(From Ellen Nichols, 32nd District Senate Candidate)“When I file a bill in the Missouri State Senate, my name will be on it — and I take that responsibility seriously.
If elected, I pledge to personally read every bill before it is filed under my name to ensure there are no drafting errors, no unintended consequences, and no language that contradicts the values of the people I represent. That attention to detail is how I handled traumatic brain injuries during life-or-death situations in the hospital and it should be the same in the Missouri Senate. Serving in the State Senate is not symbolic. It carries real consequences for families, victims, taxpayers, and our constitutional rights. There is simply no excuse for not knowing what is in the legislation you introduce.
Last December, Senator Jill Carter prefiled SB 894, which reduced the maximum prison sentence for trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation from 20 years to 15 years. After facing criticism, she described the reduction as a drafting error and said she would correct it.
Let me be clear: I oppose any attempt to reduce penalties for those who exploit or traffic others for sexual purposes. Human trafficking destroys lives, devastates families, and preys on the most vulnerable among us. Missouri should be strengthening protections for victims and increasing accountability for predators — not reducing consequences.
More recently, Senator Carter filed SB 985, legislation that would have required the personal information of all registered Missouri voters, including names, addresses, and dates of birth, to be displayed online. Members of both parties immediately raised serious privacy concerns. Senator Carter later said the requirement to publish the information online was also a drafting mistake.
Missourians expect their private information to be protected, not posted on a public website. I oppose releasing sensitive personal information about Missouri citizens online. Protecting privacy and safeguarding families from identity theft, harassment, and misuse of data is basic, commonsense governance.
These are not small technical oversights. They reflect a broader concern about legislative carelessness and extreme big-government approaches that put citizens at risk. When you file a bill that reduces penalties for sexual traffickers or exposes the private information of millions of Missourians, it matters. Words in legislation matter. Details have always mattered for me in the operating room, and they also matter when drafting legislation.
That is one of the reasons I am running for State Senate in District 32.
Our district deserves steady, principled leadership that reads the fine print, understands the impact of every word, and stands firmly for public safety, personal responsibility, and individual liberty. I will fight to protect victims, hold criminals accountable, defend the privacy of Missouri citizens, and ensure that government works for the people — not against them.
Public office requires preparation. It requires accountability. And it requires the humility to recognize that the laws we pass affect real lives.
I am running to restore trust, defend families, and bring careful, disciplined leadership to the Missouri Senate. The people of District 32 deserve nothing less.”
— Dr. Ellen Nichols
Republican Candidate for Missouri State Senate, District 32
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