Conservative Entrepreneur, Former Emergency Management Director Jeff Shawan Announces Candidacy for State Senate
Shawan is looking to replace term-limited Senator Doug Libla
Local entrepreneur, former emergency management director, and State Representative Jeff Shawan announced his candidacy for State Senate Tuesday night to a packed house of more than 200 attendees at the Westwood Center in Poplar Bluff. Shawan is no stranger to the 25th Senatorial District, which is comprised of Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Shannon, and Stoddard counties. Shawan’s great grandfather, George Washington Shawan and wife Ruhamia Shawan moved to Stoddard County at the turn of the century to build their farm and family. Still today a highway sign in Stoddard County marks the arrival of “Shawan, Missouri” where the Shawan family settled.
Shawan says his deep roots in the 25th district give him a greater understanding of the issues important to the voters throughout the region. “My family settled in Stoddard County and now my wife and I live in Butler County, Missouri,” Shawan said. “We both have deep ties to the communities all throughout the district and I will be a strong voice in support of our shared rural conservative values.”
Shawan drew national attention as one of the co-sponsors of Missouri’s controversial pro-life bill that the national media called “one of the most restrictive bills on abortion in the entire country”. Shawan said the controversy didn’t bother him. “I am 100% pro-life and ran on a pro-life platform. There is nothing more important than ensuring the right to life is protected and I was proud to co-sponsor the most pro-life bill in the country,” Shawan stated. Missouri Right to Life endorsed Shawan in his campaign for State Representative.
“I’m an entrepreneur by trade and was inspired by President Trump’s candidacy. Like the President, I’ve seen businesses succeed and business fail. I know the pain of having everything I’ve worked for taken away because of a catastrophic family illness,” Shawan said. “But through it all I’ve been able to achieve my American Dream through hard work and determination.”
Shawan says he is running to promote individual liberty and get the government off the backs of small business owners and their families. “Like many outspoken conservatives, I’ve experienced first-hand a corrupt government agency trying to end my career and others in my family. Those threats didn’t stop me from speaking out for our conservative values then, and they won’t stop me now as your State Senator.”
While in office, Shawan has been a vocal supporter of President Trump and his plan to secure the border and build the wall. Shawan filed a resolution in support of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the work they are doing to secure the border. Shawan also co-sponsored the “Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights” providing greater legal protections for men and women in law enforcement. “As Emergency Management Director I worked directly with our law enforcement officers and first responders. I have seen first hand the work they do to keep our families and our communities safe and they deserve our support,” Shawan said.
At his kick-off event on Tuesday night, Shawan announced that Dustin Mayer, a fifth generation resident of Dexter, Missouri, would be serving as his campaign Treasurer. Mayer is an active member of the Dexter community as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and member of the board of trustee of the First Baptist Church of Dexter. Jeff Shawan and his wife, Christy Montgomery Shawan, live in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on Shawan’s historic family land. They are the proud parents of three children.
Pictured from left to right Shawan, campaign treasurer Dustin Mayer and supporters Billy Pat Wright and Bill Foster
