ISSUES

An Economy That Works for Working People

A strong economy isn’t measured by the stock market; it’s measured by whether a hardworking family in Pettis County can balance their checkbook at the end of the month.

Curbing Inflation: I will advocate for state-level policies that provide relief from rising costs and oppose hidden taxes that hurt those on a fixed income.

Investing in Local Jobs: A strong economy is one that works for everyone. As your state rep, I’ll fight for those who truly build up our economy—our workers—for the wages, benefits, and protections they deserve. I’ll support investments in educational opportunities to support a 21st-century workforce. I’ll work for policies that support local businesses that provide good jobs in our state and keep our economy growing. And I’ll work to bring new businesses here that want to capitalize on our skilled Missouri workforce and quality of life. But I’ll always put workers’ interests before the special interests of large corporations.

Support for Our Seniors: As a board member for the Sedalia Senior Center, I know that inflation hits our seniors hardest. I will fight to protect Social Security and Medicare from any cuts or “raiding” of funds.

Honoring the Constitution & Our Service Members

The unauthorized and unconstitutional use of our military without proper Congressional approval is a violation of the “Sacred Trust” between our government and its people.

• Stop the Spending Drain: Decades of undeclared overseas conflicts have cost taxpayers trillions of dollars—money that should be invested right here in Missouri's infrastructure, schools, and communities.
• Fighting Inflation at the Source: Unchecked foreign military spending is a primary driver of rising prices. It fuels federal deficits, devalues the dollar, and forces families in Pettis County to pay more for gas, groceries, and basic necessities.
• Protecting Our Troops & Force Readiness: Continuous unauthorized overseas entanglements deplete vital munitions stockpiles and severely overextend our service members. Pushing troops into continuous combat rotations without a clear constitutional mandate harms troop welfare, worsens recruitment crises, and weakens overall force readiness.
• Restoring Our National Defense Arsenal: Sustained strikes and air defense engagements in Middle Eastern conflicts have depleted key interceptor and precision-missile inventories to critical levels. Our military assets and defense supply chains must be safeguarded for core national defense—not exhausted on undeclared foreign wars.

Quality Education

Investing in Missouri's Future: As a former school bus driver and substitute teacher, I’ve seen our education system from the driver’s seat and the front of the classroom. I know that the success of our community starts with our students' success.

Prioritizing Public Schools: Our tax dollars belong in our public classrooms. With Missouri currently ranking 48th in educational funding and 50th for early childhood education, our state is leaving our youngest learners behind before they even step into a kindergarten classroom. I will fight to reverse these trends and ensure that every child in Pettis County has access to a high-quality education, regardless of their zip code.

Supporting Our Educators: Missouri consistently ranks far too low in educator compensation, currently placing 49th nationally for starting teacher pay. To keep the best and brightest teachers in our district rather than losing them to neighboring states, we must treat them like the professionals they are and provide competitive salaries and benefits.

Expanding Vocational and Technical Training: Drawing on my background as a military technical instructor, I know that not every career path requires a four-year degree. I will champion expanded funding for the trades and vocational programs that prepare our students for high-paying, skilled jobs right here at home.

Safe and Reliable Transportation: Every student deserves a safe ride to school. I will advocate for better funding for school transportation and infrastructure to ensure our rural routes are safe and efficient.

Accessible and Affordable Housing

Housing is a foundation of a stable community. Right now, too many people in our district are being priced out of the neighborhoods they helped build.

Lowering the Cost of Living: I will support initiatives to increase affordable housing availability and provide property tax relief for seniors and veterans, helping them stay in their homes.

Cutting Red Tape: We need to streamline the local development process while ensuring new housing remains high-quality and safe for our families.

Infrastructure First: Housing growth must be paired with smart infrastructure—better roads, reliable utilities, and high-speed internet for every household.

Standing with Pettis County Farmers

Agriculture is the lifeblood of Pettis County, but today our producers are caught in the crossfire of global conflict and trade instability that threaten the very survival of the family farm.

Safeguarding our farmland and rural legacy: Rene Vance is committed to standing up for Pettis County’s agricultural heritage and safeguarding our local family farms. Our farmland is the backbone of our local economy and our community’s way of life—not a target for regional landfills, energy-draining data centers, or predatory industrial development. Rene believes land-use decisions must respect property rights, protect clean air and water, and keep local control where it belongs: with the families who live, work, and farm right here in Pettis County. In Jefferson City, Rene will fight tirelessly to defend our rural legacy and ensure local community voices are always heard above outside special interests.

