Smithville Police Chief Ken Wilson has announced his candidacy for the Missouri State Legislature-District 12 citing the need for “elected officials who have the safety and welfare of the citizens as their first priority.”

Wilson is seeking to represent the newly created 12th Legislative District that just came about through redistricting.

Redistricting is done every 10 years based on the most recent census. The new district does not contain an incumbent representative.

Wilson says, “This new seat creates a great opportunity for someone who has served and worked with the people in this area to go to Jefferson City and make a real difference in their lives and future.”

“We have a lot of challenges ahead of us and not just state generated issues. The state legislature also has to deal with federal mandates including provisions in what is known as 'ObamaCare'. I also will work to remove non-Kansas City areas in Clay and Platte County from the Kansas City Zoological District which was recently successful in adding a sales tax on Clay County voters.”

In regards to tackling the state budget shortfall, Wilson says, “We need more taxpayers--not more taxes.”

Wilson has been the chief of police in Smithville since 2001 and served as the interim city administrator in 2010.

Prior to becoming chief, he was commander of the Platte County Sheriff's Detention Division for 14 years.

He serves as pastor of the Edgerton Christian Church and is an instructor at the Missouri Western Regional Law Enforcement Academy.

Wilson received a BS in Criminal Justice from MO Western; an MS in Business Administration from Kennedy-Western University; is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and of the US Department of Justice's Executive Excellence Program.

Ken and his wife, Melissa, have been married for 38 years. Melissa is a vice president at Platte Valley Bank, where she has worked for 21 years. They have two grown children, Rebecca and Justin, and one grandchild, two-year-old Emily.

The new district includes parts of Platte and Clay counties and the towns of Camden Point, Kearney, Platte City, Ridgely and Smithville.