Marsha Haefner

Marsha Haefner (born July 8, 1951) is an American politician. She was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, serving since first being elected in 2010 to January 2019. She is a member of the Republican Party.[1][2]

Marsha Haefner
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 95th district
In office
2011 – January 9, 2019
Succeeded byMichael O'Donnell
Personal details
Born (1951-06-08) June 8, 1951
Webster Groves, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Greg Haefner
ChildrenThree
ResidenceOakville, Missouri
EducationUniversity of Missouri (BS)
ProfessionSmall Business Owner
WebsiteCampaign website
Government website

Early life, education, and career

Early life

Haefner was born in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Haefner attended Webster Groves public schools until high school graduation and then attended Meramec Community College before graduating from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Parks and Recreation.[3]

Family

While attending Missouri, Haefner met her future husband, Greg Haefner, a fellow member of Marching Mizzou. The two married following graduation and moved to Pensacola, Florida where Greg trained as a Naval Flight Officer. During the next five years, they moved nine times, including a base assignment in Brunswick, Maine and two deployments to Rota, Spain and the Azores Islands. Following his naval service, they returned to Oakville to work and raise their three children.[4]

Entrepreneurship

Along with her husband, Marsha owns and operates a small business. In the early 1980s, the two opened Haefner’s Greenhouses and quickly became a leading wholesale supplier in the St. Louis area. Over the years, their small business has employed over 1000 local residents throughout 37 years in business. The couple also operates a growing facility in House Springs and a garden center located on Telegraph Road in Oakville, Missouri.[5]

Public office

Missouri House of Representatives

Haefner first began serving in the Missouri House of Representatives in 2010, after defeating Democratic challenger Andrew Spavale. She currently represented the 95th District and served as the Chair of the Fiscal Review Committee. She also served as a member of the Ethics Committee and Joint Committee on Tax Policy among others.[6][7]

Committee assignments
  • Fiscal Review (Chair)
  • Budget
    • Subcommittee on Appropriations – Health, Mental Health, and Social Services
  • Ethics
  • Health and Mental Health Policy
  • Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect
  • Joint Committee on Legislative Research
  • Joint Committee on Tax Policy

Legislative sponsorship

During her tenure in the Missouri House of Representatives, Haefner sponsored several major pieces of legislation ranging from issues concerning welfare reform to child protection laws. Some of her major pieces of legislation included:

  • Sponsored HB 1491 Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
  • Sponsored HB 2202 Evidence (passed in to law as an amendment to HB 1562)
  • Sponsored HB 640 Modifies SNAP Waiver (passed into law as an amendment to SB 24)
  • Sponsored HB 1795 Modifies Provisions Relating to Public Assistance Programs (passed as an amendment in SB 607)

Potential campaign for U.S. Senate

Haefner considered a run for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Claire McCaskill after receiving encouragement from Republican U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-02).[8]

Awards and honors
  • St Louis Business Journal: Legislative Award, 2013 & 2014
  • Missouri Kids First: Standing with Children Award, 2014
  • St Louis Children’s Hospital: State Advocate of the Year, 2014
  • National Association on Mental Illness: Outstanding Legislator, 2015
  • Missouri Association of Rehabilitation Facilities: Legislator of the Year, 2015
  • Behavioral Health Network: Outstanding Leadership, 2015
  • Brain Injury Association: Legislator of the Year, 2015
  • Missouri Coalition of Children’s Agencies: Child Welfare Champion, 2015
  • Foundation for Government Accountability: National Legislator of the Year, 2015
  • Missouri Coalition: Leadership in Behavioral Health, 2015
  • Mental Health America: Champion for Mental Health & Addiction Treatment, 2016
  • Foundation for Government Accountability: National Champion of Opportunity 2016
  • Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital: Crystal Wagon Award, 2016

Endorsements

Electoral history
Missouri House of Representatives 95th district election, 2016[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Marsha Haefner 12,905 63.0%
Democratic Glenn Koenen 7,565 37.0%
Missouri House of Representatives 95th district election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Marsha Haefner 10,150 100.0%
Missouri House of Representatives 95th district election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Marsha Haefner 11,920 59.8%
Democratic Joe Zelle 8,025 40.2%
Missouri House of Representatives 100th district election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Republican Marsha Haefner 9,593 64.3%
Democratic Andrew Spavale 5,072 34.0%
Constitution Lewis, Randall (Randy) 256 1.7%

References
  1. "Marsha Haefner". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  2. http://www.house.mo.gov/bio.aspx?year=2016&district=096
  3. Haefner, Marsha (2017). "About Marsha Haefner". marshahaefner.com. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  4. Haefner, Marsha (2017). "About Marsha Haefner". marshahaefner.com. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  5. Haefner, Marsha (2017). "About Marsha Haefner". marshahaefner.com. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  6. "Marsha Haefner". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  7. http://www.house.mo.gov/bio.aspx?year=2016&district=096
  8. Lowry, Bryan (July 24, 2017). "Missouri state rep eyes run against McCaskill after encouragement from Wagner". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  9. Missouri Secretary of State, Official Election Results


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