Senate District 6 candidate interview: Derrick Spicer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Former Jefferson City councilman and owner of PMI hotels, Derrick Spicer, says he's not a career politician, but that no one will fight for Mid-Missourians like he will.

Spicer is one of the six candidates seeking the Senate District 6 seat after Sen. Mike Bernskoetter’s term is up in January 2027. The state senate district covers several Mid-Missouri counties, including Cole, Camden, Miller, Moniteau and Morgan.

Spicer’s opponents are Amber Buckles, Todd “Ike” Skelton, Lisa Thomas, Rudy Veit and Jake Vogel.

HALEY SWAINO: Would you like to let me know about yourself as a person and as a candidate?

SPICER: Well, as a person, I'm not a political insider. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth. Everything I have is what I worked for my whole life. And I'm actually running for the constituents of District 6.

I grew up in Jefferson City here. I was born in Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. I was an Army brat. Dad was in the military, kind of moved around and ended up here in the third grade. So I've been here most of my life. I've been married for 32 years this next week. I have two children. Daughter is 31, and my son's 26 going on about 14. I'm in the hotel business. Actually been in the hotel business, small business owner for quite a while. I spent four years on the Jeff City Council, which I enjoyed my time. I just want to continue to serve. I want to serve the people. And like I said, we get one chance to make a change. And this is going to be because, I mean, a lot of people don't understand what goes into this. I mean, I've been campaigning for a little over two years now, and I'm tired. I got about eight days left, and I cannot wait.

And, you know, I'm actually a guy that for the people. I mean, I'm a guy that don't have to do this. I'm doing this for us to have a voice at the Capitol, and hopefully it'll all pan out in eight days. I work for PMI Hotels, which is a group out of, I mean, it's a, we got about 17 hotels. We own the Courtyard in Jefferson City, the Fairfield, and got a few other hotels around here and some in Omaha, Nebraska. I also work for the Missouri Office of Athletics, which is professional boxing, which I've been in most of my life, 40, 41 years. So, you know, I just, like I said, I just want to serve. And like I said, I'm not a public, you know, I'm not a, I’m not a political insider. So just want to, I just want to offer, I'm the people's choice.

SWAINO: My next question here for you. What do you see as the top issues facing Senate District 6, and what maybe specific legislation would you support or introduce to address some of those issues? 

SPICER: Well, I think right now the issues that’re going on right now is the budget. I mean, you know, I think the state is stagnant. You know, the state is going to be in real trouble here if we don't get that budget balanced. You know, I think it's going to be a situation. I think the overspending that's going on right now in our state is just wasteful. I just think we need to, we got to, get a grip on that.

SWAINO: Alright. How will you balance economic growth within the Show-Me State while also preserving the quality of life for people who live in Missouri communities?

SPICER: Well, you know, it kind of goes to the income tax. You know, you think about income tax. Getting rid of the income tax, which I'm not a rocket scientist when it comes to that stuff. But, you know, Missouri's been stagnant for a long time. You know, we're not really growing. And if you look at all the other states that have had the the income tax removed for a long time, they're growing. I mean, there's job after job that these, you know, individuals can get. I just don't think Missouri is growing like it should be. We should be booming here in Missouri, because Missouri is a beautiful state.

SWAINO: How would you work with legislators from both parties when your constituents' interests are at stake?

SPICER: I think you have to work with everybody. I mean, you can't just be one-minded or one-sided. You're going to have to work with every single group. I mean, I just think, and I'll be honest, which, I just think the lobbyists are too involved. I just think that, you know, we get a lot more done, if it wasn't for having to deal with ... lobbyists that are involved and want more for these big interest groups and all this stuff. I mean, when are we going to focus on our own people? You know, our own people in Missouri?

SWAINO: How would you stay accountable to the people of District 6, if elected? And then how can constituents expect to stay in communication with you during your term?

SPICER: Well, I've always been a call me on the phone. I've always been an open door. I mean, I even when I was on the city council, I mean, even with my job today, I mean, I work 24/7, seven days a week. I mean, I don't know anything different. And I'm always available. You know, you could see I always communicated with you. I always try to.

I just think that that they'll never have another candidate like myself because I, if I do something, I am fully ahead of speed. So I just think that, you know, you got to be willing to, and I want people to understand that, if elected, you have an open door with me at the Capitol because that's who's voted mein, I mean I’m working for them. I'm not working for everybody else. And, you know, what's the best thing about my campaign, is all the money I've raised, I raise myself. I don't owe anybody nothing besides my constituents of District 6. Let's focus on them first, and then we'll focus on other stuff that's going on in Missouri.

SWAINO: My next question here, one I’ve asked everybody. It’s obviously stuff that also works out at the federal level, but what should Missouri do to address the rising cost of living? 

