Ozarks Profile

Speaker pro tem and 142nd District state representative in the Missouri House, representing parts of Christian and Greene counties, Kreider was first elected in 1992, then reelected in 1994, 1996 and 1998. He was president of the house's freshman class in 1992 and was elected speaker pro tem in 1996. Kreider serves on the Nixa and Ozark Parents As Teachers advisory boards, is a Republic A+ School Board member, a Nixa A+ School Board member, a member of the Nixa and Ozark chambers of commerce, the Christian County Sertoma Club, the Missouri Cattlemen's Association and the Christian County Farm Bureau.

Age: 43

No. of years in Springfield/area: Kreider has lived in Nixa since he was a child.

Education: Kreider graduated from Nixa High School and attended Southwest Missouri State University, receiving a degree in agricultural economics. However, he said his most important educational experiences have been the ones he's received running the family farm. "I took over the farm operation upon the death of my father when I was 15 years old. Nearly 30 years later, we're still going strong."

Early career: Kreider's first experience in politics came when he was elected student body president on the campaign to get the lunch menus posted in advance, to have the first school dance at Nixa High and to start the first school newspaper. Kreider said he and the student body were successful on all counts The Nixa Wingspan is still published today. In 1992, Kreider was encouraged to challenge the incumbent state representative who had held the office for 28 years. Kreider was the first Democrat elected to represent Christian County this century and the first House member from southwest Missouri elected to a House majority leadership position since 1955.

Current projects: "My main focus this session has been on passing tax cuts, including raising the personal exemption for all taxpayers, increasing the pension deduction for both private and public pensions and creating a tax credit for small businesses who incur costs for renovations to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. In addition, I sponsored three major farm bills for family farmers of Missouri. Finally, once again I have fought to fully fund the foundation formula for public education, to increase funding for A+ schools by $1.5 million and put more funding into early childhood programs."

Management philosophy: "First, I try to help the constituents of the 142nd District with their individual concerns and issues. Often, this involves making calls to various agencies, setting up meetings and getting some resolution, if possible, on the issue. Secondly, I attempt to sponsor and pass legislation that affects all Missourians. My approach to legislation is to focus first on working families, senior citizens and small businesses in order to preserve the middle class. I believe these are the folks who built this country, and we all have benefited from their blood and sweat. I don't believe government is the answer to most of our problems, but it still plays a very important role in our societyÐ it ensures fairness, it enforces justice and order, and helps preserve our democratic way of life."

Spare-time pursuits: Kreider said he doesn't have much time to spare, but the time he does have he spends with family and on the farm working cattle.

Family data: "Twenty-two years ago, I was lucky enough to convince a local girl, Debbie Neil, of Highlandville, to be my wife. Since then, we have had two wonderful girls, Lacey, 17, and Neeley, 11, who attend local public schools. My mother, sister and two brothers also live in southwest Missouri."

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