Two candidates are running for the Missouri District 52 State Representative seat in the Aug. 4 Primary.
Newcomers Israel Baeza and Philip J. Sherman will be running for the Republican nomination.
The winner of the race will run against Rene Vance in the Nov. 4 general election.
Why are you running for office?
Baeza: I’m running because I believe rural Missouri deserves a strong, conservative voice in Jefferson City. Serving the people of Pettis County has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I’m ready to continue fighting for the values that make our communities strong. My wife and I are proud to raise our family in this community, where faith, hard work, and personal responsibility are a way of life. These are the values that shaped me growing up, and they’re the values I’ll take with me to the State Capitol. Missouri’s strength doesn’t come from Jefferson City but from rural communities like ours. It comes from the families who call this place home, the farmers who work the land, and the small businesses that keep our local economy strong. I’m running to make sure those voices are heard in Jefferson City and standing up for the freedoms we hold dear.
Sherman: 1. I want to be a public servant for “We the People,” who own the government. 2. Ever since I was 10, I’ve had this desire to solve problems that our government is supposed to solve. The government isn’t supposed to be the answer for everything. Abraham Lincoln spoke about how the government should only do for you what you cannot do for yourself. 3. I’m a prolife speaker (MrUnBorn.Life) and former State Board member of the Missouri Right to Life who wants to end the silent holocaust of the unborn. 4. To get Missouri back to the basics. To help Missouri be the best version of itself that it can be.
What are your qualifications?
Baeza: As a Conservative Republican, I have a proven record of delivering results while protecting taxpayers. Together, we have supported Missouri agriculture and improved local services without raising taxes. My decisions have always been grounded in the principles of faith, fiscal responsibility, and personal freedom. Less government is the best government. I’ve seen firsthand how excessive regulations, higher taxes, and government overreach hurt our farmers, small businesses, and working families. Because of that experience, I am more motivated than ever to continue fighting for common-sense policies that keep the government accountable and allow rural Missouri to thrive. Just as importantly, I’ve always believed that elected officials should be accessible to the people they represent. I’ve worked hard to listen first, be available, and earn the trust of the citizens I serve. If elected, I’ll continue to be a strong, conservative voice for rural Missouri and never forget that I’m there to represent the people back home.
Sherman: 1. I served in the military, including as a military policeman. 2. I have a political science degree from UCM and was a student senator while I was there. In that role, I served as the student representative on the 5-year strategic planning committee. 4. I’ve been involved in Republican politics here in Pettis County since 2000, when I graduated from high school. 5. I’ve been a Dollar General store manager at the busiest one in town, next to Country Kitchen on South Limit, across from the Missouri State Fairgrounds, so I know how to run a business and have received three District awards on behalf of the store. 7. I’m a logical, detailed, analytical, critical thinker who will look at legislation through the eyes of the Bible and the Constitution, much like our founding fathers did.
What would be your top priorities in office?
Baeza: I think we need to get back to common sense leadership that truly reflects the will of the people. That means championing policies that strengthen the everyday lives of Missouri’s working families. First, we must fight to protect our Constitutional freedoms, defend the sanctity of life, promote fiscal responsibility, and fight for smaller governments. Just as importantly, we must continue to protect our local farmland from unwanted landfills, overbearing solar development, and predatory data centers. Through these priorities, I am committed to creating an environment where Missourians can thrive through hard work, personal responsibility, and independence, not reliance on government.
Sherman: 1. Repair the moral fabric of Missouri. 2. Bring about greater transparency for you, the owner of the infrastructure. In other words, don’t hide things. 3. Less tax burden. Get rid of the personal property tax on vehicles and the State Income tax, just not the Amendment 5 way, which is a new tax. 4. Get rid of fraud, waste, and abuse at every level of state government, which I’m allergic to.
What goals do you have for office if you are elected?
Baeza: On day one, my goal will be to make sure Missouri’s budget is sustainable and accountable to the taxpayers. The next legislature will face difficult budget decisions, and I believe my experience as a county commissioner has prepared me to bring a level-headed approach to those conversations. Missourians work hard for their money, and it is time for the government to live within its means. I also want to focus on reducing unnecessary red tape by reviewing outdated statutes. This is the kind of behind-the-scenes work that’s necessary to make government more efficient. Workforce development and rural healthcare are also top priorities. We must be innovative and work with the professionals on finding practical solutions. My goals are simple: stand up for taxpayers, push back against government overreach, and protect the rural Missouri values that built this state. We have a responsibility to ensure future generations inherit the same freedoms and opportunities that we were blessed to have.
Sherman: 1. Pass equal rights for the unborn children. 2. Get sexual books out of public school libraries. 3. End the personal property tax and state income tax. 4. Solve the root issue of the trash accumulation problem via incinerators and other out-of-the-box thinking at the state level. 5. Pass legislation against data centers.
Why should people vote for you?
Baeza: I believe people deserve a representative who understands them, listens to them, and remembers who they work for. I know what it feels like to be on the other side of the government, feeling like decisions are being made, and your voice is not being heard. That experience has shaped the way I serve and why I have always made myself accessible to those I represent. As a county commissioner, I have faced difficult decisions that required thoughtful leadership. I have always been willing to think independently, ask tough questions, and stand up, even when it meant challenging those in leadership. As your State Representative, I will always remain accountable to you. When it comes time to vote, I will pray for guidance, follow my convictions, and make sure the voices of the 52nd District are heard. I would be honored to continue serving you and I humbly ask for your vote on August 4th in the Republican primary.
Sherman: I’m the candidate who is more familiar with how the state government works and the process. I’m not going to go to Jefferson City to go along, to get along, or become swampy. You need to meet with the people from your district and listen to individuals, not associations. I’m willing to listen to everyone as we are all part of We the People, the owners of the government. We all have valid points we can learn from, just as Charlie Kirk understood. I also have a formula for how I will vote for or against legislation. 1) Is it biblical? We get our three branches of government (Isaiah 33:22) and our four levels of government (Exodus 18: 14-26). 2) Is it constitutional? We have been guaranteed a republic by the guarantee clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 4). Does it create less or more regulation? We must deregulate where appropriate, allowing for true trade amongst each other while ensuring the government infrastructure stays within its boundaries.
Compiled by Chris Howell.