SPICER: Well, that's a good question. The rising costs is going on everywhere. You know, Missouri is, I mean, it's not just here. It's just, I think at the federal level, where we don't really have any control over it, we do the best we can do. That's what I was kind of talking about are things are rising. And I think that eventually it will get better because I think President Trump is, he's another guy that's actually for the people. And I think eventually things are going to go back to normal. I think it's just going to take some time.

And with good leadership in here in Missouri, and eventually Governor Kehoe, Governor Kehoe is doing a great job. And, you know, I think it's going to continue to take good leadership to get them costs down because it is tough on families and people working two jobs and trying to make it. I mean, I'm a middle-class person myself so, and I know what hard work is. So I just think eventually, I don't like paying $4 a gallon for gas, just like everyone else has to do. So we do need to get costs down. Whatever we have to do to do that, we need to. And I just think it like I said, it takes good leadership at the Capitol, and I think there's some good senators over there right now. And I think eventually in the next four years, I think you're going to see a big turn.

SWAINO: You spoke a little bit to this already, but what is your position on state taxes? Would you support raising or lowering them?

SPICER: I would support lowering state taxes. 

SWAINO: You want to elaborate on why at all? 

SPICER: Well, I mean, I'm for no taxes. You know, I don't think we should be paying a lot of taxes myself. I mean, I know we have to have taxes to survive. You know, I just think that sometimes it's overboard. You know, = I always worry about the middle class and other people, too, because if you raise taxes, it's just like on Amendment 5, I don't have any say so on Amendment 5. That's why it's called the people, you know, go to the people for a vote. I get to vote just like they do, you know. But  I just think that we need to, we have to be able to lower taxes because if you look at our tax system right now, it's so outdated. And it needs to be updated. And I just think, like I said before, we've just been so stagnant for so long, and I think with Amendment 5, if you don't take chances, how would you know how we would be down the road? You know, I just, like I said, I just, it's a situation that I don't have, it ain't my decision. That's what I love about it -- it’s going to the people, and they can make their voice heard.

SWAINO: Why are you the best candidate for this seat?

SPICER: I'm the best candidate for this seat because I'm actually for the constituents of District 6, because I'm one of them. And I want people to understand that everywhere in the district is just as important to me as the people in Jefferson City. I'm not a part of the establishment. I am, I’m me. And I’ve been a fighter my whole life. And I, I want to continue to fight for the district and, you know, it's, I just think that it's a situation where I have an opportunity to serve the people. And like I said before and earlier, I don't have to do this. I said I'm doing this because they're going to get one chance in eight days to make a change. And I'm the change. If they want the same old crap, I'm not your guy. So if they want somebody that's going to be actually for them, then I will get elected in eight days.

SWAINO: Nearing the end of the long campaign trail, like you said, is there anything throughout your campaign, throughout, you know, candidate forums that maybe you don't get asked that you want people to know about yourself or your stance on something you as a person?

SPICER: Just a lot of people don't really know my life. They don't know what I went through. You know, I've done a, I do a lot of charity work. I do a lot. You know, I have a really close friend, Ozzie Smith in Saint Louis, and we do a lot of do a lot of charity stuff with them. I mean, I've done a lot in the past with Boys and Girls Club and everything. I've always been a person that's given back. And, you know, I’ll always give more than I'll ever receive in my life. And I'm good with that. I'm good with that. So I felt like God put me on this Earth, you know, and He, you know, I feel like He has a plan for me. I feel like He's been pushing me to run here. And if that's God's plan, then I'll get elected next week.

And, you know, it's been a great journey, though. I mean, it's been a tiresome journey. But I've met some good people along the way. I mean, you definitely find out who your friends are in this business, that's for sure. But, you know, I kind of just wish people would know more about who they're voting for, find out if it's a person that you want to support. Maybe look into their history and what they've done and the community work and things they've done for different things. I mean, I think your character means everything. And it does to me. I mean, my character means everything to me. And I just think that people get into politics for the wrong reasons. And I'm actually a person that’s in it for the right reasons. So, but they only get one chance, and it's coming in eight days because it will not be another run if I don't win.

SWAINO: Last question here, then, for some voters who may still be on the fence, not sure about where they're going to cast their vote, what would your final message to them as they head to the ballot boxes here soon?

SPICER: Well, I just think, like I said before, I think that people need to understand that we've never had another candidate like myself. I mean, a lot of people are already bought before they even get in there. Well, I've never been a yes man in my life and I'm not going to be. And I just want people to understand that, you know, I know who I am. I would love for you to know who I am. And I want you to know that there's no other candidate out there that will fight for you like I will. I would love to have your vote Aug. 4.