“I am the mother of 4, grandmother of 9 and great grandmother of 1! Family is important. My husband was a retired Air Force Serviceman; my son is currently a 19-year Army Reservist and serving in his eleventh year as a police officer.

“Public Service is strong in our family, and as a widow myself, I understand the tight budget of a fixed and single-income household and try to make ends meet. I am a member at Forest Park Church in Joplin and belong to civic groups that support and sponsor foster children and adult education.”

– Cheryle Perkins