Reclaiming Lost International Markets: For decades, Missouri grain has fed the world. However, recent tariff wars have left us without a seat at the table. Since 2025, we’ve seen a staggering decline in international grain sales—with soybean exports to major partners like China plummeting by over 70%. When we use tariffs as a blunt instrument, our competitors in South America step in to fill the void, and once those trade relationships are broken, they are incredibly difficult to win back. I will fight for a trade policy that prioritizes market access over political posturing.

Lowering Input Costs Amid Global Conflict: The current conflict in Iran has crippled the supply of fertilizer components that flow through the Strait of Hormuz. We’ve seen nitrogen and urea prices spike by over 30% in a single week. I will advocate for state-level oversight to prevent price gouging and support initiatives that reduce our dependence on foreign fertilizer.

Ending the “Tariff Tax” on Tools: Tariffs don’t just hurt what we sell; they hurt what we buy. The rising cost of steel and imported machinery parts acts as a hidden tax on every farmer in District 52. An imported tractor that cost $500,000 now faces an $80,000 duty—that is money coming directly out of a family’s pocket.

Biofuels and Energy Independence: To offset the loss of international sales, we must lean into Missouri-made solutions. I support expanding our role in biofuel production—using our own corn and soybeans to fuel our state—reducing our vulnerability to global energy shocks and creating a reliable domestic market for our grain.

Why Rene Vance for Agriculture?

A “Fixer” Perspective: Rene understands that you can’t run a farm—or a country—on ad-hoc bailouts. We need long-term stability and predictable markets.

An Airman’s View of the World: Rene’s service in the Air Force taught her how global instability in places like the Persian Gulf translates directly into $800-per-ton fertilizer prices back home in Sedalia.

A Neighbor Who Shows Up: Whether it’s serving on the Senior Center board or advocating for our 1,000+ local farms, Rene is ready for her Second Service.

Healthcare: Delivering Care, Not Red Tape

In the military, we focus on the mission. In Missouri, our healthcare mission should be simple: ensuring that every neighbor can get the care they need without breaking the bank. Whether it’s a senior in Sedalia choosing between medicine and meals, or a young family one emergency away from debt, the current system isn't working for us.

• Protecting the "Sacred Trust" for Seniors: As a volunteer at the Sedalia Senior Center, I’ve seen the toll that rising costs take on those on a fixed income. I will fight any attempt to cut Medicare benefits and will advocate for state-level caps on life-saving prescription drugs, like insulin and heart medication.
• Women's Healthcare Rights: My stance is unwavering on protecting individual freedoms and personal privacy against escalating government intrusion. "Missouri women are facing an unprecedented assault on their fundamental healthcare rights, from government surveillance and tracking initiatives to legislative attempts to monitor private medical data," Vance stated. "When politicians and agencies seek to intrude on private medical decisions, they reduce women to second-class citizens. As an Air Force veteran who swore an oath to defend freedom, I will not stand by while the government overreaches into our private lives. Every Missourian deserves complete autonomy over their medical care, free from government surveillance and registries
• Supporting Rural Hospitals and Clinics: Our rural communities can’t thrive without local access to care. I will work to secure funding and incentives to keep our local clinics open and to attract more doctors and nurses to Pettis County.
• Cutting Veteran Red Tape: As a retired Air Force and National Guard veteran, I know that the transition to civilian care is often a battle of its own. I will champion state-level initiatives that streamline services for our veterans, focusing on mental health support and ensuring our heroes get the benefits they earned.
• Transparency in Pricing: You shouldn't get a "surprise bill" weeks after a doctor’s visit. I support "Truth in Billing" laws that require healthcare providers and insurance companies to be upfront about costs before the procedure happens.
• Mental Health and Addiction Recovery: We need to treat mental health and the opioid epidemic as the public health crises they are. I will advocate for increased funding for community-based recovery programs focused on treatment and helping our neighbors get back on their feet.

A Secure Community for Every Neighbor

Safety is the foundation of a thriving community. As a retired veteran, I know that peace of mind only comes when the rule of law is respected, and our first responders have the tools they need to succeed. I’m committed to ensuring Pettis County remains a safe place to raise a family and grow a business.

• Defending Your Second Amendment Rights: As an Air Force veteran, I took an oath to defend the Constitution. I believe every law-abiding Missourian has the fundamental right to protect themselves and their families. I will oppose any unconstitutional overreach that threatens our right to bear arms.
  
• Standing with Our First Responders: Our police, sheriffs, and emergency personnel put their lives on the line every day. I will fight for the funding and resources necessary for competitive pay, advanced training, and modern equipment. We must support those who protect us.
• Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis: The influx of illegal drugs is a direct threat to our families. I support a "Zero Tolerance" approach for traffickers while expanding access to community-based recovery programs for those struggling with addiction. We need to stop the poison at the source and help our neighbors get back on their feet.
• Safe Roads and Rapid Response: From my time as a delivery driver, I know which intersections are dangerous and where our infrastructure is failing. Public safety includes ensuring our roads are well-maintained and that emergency services can reach our rural neighbors without delay.
• Accountability in the Justice System: I believe in a system that is fair but firm. We must ensure that violent offenders are held accountable while also looking for common-sense ways to reduce recidivism and keep non-violent individuals from becoming part of a revolving door in our local jails.

