Ashley Beard-Fosnow (D) is the Democratic Party candidate challenging incumbent Rick Brattin (r) in the 55th Legisltive District.

Grassroots campaigns aren’t so much about flooding the district with costly mailers and ads, but they are about speaking with and connecting with voters.

An unresponsive incumbent with a single large dollar donor can be vulnerable to a grassroots campaign. A challenger knocking on 9,000 doors (to date) in the district and attending one event after another has a good start toward unseating an incumbent.

Yesterday we attended a meet and greet event for Ashley Beard-Fosnow (D) held at the home of a supporter in Raymore.

Ashley Beard-Fosnow, the Democratic Party candidate in the 55th Legislative District – Raymore, Missouri – September 25, 2016.

Ms. Beard-Fosnow greeted everyone as they entered, spoke with small groups of individuals, briefly addressed those in attendance about her background and goals in her campaign, and then spent a considerable amount of time taking questions and listening.

The conversation included education and schools, infrastructure needs – not “kicking the can” of pressing road and bridge maintenance down the road, and economic development.

Events like these, with substantive interaction with a candidate, is one of many ways that candidate can engage others to speak on their behalf to their friends and neighbors in the district.

That’s a much more Democratic way to reach voters than a single $50,000.00 check from a wealthy individual who doesn’t live in the district.

Previously:

Ashley Beard-Fosnow (D) in the 55th Legislative District (November 8, 2015)

Campaign Finance: propping up the republican incumbent in the 55th Legislative District (August 27, 2016)

This afternoon in Peculiar, Missouri Ashley Beard-Fosnow (D) formally announced her candidacy in 2016 for the seat in the 55th Legislative District.

Ashley Beard-Fosnow (D) announcing her House candidacy in Peculiar, Missouri – November 8, 2015.

From her campaign web site:

…I am running for state representative to offer you a better choice. As a wife, mom, and community volunteer, I will work outside the usual political nonsense and scandals we see in Jefferson City. Instead, I will focus on the issues that matter: education, transportation, protecting local control, and ethics reforms. I will use my professional skill set to evaluate programs to ensure efficiency and accountability. I will be involved in our local community and advocate on your behalf…

The seat is currently held by Rick Brattin (r). Yes, that Rick Brattin.