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After serving in both houses of the Missouri Legislature, state Sen. Rick Brattin argues that he has the necessary political experience and knowledge to serve in Congress
Brattin is one of six Republican candidates running in Missouri's 5th Congressional District in the Aug. 4 primary. He said his reputation as a conservative who holds firm to his values and beliefs will help him serve the district effectively.
He believes he has the correct vision to flip the district red and replace Emmanuel Cleaver, who the winner of the Republican Primary will run against on Nov. 4.
Brattin was born and raised in Greenwood, and graduated from Lee's Summit High School. Brattin served in the Marine Corps for six years before starting a construction company, which he has owned and operated for 20 years.
He eventually decided to run for the Missouri Legislature, where he served in the House for 14 years and the Senate for six years. He argued that his background makes him the most prepared candidate.
"It's extremely important and vital that we have a [candidate] who can hit the ground running when they get to Congress," Brattin said. "The legislature is an extremely complex animal, and having legislative experience is crucial."
Brattin’s state Senate district currently encompasses Johnson, Bates and Cass counties. He currently resides in Cass County with his wife and five children, which is outside Missouri's 5th Congressional District. If elected, Brattin said he would move to Johnson County.
Brattin decided to get involved in politics in 2010 following former President Barack Obama's election. As a business owner, he said he was disappointed with the direction of the nation and believed the government was standing in the way of young entrepreneurs.
"It felt like the government was an obstacle and roadblock every step of the way," Brattin said. "The government was a hindrance and not a beneficiary for the people trying to be successful business owners."
Brattin said he has had the opportunity to hear additional concerns from voters. While campaigning, he said many people are hoping to create immigration solutions. He argued that resolving concerns around immigration can result in other issues being fixed as well, such as health care, employment and housing.
Brattin claimed that some immigrants are coming to the United States with a hatred for the nation, and he argued that they should assimilate into American traditions. He believes that these individuals should be deported to ensure that current American citizens can prosper.
He is also worried about fraud within the federal government. He believes several individuals are abusing the system while everyday citizens are concerned with the cost of living.
"Americans are struggling to pay for gas, and we have a bunch of thieves gaming the system," Brattin said. "It's a huge disservice to the taxpayers."
Brattin said he is the best candidate to address these issues in Congress because he has already helped resolve them while serving in the Missouri Legislature. He argued that he is the only individual in the race who has helped fix issues such as tax cuts, public safety and welfare reform.
"Voters are clamoring for people who are going to do what they say," Brattin said. "If you look at the first list of things that I ran on, those are the things I have actually delivered."
As a result of the diverse views of the new congressional district, Brattin said many issues defy party lines, such as creating safe streets and effective school systems. He argued, however, that he currently views the Democratic Party as a radical group, which would make it difficult for him to compromise on many other issues.
He argued that he would provide a perspective that Missouri's 5th Congressional District has not experienced. He added that his background differs from that of most elected officials, which makes him best suited to serve in Congress.
"I'm a blue-collar worker, and we don't need more attorneys in Congress," Brattin said. "We need people who have worked by the sweat of their brow representing us, and that is what I bring to the table."
To learn more about Brattin and his campaign, voters can visit rickbrattin.com or the Rick Brattin for Congress Facebook page.