Fiscal Responsibility: Protecting the Taxpayer’s Checkbook

In the Air Force, I was trained to look for the "glitch" in the system—the small inefficiency that could ground an entire mission. I’m bringing that same "mechanic’s mindset" to Jefferson City. Missourians work too hard for their money to see it wasted on special interests or unconstitutional programs.

• Auditing for Waste and Fraud: Government should be lean and efficient. I support a top-to-bottom audit of state spending to identify and eliminate the "glitch"—the redundant programs and bureaucratic waste that drain our treasury without helping our citizens.
• Balanced Budgets, Every Time: Families in Pettis County have to balance their checkbooks at the kitchen table every night. I believe the state should be held to that same standard. I will oppose any measure that seeks to spend money we don’t have or kicks the debt down the road to our children.
• Ending the "Conflict Tax" and Inflationary Spending: As discussed in my first priority, unconstitutional federal spending fuels the inflation we feel at the local pump and grocery store. I will advocate for state-level fiscal policies that act as a firewall against federal overreach and keep more of your hard-earned dollars in your local economy.
• Property Tax Relief for Seniors and Veterans: Our seniors and veterans shouldn't be taxed out of the homes they spent a lifetime building. I support freezing or capping property taxes for those on a fixed income, ensuring that a spike in home values doesn't force a family to move.
• Truth and Transparency in Spending: You deserve to know exactly where your tax dollars are going. I will fight for "Open Book" legislation that makes state spending easily accessible to every citizen online. No more hidden fees or back-room deals.

Integrity First

In the Air Force, "Integrity First" wasn't just a slogan—it was a core value we lived by every day. When you’re maintaining multi-million dollar equipment, there is no room for cutting corners or hiding mistakes. I believe you should expect that same level of honesty from your representative in Jefferson City.

• Ending the "Pay-to-Play" Culture: I am running to represent the families of Pettis County, not high-priced lobbyists or special interest groups. I support strict limits on lobbyist gifts and will advocate for "Cooling Off" periods that prevent politicians from becoming lobbyists the moment they leave office.
• Sunlight is the Best Disinfectant: You shouldn't need a law degree to find out how your representative voted or who is funding their campaign. I support total transparency in state government, including making all committee meetings and floor votes easily accessible via live stream and searchable public records.
• No More Back-Room Deals: Too much of Missouri’s business is done behind closed doors. I will fight for "Open Table" negotiations on major spending bills, ensuring that the public—and the press—have a seat at the table before our tax dollars are committed.
• Accountability to the Constitution: Every official in Jefferson City takes an oath to the Constitution, but far too many treat it as a suggestion. I will be a watchdog for Constitutional overreach, ensuring that every bill passed respects the rule of law and the rights of the people.
• A Representative Who Shows Up: Ethics starts with being accessible. As your State Representative, I will hold regular, publicized town halls in District 52. Whether I’m delivering a package or a speech, my door will always be open to the neighbors I serve.

One Team, One Mission

In the Air Force, we learned early on that the mission only succeeds when we work together. On a flight line or in a maintenance hangar, it doesn't matter where you came from, what you look like, or how you pray—it only matters that you do your job with excellence and treat your fellow Airmen with respect. I believe Missouri should operate the same way.

• Equality of Opportunity: I believe in a Missouri where every person has a fair shot at the American Dream. I will support policies that ensure hiring and housing decisions are based on merit, hard work, and character, not on who you are or where you come from.
• Respecting the Dignity of Every Neighbor: As a delivery driver, I’ve been to every corner of this district. I know our community is diverse, with different stories, but we all want the same things: safe neighborhoods, good schools, and a fair shake. I will always stand for the dignity of every Missourian and oppose any effort to treat our neighbors as "second-class" citizens.
• Protecting Constitutional Rights: Our Constitution was designed to protect individual rights against the overreach of the powerful. I will be a watchdog for those rights, ensuring that no Missourian is targeted or discriminated against by their government.
• Fairness in the Workplace: Our economy thrives when everyone can participate. I support common-sense protections that ensure our workplaces remain professional, productive, and free from harassment or bias, allowing Missouri’s workforce to remain the best in the nation.
• A Community for Everyone: Whether you are a veteran returning home, a young family starting out, or a senior who has lived in Sedalia for eighty years, you belong here. I am running to represent all the people of District 52, and my door will always be open to every neighbor, regardless of their background.