Wick Thomas

Wick Thomas' career experience includes working as a librarian. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City and a graduate degree from Emporia State University.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in the small town of Drexel, Missouri and am a lifelong Missourian. As a graduate from UMKC with a BA in communications and a master of Library Science from Emporia State University, I have lent my skills to various nonprofits and campaigns over the years and have spoken nationally on various topics. I have been dedicated to public service and advocacy for Kansas City youth as the Teen-Services Librarian for the Kansas City Public Library, as Manager of Teen Programs for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and currently as a community college faculty librarian. You'll also often see me around the neighborhood volunteering at cleanups and community events. I am a graduate of Artist, Inc. and have dedicated much of my time fixing up my 130 year old house in Scarritt Renaissance, working on my garden, and running a business with my partner.

I am a member of or have recently volunteered for the following organizations:

Missourians For Constitutional Freedom

Greater Kansas City Women's Political Caucus

Don Bosco Centers

KC Parks Ambassadors

Guadalupe Centers

MO Jobs With Justice

League of Women Voters

Northeast Kansas City Historical Society

And many more...

Awards and Recognition:

Mover and Shaker – Library Journal

Best Activist in Kansas City – The Pitch Weekly

Keith Spare Leadership Award – The Civil Rights/Fair Housing Division of Kansas City

Building Bridges Award – UMKC LGBTQIA Resource Center

Creating Change Award – The National LGBTQ Taskforce

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?

Education - Every Missouri child should have access to free, quality public education regardless of zip code. As your representative, I will work to strengthen our public schools and fully fund our commitment to our kids. Every student deserves investment, and our teachers do too.

Libraries are essential to education. Those who are out of school and even kids who currently attend school deserve access to the resources public libraries provide. In office I will continue to fight against book bans and advocate for fully funding libraries in Missouri.

I support universal early childhood education, investment in higher education, and workforce training, to ensure all Missourians can gain the skills to compete in our economy.Safety - Many members of the 19th District feel unsafe, whether it be immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, kids performing school shooting drills, or small business owners in the heart of our community. We all deserve to feel safe in Missouri and our District. I will work to support our immigrant communities, overturn drag bans and attacks on bodily autonomy, and work toward common sense gun control policy.

No matter where you live in Missouri, the root causes of crime are the same: a lack of educational and work opportunities, along with drug addiction and poverty. Addressing these basic issues must always be central in any conversation about crime.Support - I will show up full-time, year-round for our community. I will be accessible and responsive to input, and I will put in the work. As State Representative, I will have the opportunity to connect local organizations and businesses with the resources & support they need to thrive. You will regularly see me me at parks cleanups and at each neighborhood association.

I'm a proud Union supporter and I will continue to advocate for the right of working people to be protected and make adequate wages in Missouri.

Quality, accessible, and affordable health care, including mental health care and abortion access, is every Missourian’s right. As your state representative, I’ll support common-sense measures like expanding Medicaid

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about libraries, schools, education, public spaces, beautifying the district, abortion access, healthcare access, unions, housing, the arts, LGBTQ issues, the environment, animal welfare, human rights, local control, youth advocacy, and voter activation.

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

Too many books to list. I'm a librarian and books have been my gateway to so many ways of thinking and living. I plan to host a monthly book club for the District focused on books and writers who have made real change in their communities.

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

Our elected officials need to be responsive and involved in our community. To know how to best represent the District, elected officials need to show up and talk to people regularly, be accessible, and be community minded. There are too many politicians who only show up during campaign season.

We've been running our campaign differently, we've been running it as a community benefit. Politicians get thousands of dollars in donations, and use it only on mailers that are immediately thrown in the trash and campaign events that are inaccessible to their constituents.

We've used that money to spread native plant seeds throughout the district, lead regular parks cleanups, register new voters, distribute books to youth in the community, lift up the voice of youth, and book free events for the District to enjoy.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I hope to leave a legacy that I contributed more than I criticized, that I was able to lift up the voices of my community, facilitate personal empowerment in our district, and that those around me feel heard and supported.

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

My first job was washing dishes in the small diner in my hometown. I'm from a working-class rural family and know what hard work means.

What is your favorite book? Why?

As a librarian I have a lot of favorite books, but one that I return to frequently is the Once and Future King. Arthur learning how to be a better human by living as different animals is a message that resonated deeply with me during college and I like to revisit it every few years.

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

The whole point of our government is that everyday people can run for elected public office. The idea that only career politicians or children of politicians should be allowed to be in government is a message created by those in power so that they can stay in power. It's time for a change.

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

Bernie Sanders. I met him in my early 20's and new then that he was a different kind of politician.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, PROMO PAC, LPAC, received Candidate Distinction Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate and Mental Health One. Many local neighborhood leaders and neighbors have endorsed the campaign.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

There needs to be more financial transparency in government and it needs to be possible for the public to access it easily. The current financial reporting system makes it difficult to know what special interests are supporting each campaign.

Wick Thomas did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a life-long resident of Missouri, I care deeply about the state and its residents. Between my upbringing in rural Missouri and my life in activism in Kansas City, I believe I have a unique perspective on what Missourians need and the kind of representation they need in the state legislature.

I will actively fight for every Missourian, and especially for the welfare of the marginalized members of our community. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I've helped fight for the rights and betterment of the LGBTQ+ people. I worked in the library and public school systems, educating teenagers and at-risk youth, and that experience solidified my belief that every person in this state, deserves a government that sees them and hears their voices-and that prioritizes the most marginalized people.

I've lived in District 19 for several years now. Our district houses a truly diverse group of passionate, hard working people from all and walks of life, with different cultures that enrich us and small businesses that are thriving. I will make every voice heard in the state legislature. The Missouri motto says that the welfare of the people is truly the supreme law. Together we'll make sure that our state holds that true.

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?

LGBTQ Rights - Missouri has introduced a flood of bills specifically targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth. I'm a member of the LGBTQ community, and we need representation in Jefferson City. I will fight for this community and truly serve as a representative for ALL Missourians.Women's Rights - Women need to be able to make medical decisions with their healthcare providers without the intrusion of the Missouri Legislature. Instead, we should be expanding women's healthcare options and making sure every woman in the state of Missouri has access to the resources she needs.Public Schools & Libraries - Public libraries and schools are the cornerstone to a functioning democracy but are constantly fighting for the funding they need. I've worked in these institutions: I will make sure teachers, librarians, and the youth they serve are represented in Jefferson City. ALL Missourians deserve access to quality schools and libraries.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

LGBTQ Rights, Women's Rights, Education, Healthcare Rights, Housing Equity, Immigrant Rights and Citizenship, Environmental Rights, Prison & Criminal Justice Reform, Pro-Union/ laborers rights, better access to Voter Registration, Anti-Death Penalty

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

"Gossip" - Pop Goes the World