A few days ago, I was in line at the grocery store and, as often happens, a constituent recognized me and we started talking. He was very nice and he said, “I read every word of your email updates.” I started to feel guilty right then because I don’t think I’ve written a substantive update in months. I’ve just become so busy that it’s been tough to really sit down, slow down, and put in the time.

Plus, since the legislative session ended in May, I haven’t had the constant flow of interesting Jefferson City stories to relay to you.

So after this trip to the grocery store, it seemed like everywhere I went someone would stop me and ask me when I was going to do another update. By the end of this past week, I had decided that I was going to get a substantive update done no matter what.

I still feel like at least half of my job as a State Representative is simply about keeping you informed. When people think of the job of legislator, they think about a person crafting legislation, voting on bills, etc. I’ve always looked at the job as one where I do those things and then come back to the district, explain myself to you, and then hear your concerns and return to Jeff City with them.

But the added element that I found after a few months in office was the role of emissary to Jefferson City. My office handles any snags you have when dealing with state government, but it’s also my role to explain to you what is really happening down there and why.

Frankly, this is my favorite part of the job. I’ve always taken well to the role of teacher. When I moved home after law school, I taught political science at UMKC and absolutely loved it.

After my deployment to Afghanistan, the Army sidetracked me from my career as an intelligence officer and made me a platoon trainer for officer candidate school. I still do that. Basically, it’s just like being a college professor but with lots of yelling, pushups, long runs, combat training, and nights in the field. So not like being a professor at all I guess . . .

And if you’ve ever come to one of my Town Hall meetings, you’ve probably seen me slide accidentally into college professor mode again. I relish explaining the small stuff – the mechanics of the legislature as well as the personalities. Teaching is fun when you make the material fun.

This is a long way of telling you that I apologize for my having fallen down on the job with these updates lately. I’ll try to find the time to sit down and write more often. I hope you enjoy this one. And if you want to get to a Town Hall meeting soon, I’ll see you at United Methodist Church at 74^th and Wornall on Saturday, December 12, 2009, from 2 to 3pm. I’ll lay out my legislative agenda for you there.

As a special treat for my constituents, I plan for this Town Hall to give you a sneak preview (a few days before the official press conference) of major bipartisan ethics legislation I’ve put together with a Republican colleague.