House District 60 candidates outline positions on Flock cameras, education

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The candidates for Missouri’s 60th House District say state lawmakers should examine privacy concerns surrounding Flock cameras and address education funding, while affordability remains a top concern they hear from voters.

Republican Shane Kampeter and Democrat Suzanne Luther are running in Tuesday's general election. House District 60 covers part of Cole County, including much of Jefferson City. Republican Rep. Dave Griffith, who has represented the district since 2019, is term-limited and is not seeking reelection.

Jefferson City is among the Missouri communities using Flock cameras -- a type of automated license plate readers. Kampeter said state lawmakers should examine who can access the information collected by the cameras and how that information is used and stored.

“I think they need to be looked at pretty deep to try to figure out who’s using the data, how it’s being used, how it’s being stored,” Kampeter said. “You know, the law enforcement side likes them. It helps them out, find things. But, you know, when you listen to other people, they don’t like to be tracked. They don’t like to have their license plate read everywhere they go.”

Kampeter said he would like the information to be stored only by the police department, but acknowledged he has not thoroughly researched the current system.

Luther said lawmakers should consider the technology’s benefits for law enforcement alongside residents’ privacy concerns.

“I know they have very strong perspectives on it. And I know there are jobs that it, what I understand from them is that it is an effective tool,” Luther said. “That being said, I think it’s something the legislature needs to be attentive to the privacy issues, and we need to find a balance that our district is happy with, not just one side or the other.”

Education funding is also a priority for both candidates.

Kampeter said lawmakers will be working on the state’s school funding formula and should find ways to support education in Jefferson City.

“I think this year we’re going to, you know, this year and next year they’re going to start working on the funding formula for the schools,” Kampeter said. “And, I think we’ve got to find ways to fund education and support all the education in Jefferson City.”

Luther, a retired public school teacher and former Jefferson City Board of Education member, identified the school funding formula as a priority.

“Support the school formula, the formula that was created from experts on what do schools need to function properly,” Luther said. “And so when you pull from that formula, you are immediately pulling the rug out from under our school systems across the state, and that needs to be addressed."

Both candidates also identified affordability as a major issue facing the district.

Kampeter pointed to the cost and availability of child care as one area lawmakers could address.

“With tort reform, looking at, just even even going down to, child care, trying to figure out better ways to help people get cheaper and just available child care because it’s hard to even find that,” Kampeter said.

Luther said affordability is the most common concern she has heard while speaking with residents.

“What I hear are personal, personal stories about how a hospital visit just threw their whole budget, their whole lifestyle out of whack, how they can’t afford groceries, how they’re having to choose between paying the rent or utilities,” Luther said.

Luther said addressing affordability would include improving access to affordable child care, health care and housing.