Whether hosting town halls in Phelps County or shaking hands in Dent, Jefferson County native Kathy Ellis has made her race known to the district.
Challenger to incumbent Jason Smith, Ellis is a registered psychotherapist and clinical social worker as well as an addiction counselor. Having received her Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Master of Social Work from Washington University, Ellis has also had her hand in multiple boards and private practices, including acting as director for a women’s half-way home.
“I’ve spent the greater portion of my life and certainly in my career trying to be in service to others,” Ellis said in a phone interview with the Phelps County Focus. “I know that sounds hokey, but the reality of it is that is what I’ve done, and it gives me great satisfaction. And that’s included now running for office.”
She totes herself as an individual who tries to find humor in her life, something she credits as part of the healing process for ourselves and those around us. She is a musician with skills on multiple instruments, most recently the violin. An outdoorsman at heart, she loves to hike and enjoys the country’s wonderful natural landscapes.
Ellis hails from Jefferson County, as her family has for the past six generations. She stated that she watched her county grow from what was once an agricultural hub to the now bustling urban setting it now is within only a few decades.
Ellis stated that her views of hard work came from seeing her grandfather’s dedication as a barber and her grandmother’s work at the postal office that marked her as an instrumental piece in beginning a union, despite the hardships of the Great Depression and the effect it took on all U.S. families. Ellis believes the perspective of her parents and grandparents helped to shape her ideas on fiscal policies now.
“They had a different perspective, you don’t spend money you don’t need to and you want to make sure you’re getting value for something while being as fiscally conservative as you can but also to meet certain needs,” Ellis said. “I think that’s a philosophy that I take with me into politics.”
Ellis’ political journey began in 2017 following the January Women’s March in Washington D.C. Ellis felt empowered following the rally after seeing people like her displaying their messages on signs and through speeches about their fears and concerns.
“You have to look at that and say ‘somebody has to do something’,” Ellis said. “I started to think about it and I thought I wasn’t going to start at the school board level, I’ll go big or go home and see what happens. After talking to my colleagues and getting their support… here I am today. (Two weeks) out from the election.”
With well over 50,000 miles on her vehicle, Ellis stated that her goal throughout her campaign trail was to meet with as many voters in the district as possible so she could learn what is most important for the area.
“I think there is very little difference between running for office as a public servant, not a politician, and being a social worker,” Ellis said. “There is just so much overlap. In the beginning when I began to talk to people were mad and angry or despondent, just everything in between about how they felt powerless with the (2016) election. I let them share what their fears were, and I saw the process where they became more empowered. That’s where we are today because people have felt empowered to do something, to get out and vote for the candidates that they want so they can be a part of the political structure.”
Ellis spoke about a woman she met at a meet-and-greet on her trek across the district, a mother of three who had not voted in a single previous election.
“I sat with her and explained that she was the most important person in terms of people I needed to speak with because she represented so many people who are struggling and want a better life,” Ellis said.
After learning of the hardships in the life of that woman, a recent family death due to an opioid overdose and a husband unable to work due to a work-related injury, Ellis helped the woman to join financial assistance programs to get her back on her feet. Months later Ellis reached out once more to find that she had managed to find stability once again and was working away from assistance; as well as that the woman had registered to vote.
“That’s the beauty of running for office is just sitting down with people and hearing their story. We all have a story and they are all important stories,” Ellis said. “When we don’t get to speak about that we get that sense that no one is listening, and that’s what we need to do in politics. We need to listen more, and we need to respond to not just what our own best interests are or what our own selfish ideas are, but listen to the people.”
In her time traveling and canvasing the district, Ellis stated she had met with, visited and enjoyed her time visiting with the agricultural communities that make up the area. She spoke about her time on her grandfather’s Hereford cattle farm and the impact that she saw on younger generations through programs like 4-H and FFA.
“The people in Dent county really spoke with me a lot about that,” Ellis said. “I got to have this opportunity to meet with all these wonderful young people who have a maturity beyond their age when they are in charge of their animal or their agriculture project. It’s just amazing and those kinds of kids have a wonderful and different perspective.”
Ellis stated she would very much like to see more access to agriculture programs like the 4-H in more urban areas, even in inner cities. She stated that the chance to work with animals or in an agriculture
project would benefit all youth.
“Something I think that has been remarkable while traveling is the consistency of which the entire district is saying the same thing,” Ellis said. “The resilience of people of this district, despite losing family members, losing hospital and medical services… they remain resilient and optimistic that we can figure this out and do something better. And that’s something I share with them. We can do something better and we can get a better way of life for our people.”
An ultimate goal for Ellis if she were to be placed in office would be to negotiate a new plan for the 8th congressional district.
“A comprehensive plan that will put people back to work in good paying jobs and give them the opportunity to stay in their communities with jobs that are already located there.” Ellis said. Along with this plan would bring changes to infrastructures, road care and availability of healthcare services.
“Traveling through our large, 30-county district has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I will be forever changed by it regardless of what happens,” Ellis said. “I want everyone in our district to have the opportunity to live out their dreams, to even begin to dare to have dreams. And when the steps are not available for them to get there, they should have the help that they need to get where they can. We shouldn’t have to worry about that in this country. Not on my watch.”
