Jay Wasson is a first-term Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 member of the Missouri Senate

Missouri Senate

The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...

 representing the 20th district. Previously, Wasson served four terms in the Missouri House of Representatives

Missouri House of Representatives

The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...

 (2002–2010).

Personal history

Born in nearby Springfield, Jay Wasson was raised in Nixa, Missouri

Nixa, Missouri

Nixa is a city in Christian County, Missouri, United States. The population was 12,124 at the 2000 census, though a 2009 estimate places it at 19,458. It is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...

. His ancestors settled in Nixa in 1867. After graduation from Nixa High School in 1974 Wasson attended Drury College

Drury University

Drury University is a private liberal arts college in Springfield, Missouri.The university enrolls about 1,550 undergraduates, over 2,000 adult part-time undergraduates and around 400 graduate students in six master's programs...

. When not involved with his legislative duties Senator Wasson works as a real estate developer. He is also a company officer for St. John's Health Systems, Inc. Wasson and his wife Retha live in Nixa.

Political history

Wasson followed in his mothers footsteps as he entered politics. Edna Wasson had served as Nixa's first female mayor and son Jay was mayor from 1997 to 2002. Jay Wasson first entered statewide politics in 2002, winning the first of four consecutive terms to the Missouri House of Representatives. Term limited by Missouri law from running for Representative again, Wasson mounted a successful campaign in 2010 for the Missouri Senate, defeating Democrat Terry Traw to replace term limited Senator Dan Clemens

Dan Clemens

Dan Clemens is a former Republican member of the Missouri State Senate. He currently resides in Marshfield, Missouri.He was born in Webster County, Missouri, and educated in the schools of Marshfield, where he was an active member of Future Farmers of America...

.

During the 96th General Assembly

Missouri General Assembly

The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...

Senator Wasson will serve on the following committees:

• Vice-Chairman, Financial and Governmental Organizations and Elections Committee.
• Progress and Development Committee.
• Small Business, Insurance & Industry Committee.
• Transportation Committee.