Faith

          “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…” Those words were written by John Newton who had been a slave ship captain. Slaves on his ships were chained, tightly packed together, and forced to stand in their own excrement for days or weeks at a time. Large numbers of these slaves; men, women, and children died from disease and lack of nutrition before reaching the slave market. This was an act of barbarism that stained the soul of John Newton. 
        John Newton received faith by God to believe in Jesus Christ as the true Savior and his sins were forgiven and his soul was made white as wool. It is with this backdrop that John Newton wrote those famous words, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me…” John Newton had been a wretch, but his life was transformed by a personal relationship with Jesus.
        Like John Newton, Mitch’s life has been transformed by a personal relationship with Jesus. Mitch trusts in Jesus and believes God is the source of all truth. It is this relationship with Jesus that allows Mitch to value all human life and perform his duties with fairness and respect.
        Mitch knows that he falls far short from the high standard of perfection set by God and thanks and glorifies God for his amazing grace.

Family

        Family is the bedrock of America. As our families go, so goes the nation.

        Mitch has been blessed by his beautiful wife, Denise, who is from Linn, Missouri in Osage County. Mitch and Denise met in college at CMSU in Warrensburg. They were married in Freedom, Missouri by Rev. Dr. Robert King. Mitch’s friends teased him about the irony of getting the ball and chain in Freedom, Missouri. In reality there was nothing more freeing in Mitch’s life than marrying Denise. She shared the Gospel with Mitch which God used to bring him to faith. She gave Mitch seven wonderful children that he adores. Without her, it is not likely he would be running for office today.
        Mitch and Denise believe one of the most important things a parent can do is to raise their children with values, respect for others, and integrity. 
        Mitch strongly supports traditional marriage as the surest foundation for family unity and national strength. That is why Mitch supported our state’s marriage amendment constitutionally defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Mitch believes that children need both a father and a mother because each plays a different but equally important role in raising a child.

Life

        Ronald Reagan wrote, 
                … We cannot survive as a free nation when some men decide that others are 
                not fit to live and should be abandoned to abortion or infanticide. My 
                administration is dedicated to the preservation of America as a free land, and 
                there is no cause more important for preserving that freedom than affirming 
                the transcendent right to life of all human beings, the right without which no 
                other rights have any meaning.
        Ronald Reagan was right that without life no other right has any meaning. Mitch is pro-life from conception to natural death. He has seen the sonogram of his children, felt their kicks inside their mother, and seen their birth. Mitch knows that life begins at conception.
        He has seen the effects of abortion on women and he offers the message of forgiveness and hope to men and women who have been involved in an abortion decision.
        Mitch also knows the value of human life does not diminish because of age, location, illness, or disability. Mitch has had to make tough end of life decisions when his dad died and was with his mom when she died of pancreatic cancer. Life is not always easy but life is always valuable and deserves our respect and protection.

The Constitution and Right to Bear Arms

Constitution

        Mitch believes our Federal Constitution is the greatest constitution in the history of the world. He believes politicians should obey the constitution and judges should interpret it by applying original intent. Mitch rejects the argument that the constitution is a living breathing document that can be reinterpreted at the will of 9 judges. If our Founding Fathers intended such a constitution there would have been little reason for the constitutional amendment process.
        Mitch believes our national sovereignty is placed in jeopardy when treaties are signed that subvert the U.S. Constitution to the rule of law of the World Court, the U.N., or other foreign entities that do not apply some of the most basic rights we hold dear.


Right to Bear Arms

        The Second Amendment guarantees the right of citizens to bear arms. This is a right we hold dear as Americans. Mitch strongly supports the right to bear arms. Mitch, like our Founding Fathers, understands that a free people need the right to protect their families. He understands that gun control will not stop crime but will place law abiding citizens at greater risk.