Vote Banderman For District 119
About Brad
Brad graduated from Union High School in 1995, where friends knew him as “Bandit”. After graduation he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Religion with an emphasis in youth education from Missouri Baptist College in St Louis as well as a few classes at East Central College to complete his degree. During High School and College he worked at Bud Anderson Car Dealership as a porter, McDonalds, and Pendaflex; all of which are located in Union. After finishing his degree, he accepted a local position as Student Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Lonedell and has been working full time in that capacity for 22 years. If you have been to St Clair for a school or sporting event in the last several years, you have probably heard his voice. He proudly serves as the “Voice of the Bulldogs”. He also substitute teaches and drives a bus for the St Clair R13 school district. Additionally, Brad considers it a great honor to serve as the Assistant Chaplain for the St. Clair Police Department. With the exception of approximately 3 years, when he lived in Canon City, Colorado, Brad has lived in the St Clair/Union MO area his entire life. Brad’s father, Russell Banderman, passed in 2006. His mother, Joy Ragsdale née Crum, is his hero and biggest supporter. Brad’s only surviving sibling is his oldest sister, Michelle, who is a constant source of encouragement and still one of his most treasured advisors. Brad has been a Christian since age 12 and began his work as a minister at age 16. Brad says he will never be ashamed of Jesus. His life’s work is to impact the next generation to live as genuine Christians and to his church where he proudly serves alongside some of the most incredible people.
Brad has been happily married for 24 years to Shannon Banderman aka Cupcake. Shannon is the principal of Lonedell Elementary School and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Education. Brad and Shannon are the proud parents of two incredible young men. Clay Banderman, their oldest son, is a proud member of the IAFF Local 2665 and serves as a Firefighter/Paramedic for Brentwood Fire Department in Brentwood, MO. He enjoys golfing, bowling, hiking, biking, and is an adventurous risk-taker. Kyle Banderman, their youngest son, is employed at Dominoes in St. Clair and is currently considering his options for his career. He enjoys playing card games and computer gaming. He is a brainiac and loves to help others.
District 119
Political Affiliation
Brad is a Republican but prides himself in being an independent and innovative candidate. He is proud to hold many of the Republican Parties Platform Principles, but if elected understands that he will be representing a wide range of individuals that hold differing opinions. If elected, he promises to be responsive to all the citizens of District 119 and allow principles to guide his decision making processes.
Campaign Planks
The campaign planks were written by the candidate and edited by Dr. Gavin Hooks.
Pro Life.
The ”life begins at conception” view is the only guarantee that we aren’t ending a person’s life. All other artificial time determinations on life or personhood risk the act of murder if we later discover that we are wrong. Medical exceptions have been and should be available according to the Doctors Oath. Life is sacred and should be protected.
The Constitution is an Enduring Covenant.
The Amendments are written in plain English and should be understood as written and the process to amend the constitution is clear. The principles delineated in the Constitution and Bill of Rights will guide us no matter the particular problem or challenge. Our constitutional system of limited government, separation of powers, federalism, and the rights of the people must be preserved and passed on to future generations. The United States has a unique and exceptional trust to kindle the fires of freedom globally.
Fiscally Responsible Government.
All Levels of government should operate in the black and on a budget. All levels of government should be transparent in their expenditures and receipts. All levels of government should be working to make the best use of each dollar of revenue it receives.
Election Integrity.
Our Democratic Republic cannot survive without free, fair, and legal elections. Elections should be controlled and transparent at the State level. The public trust in elections can only be maintained if a common sense process is used to register, verify legal identity and residency, and count the votes within each precinct. The entire process has to have immediate transparency for public scrutiny.
Free Markets, Free Enterprise and Economic Growth.
Brad wants wage growth for ALL workers. Good quality paying jobs are the result of a robust economy. A thriving economy naturally produces rising wages across the board. There are no nonessential jobs. All jobs should be valued and are important whether they are entry, skilled or professional. Real economic growth comes from people risking their own money not the government using ours or our children’s money. Government run safety nets should be shaped and ran as a temporary helping hand not a career path to those who are able bodied.
Local Public School Control.
Brad is a proponent of Public, Private and Home Schooling. Local Control of Public education safeguards a parent’s or guardian’s rightful place in the education of their children. The choice of education should always rest with parents or guardians not government. Higher Education is an important process but it shouldn’t be used to determine a person’s worth or potential.
Traditional American Values.
Our Nation has never been perfect, but its principles have and will allow us to become a more perfect Union. America is truly unique and exceptional in its championing of unalienable, God given rights as delineated in our founding documents. We have been and should remain a beacon to all freedom loving peoples. We should use our affluence and influence to encourage peace, prosperity and freedom abroad. Our foreign policy should be consistent with our domestic values of holding life as sacred. When necessary, through persuasion or force we should protect innocent life and deter those who wish to practice evil.
A strong, combat ready Military and taking care of our Veterans.
Our military should be the most lethal, well-equipped and highly trained combat force on earth as a deterrent to those who would perpetrate evil against us or our allies. Our military should be properly compensated for their dedicated and costly service. We have a moral responsibility as a nation to take care of our Veterans after their honorable service and especially those who gave their entire professional life serving this great nation.
Decentralized Government.
Local Solutions to Local Problems. Statewide Solutions to Statewide Problems, and Federal Level Solutions to Federal Level Problems. Centralizing government authority and power enables corruption and is dangerous to individual freedom. The separation of powers has also been threatened lately, reducing accountability to citizens. We should be careful and mindful of the strings that are attached to funding at the state and federal levels so that we can maintain proper separation of powers. The federal government is refusing to control our borders but trying to control our schools, farms, businesses and even religious institutions. This is a prime example of how our separation of powers is eroding from our founding principles.
First Responders, Safe Schools and Communities.
We should not demonize and should properly support those that are tasked with enforcing our laws and those who respond to our emergencies protecting both property and life. Our first responders are not perfect and never will be, and using that as a club to publicly undermine their important and needed work is counterproductive to keeping our communities safe. “Hands off” policing strategies endangers our other first responders, our property, and it encourages more lawlessness. We must enforce the laws we have equally and without hesitation. We must support all our first responders with the equipment they need, a salary that is commensurate with their risk and an ongoing and active public recognition of the essential and important work that they do.
Radio Interviews with KPLW
Brad joins Diane Jones of KLPW for on air interviews. Press the play button to listen to the full unedited radio interviews.