Marvin Manring

Marvin Manring was born in Albany, Missouri. He earned a bachelor's degree from Central Methodist College in 1985 and pursued his graduate education at Central Missouri State University and Southwest Baptist University. His career experience includes working as a music educator.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a 35-year Missouri public school music educator, raised on a farm in Northwest Missouri in a family of eight children. Farm life was rigorous and rewarding, led by parents who grew up in the Depression and came of age during the Second World War. They made sure each of their children earned a college degree and left a legacy of hard work and community service.

I graduated from Central Methodist College (now University) in Fayette and learned my trade in two school districts before moving to Stockton in 1993. My experiences as a teacher, band clinician, and music evaluator have taken me to every corner of the state, giving me a unique perspective on our state's economic diversity and disparity.

Throughout my teaching career I have been involved with community service organizations and local boards of governance, and have also been active in advancing issues through my professional education associations. I have strong convictions about citizen participation in the decisions that affect all of us, and have encouraged my students to get involved by setting an example.

My wife Mary Anne and I have raised two children who are enjoying successful careers, one abroad, and one here in the States. Our granddaughter was born overseas during a military posting. Our families have always enjoyed rich discussion on current issues, focused on the action we can take to improve the circumstances of others.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Missouri needs legislative leadership that focuses on the needs of the people rather than the benefits of special interests.Education in any form-primary/secondary, advanced, vocational & job training-is crucial to the economic success in Missouri.The General Assembly should implement voter ballot initiatives, not legislate around them.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education funding, healthcare (Medicaid expansion), and women's rights.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My parents, first and foremost...they worked hard throughout their lives for family and community and made sure that the next generation was in a better place. Teachers, especially music teachers, who are so giving and selfless, have been models for me through my career. Men and women of strong personal convictions, such as Harry Truman, are constant examples of people who are thrust into historical situations and rise to the occasion.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Ivan Reitman's movie "Dave" might be a little more lighthearted but always appealed to me as a message to do the right thing in difficult or overwhelming circumstances. I've read through presidential biographies of Truman and Wilson to gain a greater understanding of the better qualities of leadership (as well as the pitfalls). As a younger reader, I enjoyed a good deal of Bradbury and Vonnegut as examples of what's possible in the future-both promising and dystopian. I think each of these authors offer cautionary tales about our need to bring everyone into the future together.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, frankness, and empathy. We need more people in elected positions who can check their egos at the door of government, listen to all sides of debate, and listen to their own conscience.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

The ability to connect and find common ground with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The successful legislator opens and maintains communication in both directions as a liaison between legislature and constituent. The responsible legislator performs as an advocate for the constituency in the governing body, addressing individual needs as well as the needs of the whole.

What legacy would you like to leave?

To return a sense of cooperation to the state's legislative chambers and to be a part of guaranteeing fairly-apportioned representative districts across the state.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first moon landing in 1969. I was six years old and got to stay up late!

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Aside from growing up around work related to farming, I was a counter server and cook at a local restaurant for my last three years of high school. I balanced a number of extracurricular activities with roughly 25 hours a week, managing a kitchen, prioritizing assignments, and working to keep patrons satisfied.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Charles Kuralt's "A Life On The Road." I enjoy essays about all facets of American life, and it contributed to a lifelong desire to travel and see new places.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Just about anyone in the Marvel Comics Universe. (Not just because of the movies, I was a longtime reader of the original comics.)

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

The daily playlist in my head is a jukebox of band music, 70's AM radio, Beatlemania, and Christmas pop.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Delegating the work. Too often, I decide to just 'do it myself.'

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

I do ascribe to the idea of the House as the "people's chamber" and a clearing house for legislative issues of a wide variety of priorities. Yes, it's a loud and sometimes contentious place that showcases the issues, but a necessary part of public debate. Conversely, the Senate should function as a calmer, quieter deliberating body that sifts through House bills for worthwhile consideration. Each serves as a representation of the overall experience of each body's members-the House is a mix of a variety of professions, while the Senate usually is composed of seasoned legislators with institutional memory and experience in crafting policy.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, primarily through service in public boards or policy committees on a local or regional level. However, I also feel that the General Assembly (especially the House) benefits from a wide range of life and career experiences.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Budget constraints, especially relating to infrastructure of transportation systems and education needs.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

Agreement on a clear vision between the chief executive and legislative leaders that identifies crucial needs and sets a clear path to achieving meaningful action, rather than laying down an unattainable agenda and wasting what could be a productive legislative calendar.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes, there's no other way to reach consensus within either chamber. This is why I feel that the House must have diversity in backgrounds and life experiences-to create a legislative body that understands many points of view and doesn't shut any constituent out of the process.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

The current constitutional requirements of the Clean Missouri Initiative, which calls for a bipartisan committee to evaluate and recommend legislative boundaries in the state.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Education as a primary assignment. Health services, transportation, and tourism are also committees of interest.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I am ready to accept assignments as the party leaders designate.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Former MO State Senator Ted House, and former MO State Rep./State Senator/Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson. Both served with integrity and dignity, and reached across the aisle to advance meaningful legislation.

On the national level, Sen. Harry Truman and Claire McCaskill. (Both showed up and did the hard work to ferret out misuse of funds, cut waste, and help government work more efficiently.)

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

As a county hospital trustee, I have been watching the gradual erosion of the public healthcare offerings as private for-profit hospitals grab a larger slice of the pie. Missouri has resisted Medicare expansion for years, further squeezing the budgets of these needed facilities. Closure of the Cedar County Memorial Hospital would not only impact jobs in the county, but eliminate a vital facility in the area.

Over my years as an educator, I have taught, advised, and cared for the well-being of many students. One student lived with grandparents deep in the woods with no electricity (meaning no running water either from the well pump). Working with the Stockton United Methodist Men and the Sac-Osage Electric Cooperative, we were able to cut a right-of-way and raise funds to run power to their home. Giving a family a chance to live better and provide more for a young adult (now a high school graduate!) was a tremendous experience.