Stephen Webber (born June 8, 1983) is the former Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party.[1] Webber served as a Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2009 to 2016, representing the 46th District in central Missouri. Before taking office, Webber served two tours of duty in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps. He resides in Columbia. Webber was a potential candidate for Missouri governor but did not enter the race .[2]
Stephen Webber | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party | |
| In office December 4, 2016 – December 1, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Roy Temple |
| Succeeded by | Jean Peters Baker |
| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 46th district | |
| In office January 7, 2009 – January 9, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Jeff Harris |
| Succeeded by | Martha Stevens |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 8, 1983 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Saint Louis University (BA) University of Missouri, Columbia (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2004 2006–2007 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Background and education
editWebber attended The American Legion Boys State of Missouri in 2000.[3] He is a 2001 graduate of Hickman High School in Columbia, MO.[4] He received his bachelor's degree in economics from Saint Louis University in 2006.[5] Webber received his J.D. in 2013 from the University of Missouri School of Law and is a licensed attorney in the State of Missouri.[6]
Career
editWebber has served two tours of duty in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps.[7][8] His first tour, which began in 2004 and lasted 7 months, found him stationed outside Abu Ghraib prison. In 2006, he returned to Iraq, this time to Fallujah, as a squad leader of 12 other Marines.[5][9]
After returning from Iraq, he worked as an aide to Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in Washington, D.C.[5]
Webber completed his Juris Doctor in 2013 at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and is licensed to practice law in the State of Missouri.
Political career
editElection to State House
editDemocratic primary
editOn February 19, 2008, Webber announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination to replace Representative Jeff Harris as the member for the 23rd District in the Missouri House of Representatives.[9] Harris, a Democrat, had previously announced he would not run for reelection in order to run for attorney general of Missouri.[10]
Webber defeated opponent Cande Iveson in the August 5, 2008 Democratic primary election, with 3,391 votes to her 1,735,[11] or 66.2 percent to 33.8 percent of the vote.[12]
During the primary campaign, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported that Webber had received a number of "high-powered endorsements" from "education groups, labor unions and a bevy of Columbia political figures"[13] including former Missouri governor Roger B. Wilson[12] and local Democratic booster Bruce Wilson.
General election
editWebber ran unopposed in the November 4th, 2008 general election,[14][15] winning 100% of the vote[16] and making him the youngest representative in the state.[17]
In office
editUpon election, Webber and fellow incoming representatives Mary Still and Chris Kelly announced a number of legislative initiatives, vowing to increase funding for the University of Missouri,[18] add "robo-calls" to Missouri's No Call List,[19] increase state restrictions on short-term or "payday" loans,[20] and change Missouri election law to allow early voting.[21]
During his first term as representative, Webber sat on the Rules Committee, a Special Standing Committee on Workforce Development and Workplace Safety, and the Homeland Security Committee.[22][23]
State Senate elections
editIn April 2015 State Rep. Stephen Webber announced his intention to seek the 19th District State Senate seat. In his announcement Webber described the importance of the Mid-Missouri community, "When I was sitting in Fallujah, the place I wanted to come back to was Boone County, it wasn't anywhere else in the world," Webber said. "The community has invested a lot in me and I want to make sure we invest in the next generation of Missourians."[24] The incumbent State Senator, Kurt Schaefer, was term limited. Webber was unopposed in the August 2016 Democratic primary election, and in November he faced Republican state Representative Caleb Rowden. District 19 was made up of two counties: Boone and Cooper, with 91% of the votes cast in Boone and only 9% cast in Cooper. Webber narrowly won Boone by a margin of 1,063 votes, but Rowden won Cooper by a landslide of 3,219 votes, giving Rowden the win district-wide.
In February of 2024, Webber filed to run for District 19 again, which is currently made up of only Boone County, and is unopposed again in the Democratic primary.[25]
Electoral history
editState Representative
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Stephen Webber | 16,862 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican | none | 0 | 0.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Stephen Webber | 9,370 | 67.99 | ||
| Republican | Paul S. Szopa | 4,411 | 32.01 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Stephen Webber | 12,202 | 65.02 | ||
| Republican | Fred Berry | 6,564 | 34.98 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Stephen Webber | 7,948 | 100.00 | ||
| Republican | NONE | 0 | 0 | ||
State Senate
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Caleb Rowden | 45,335 | 51.22% | ||
| Democratic | Stephen Webber | 43,179 | 48.78% | ||
| Total votes | 88,514 | 100.00% | |||
References
edit- ^ Mannies, Jo (15 November 2018). "Missouri Democratic Party chairman won't seek another term". news.stlpublicradio.org. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Jason (4 December 2018). "New Missouri Democratic vice chair says the party can attract both urban and rural voters". www.ksmu.org. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
- ^ "Who's Who of Missouri Boys State". moboysstate.org. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
- ^ "Military Notes". Columbia Daily Tribune. April 27, 2003. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ a b c Barker, Jacob (July 28, 2008). "Primary primer: Webber, although young, touts his wealth of life experience". Columbia Missourian. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Santiago, Christina (April 9, 2015). "Rep. Stephen Webber running for state senate". KOMU. Archived from the original on 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
- ^ Keller, Rudi (October 24, 2008). "Federal programs ease voting for those serving in military overseas". Southeast Missourian. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Greaney, T.J. (September 2, 2008). "An outpouring of support". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ a b Rosenbaum, Jason (February 20, 2008). "Local Marine to run for seat in state House". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Jason (June 22, 2008). "Some area lawmakers are bound to change in this fall's elections". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Barker, Jacob (August 6, 2008). "Webber, Still win Democratic nods for state House seats". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ a b Rosenbaum, Jason (August 6, 2008). "Webber easily wins 23rd seat". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Rosenbaum, Jason (July 23, 2008). "War vet gets high-level support". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Heavin, Janese (October 30, 2008). "Students get taste of politics". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Dieterich, Chris (November 5, 2008). "Unopposed 23rd District candidate keeps busy on Election Day". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ "Summary Report - Boone County, Missouri". Boone County Clerk's Office. November 4, 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Aldrich, Dick (December 22, 2008). "Youngest Lawmaker Prepares for First Session". Missouri House of Representatives [1]. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ Slavit, Mark (November 20, 2008). "Freshmen legislators want more university funding". Connect Mid-Missouri. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Heavin, Janese (December 1, 2008). "Bill would cap payday loan rates". Columbia Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Tsukayama, Haley (December 3, 2008). "Proposed legislation to restrict payday loans". Columbia Missourian. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ Waters, Henry J. III (November 13, 2008). "Early voting". Columbia Missourian. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved 2008-07-06.
- ^ "Representative Stephen Webber". Missouri House of Representatives (http://house.mo.gov). Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ Denney, Andrew (January 19, 2009). "Columbia representatives find their committee assignments". The Maneater. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ Keller, Rudi (9 April 2015). "Webber announces plans to seek Senate seat in 2016". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ^ "UNOFFICIAL Candidate Filing List". Missouri Secretary of State. March 26, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ Boone County Election Archives-November 4, 2008 General Election-District 23-Retrieved July 6, 2009
- ^ Boone County Election Archives-November 2, 2010 General Election-District 23-Retrieved November 6, 2010
- ^ Carnahan, Robin. "Missouri Secretary of State". Missouri Secretary of State Election Night Results. MO Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ^ Kander, Jason. "Missouri Secretary of State". Missouri Secretary of State Election Night Results. MO SOS. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ^ "Election Results; Official Election Returns" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. December 7, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2024.