MISSOURI HOUSE, DISTRICT 56
By Trey Swaggart
NCH intern
Republican Todd Berck has spent his career helping his family and his community. From teaching and helping young students excel in the classroom, to aiding young men develop character and sportsmanship on the gridiron, Berck believes his career choices demonstrate a man trying to help. His next play call? Becoming a state representative in the Missouri General Assembly, representing the 56th District which encompasses much of northern Cass County.
It might seem an odd choice at first. Why would a former educator, now retired and living in Raymore, want into politics?
Berck cites his upbringing. He hails from Centralia, Mo., a small town north of Columbia. Berck credits his mother with instilling as a young child the importance of education. “Education was always really important to my mom . . . who made sure education maintained a priority in our life.” Those lessons encouraged him enough to become the first of his family to graduate from college.
At Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, his accomplishments included becoming an all-conference tight end. From that point on, the gameplan started to come together.
Berck became engaged his junior year to his now wife of 35 years, Becky. He graduated from SBU with a bachelor’s degree in math education and relocated to Mexico, Mo., where his first teaching job was as a sixth-grade science teacher. He mused that his first job was “payback for how I had acted in middle school.”
After several years in St. Charles County, Berck moved to the Kansas City area, where he served as a teacher and football coach at nearby Summit Christian Academy in Lee’s Summit. Hence, the “coach” moniker that adorns his campaign signs announces that he is ready to take his career and life lessons to the state house.
Berck’s approach to the campaign is how he views politics. He stressed his belief that “politics was meant to be a citizen-type service,” with “the idea being that you go and serve your community,” then return home after your turn is over. Berck argued that those who “go in with the idea that this is my career” are harming the community by fixating on personal opportunities.
He said his faith in Jesus drives him to be a quality husband, father, educator, and potential public servant. “Christian faith is what I hold on to. There is a time when something is bigger than you.”
As to how he would operate as a representative, Berck was clear. “One of the key things will be surrounding myself with like-minded people. It’s really important to surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable.”
He is set to face off against incumbent Republican Michael Davis, and current Cass County Commissioner, Ryan Johnson in the August primary.
Berck hit out at Davis, saying “he just hasn’t shown up for the district.” He believes “(Davis) just wasn’t representing us in the way I felt we should be represented.” That feeling first caused him to launch the race in late 2023. This spring, Johnson joined the race and Berck also lodged criticisms of his direction, describing him as a career politician. He also questioned some of Johnson’s fiscal policies, which Berck believes are harmful to district residents.
Berck said his priorities would include investment in technical education, ensuring public schools receive the funding and support to create “the best environment for kids,” cleaning up waste and fraud in the tax system, revamping the district’s infrastructure, and lowering the cost of buying a home.
“I won’t be perfect, but I’ll always give my very best effort, anyone who has an idea is welcome (to contact me), and I will listen.” The primary is scheduled for Aug. 6. The Republican winner will take on Raymore Democrat Pam Hatcher in the November general election.
Editor’s note: The North Cass Herald is thrilled to welcome Belton High School alumnus and Missouri State University senior Trey Swaggart to our team for the summer to cover the upcoming August Primary. Swaggart will be interviewing candidates for county and state offices in the upcoming weeks before writing wrap-up analyses on the major races just prior to the Aug. 6 election.
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