Shields to formally announce candidacy for 161st District post

(From Southwest Missouri Democrats)

Charles (Hugh) Shields will formally announce his candidacy for the MO House 161st Legislative District Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 1 p.m. in Spiva Park on 4th and Main Street, Joplin MO. He would like to invite members of the media and public to attend. Hugh will field questions about his candidacy and the issues he would like to highlight throughout his campaign. In the event of inclement weather the event will be rescheduled.

Charles (Hugh) Shields was born in 1946 and has been a Joplin resident since 1987. He raised 2 daughters in rural Newton County. One daughter survives, and he is a proud Papa to 9 grandchildren. Hugh married Ramona Chrisman in 1999, and they currently reside in the sustainable home they built after the May 22nd tornado.

Hugh obtained his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA, 1969), and his Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California (Los Angeles, 1974).
After his education Hugh worked 40 years in engineering: he flight tested for the Air Force at Edwards AFB; he designed and tested fluid power (hydraulics) in construction equipment, mining/oil field, sawmills; most recently, he worked with waterjet cutting machinery. He also worked with jet engine repair and with designing and testing high tech batteries. Hugh taught Engineering Technology at Pitt State for one year.

Hugh has been a Member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church since 1992 and of Green Town Joplin since the summer of 2011. His hobbies include reading and writing history and the design & building of energy efficient houses.

POLITICAL ISSUES
Hugh says, “I have been active in politics since 2004. I plan to campaign on the following issues because they are currently being dealt with by the Missouri legislative majority”:

RIGHT TO WORK (FOR LESS)/PREVAILING WAGE- We need unions, just as we have needed unions in the past. Unions provide training for the skills that workers need to function in our complex society. Unions benefit the whole society by setting a prevailing wage. All middle and working class citizens owe unions a debt.
MEDICAID EXPANSION FOR MO -From both humanitarian and economic points of view, the refusal to bring in Medicaid expansion is just plain mean and irresponsible; it is also bad economics for Missouri.
COPYCAT LEGISLATION DISCLOSURE -It’s OK to present copycat legislation, but let’s be honest and say who is behind it.