WARRENSBURG — Army veteran Brad Patty says his military service, conservative platform and ties to Missouri's 5th Congressional District have prepared him to represent the district in Congress.
Patty is seeking the Republican nomination for Missouri's 5th Congressional District. He says he is the only candidate in the race who lives within the district and argues his America First platform makes him the strongest choice to represent it in Congress.
He was raised as a foster child in Fayette. His foster family has lived in Missouri since the 1960s after his foster grandfather bought a farm in the state. Patty said living within the district gives him a unique perspective on the needs of its communities.
Patty has six children with his wife, who immigrated from El Salvador. He said his wife has shaped his views on immigration because she was able to immigrate to the United States legally.
"My views are to bring the entire immigration standard to the ones that my family followed," Patty said. "They did it the right way, so everyone else must do it the right way."
Another important part of his life is his 25 years of service in the Army, during which he was deployed to Iraq, the Korean Demilitarized Zone and the Pentagon. He also argued that it is important for more veterans to run for office.
He explained that about one-third of Congress was once made up of veterans, but that number has decreased significantly. He argued that this is a problem because members of Congress with military backgrounds provide important insights.
"I think being a military veteran is a huge factor in qualifying me to run for Congress," Patty said. "With foreign issues and conflicts, I would definitely have a unique perspective that I can bring to Congress."
If elected, Patty said his top priorities would be affordability and accountability. He said he supports eliminating the income tax in Missouri and believes in continuing that debate in Congress.
Patty said it is still important for the federal government to fund its programs, but he argued the income tax could be replaced by reducing fraud.
"When the government is hungry, it is going to eat the last box of spaghetti in the cabinet," Patty said. "They are not just going to come to the people."
Regarding accountability, he argued Congress should issue criminal referrals more often, saying they are an important oversight tool that prompts the Department of Justice to examine potential criminal conduct.
Another issue Patty said is important and personal to him is the pro-life movement. Growing up as a foster child and now being a father, he has taken a firm stance against abortion at both the state and federal levels.
"Life is an inalienable right given to us by our creator," Patty said. "I say this as a foster kid because if I were eliminated during pregnancy, I wouldn't be here and my children wouldn't be here."
Patty said he views himself as a political outsider and argued against electing career politicians to Congress. He criticized other candidates for highlighting their political endorsements, saying he does not view those endorsements as a positive because he believes they reflect connections to government corruption.
"Only a politician can sit with a straight face and tell you how good it is that they have other politicians endorsing them," Patty said. "We don't have an experience problem in Washington, D.C. We have a character problem."
To ensure transparency and accountability throughout the district, Patty said he plans to hold town halls in the more liberal parts of the district. He said communicating in person with members of the other party can lead to productive debates and discussions.
"I believe communication is the key to trust," Patty said. "My responsibility would be my own personal district, and all I can do is come home and stand before the people."
To learn more about Patty and his campaign, voters can visit bradpatty.com or the Brad Patty for Congress Facebook page.
