Senate District 6 candidate: Amber Buckles

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Amber Buckles of Macks Creek is one of six Republicans seeking their party's nomination for the Senate District 6 seat being vacated by state Sen. Mike Bernskoetter.

Buckles declined an interview with ABC 17 News, but sent in the following statement:

I want to get politics back to working for the people—the everyday, hardworking Missourians who keep our communities and moved our economy moving. One question I ask is this: With the amount of money poured into political campaigns, who do elected officials really work for? The people who helped fund their campaigns, or the citizens they were elected to represent? I am not a career politician, and I am not bought and paid for. I will work for you.

One of my top priorities is bringing more fiscal responsibility and accountability to state government. Government should live within its means just like every Missouri family and small business has to. When money is tight, families make difficult decisions, prioritize what is necessary, and cut waste. Government should be expected to do the same. Simply increasing spending is not the answer. We need to examine where taxpayer dollars are going, eliminate waste, and ensure every dollar is spent wisely. I also support eliminating Missouri’s personal property tax.

I also want to make state government more transparent by requiring legislation to be written in plain, simple language that every Missourian can understand. Bills should address one subject only—not be filled with unrelated provisions or hidden language. If lawmakers can’t explain a bill clearly to the people they represent, then it shouldn’t become law.

Protecting personal privacy is another issue I believe deserves far more attention. I would support legislation that limits government surveillance, including the expansion of automated license plate reader systems such as Flock cameras, while ensuring law enforcement has appropriate tools to investigate crime with proper oversight. Taxpayer dollars should be spent responsibly, and citizens deserve transparency about how surveillance technology is used.

I also believe individuals should have greater control over their personal information. Companies should not be able to freely collect, sell, and profit from our private data without meaningful consent. For similar reasons, I have concerns about the continued expansion of large data centers and the increasing collection and long-term storage of personal information. We need stronger protections for privacy and clear limits on how personal data is retained and used.

Finally, I believe Missouri should encourage a truly competitive free market. I oppose monopolies and government policies that give unfair advantages to a handful of large corporations at the expense of small businesses and consumers. Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, and they deserve a level playing field.

What sets me apart is simple: I bring real-world experience, not political experience. As a small business owner, I understand what it means to balance a budget, make difficult decisions, solve problems, and serve people every day. I know what it feels like to work hard, pay taxes, and wonder where those tax dollars are going. I don’t believe government exists to control people’s lives. I believe it exists to serve the people, protect their constitutional rights—including the right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment—spend their tax dollars responsibly, and stay accountable to the citizens—not special interests. If elected, I will be accessible, transparent, and willing to listen. I may not have every answer on day one, but I will always ask questions, seek facts, and make decisions based on what is best for the hardworking people of Senate District 6 and the State of Missouri. Thank you, Amber Buckles.