Governor Campaign site
- Official website
- Profile at the Missouri House of Representatives.
Members of the Missouri House of Representatives 96th General Assembly (2011–2012)
Speaker of the House: Steven Tilley (R) • Speaker pro Tempore: Shane Schoeller (R) • Majority Leader: Tim Jones (R) • Minority Leader: Mike Talboy (D)- Craig Redmon (R)
- Zachary Wyatt (R)
- Casey Guernsey (R)
- Mike Thomson (R)
- Glen Klippenstein (R)
- Lindell Shumake (R)
- Mike Lair (R)
- Tom Shively (D)
- Paul Quinn (D)
- Jay Houghton (R)
- Ed Schieffer (D)
- Doug Funderburk (R)
- Chuck Gatschenberger (R)
- Kathie Conway (R)
- Vacant
- Mark A. Parkinson (R)
- Vicki A. Schneider (R)
- Anne Zerr (R)
- Kurt Bahr (R)
- Jeanie Riddle (R)
- John W. Cauthorn (R)
- Randy Asbury (R)
- Stephen Webber (D)
- Chris Kelly (D)
- Mary Stil (D)
- Joe Aull (D)
- Pat Conway (D)
- Delus Johnson (R)
- Galen Higdon (R)
- Nick Marshall (R)
- Jay Swearingen (D)
- Ronald Schieber (R)
- Jerry Nolte (R)
- Myron Neth (R)
- T.J. Berry (R)
- Bob Nance (R)
- Mike Talboy (D)
- Ryan Silvey (R)
- Vacant
- John J. Rizzo (D)
- Vacant
- Leonard Hughes IV (D)
- Gail McCann Betty (D)
- Jason Kander (D)
- Jason R. Holsman (D)
- Kevin McManus (D)
- Jeff Grisamore (R)
- Gary L. Cross (R)
- Tom McDonald (D)
- Michael R. Brown (D)
- Ira Anders (D)
- Noel Torpey (R)
- Brent Lasater (R)
- Jeannie Lauer (R)
- Sheila Solon (R)
- Mike Cierpot (R)
- Karla May (D)
- Penny Hubbard (D)
- Jeanette Mott Oxford (D)
- Jamilah Nasheed (D)
- Chris Carter (D)
- Don Phillips (R)
- Tishaura Jones (D)
- Susan Carlson (D)
- Michele Kratky (D)
- Genise Monticello (D)
- Mike Colona (D)
- David Sater (R)
- Tommy Pierson (D)
- Sharon Pace (D)
- Clem Smith (D)
- Rory Ellinger (D)
- Stacey Newman (D)
- Steve Webb (D)
- Bert Atkins (D)
- Churie Spreng (D)
- Eileen McGeoghegan (D)
- Margo McNeil (D)
- Mary Nichols (D)
- Sylvester Taylor (D)
- Rochelle Walton Gray (D)
- Jill Schupp (D)
- Jake Zimmerman (D)
- Don Gosen (R)
- Cloria Brown (R)
- Cole McNary (R)
- John Diehl (R)
- Andrew Koenig (R)
- Tim Jones (R)
- John McCaherty (R)
- Jeanne Kirkton (D)
- Sue Allen (R)
- Dwight Scharnhorst (R)
- Rick Stream (R)
- Mike Leara (R)
- Scott Sifton (D)
- Gary Fuhr (R)
- Dave Hinson (R)
- Bart Kormon (R)
- Marsha Haefner (R)
- Tim Meadows (D)
- Paul Wieland (R)
- Ron Casey (D)
- Joe Fallert (D)
- Paul Curtman (R)
- Steven Tilley (R)
- Linda Black (D)
- Jacob Hummel (D)
- Scott Dieckhaus (R)
- Ben Harris (D)
- Charles Schlottach (R)
- Tom Loehner (R)
- Mike Bernskoetter (R)
- Jay Barnes (R)
- Rodney Schad (R)
- Wanda Brown (R)
- Caleb Jones (R)
- Stanley Cox (R)
- Sandy Crawford (R)
- Scott Largent (R)
- Denny Hoskins (R)
- Michael McGhee (R)
- Chris Molendorp (R)
- Rick Brattin (R)
- Barney Fisher (R)
- Mike Kelley (R)
- Tom Flanigan (R)
- Charlie Davis (R)
- Bill White (R)
- Bill Reiboldt (R)
- Bill Lant (R)
- Don Ruzicka (R)
- Sue Entlicher (R)
- Thomas Long (R)
- Charlie Denison (R)
- Eric Burlison (R)
- Melissa Leach (R)
- Sarah Lampe (D)
- Shane Schoeller (R)
- Lincoln Hough (R)
- Kevin Elmer (R)
- Raymond Weter (R)
- Lyle Rowland (R)
- Tony Dugger (R)
- Lyndall Fraker (R)
- Darrel Pollock (R)
- Don Wells (R)
- David A. Day (R)
- Keith Frederick (R)
- Jason Smith (R)
- Ward Franz (R)
- Paul Fitzwater (R)
- Steve Cookson (R)
- Todd Richardson (R)
- Diane Franklin (R)
- Shelley Keeney (R)
- Donna Lichtenegger (R)
- Wayne Wallingford (R)
- Billy Pat Wright (R)
- Ellen Brandom (R)
- Steve Hodges (D)
- Terry Swinger (D)
- Kent Hampton (R)
Republican (105) • Democratic (55) • Vacant (3) • Missouri General Assembly • Missouri House of Representatives • Missouri State Senate Categories:- 1959 births
- Living people
- Members of the Missouri House of Representatives
- Nyack College alumni
- People from Chicago, Illinois
- People from Norfolk County, Massachusetts
- People from St. Charles County, Missouri
- Women state legislators in Missouri
- Constitution Party (United States) politicians
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