State Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) represents Callaway, Montgomery, St. Charles, Lincoln and Pike counties in the Missouri Senate. He joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” and tells listeners he’s seriously considering a run to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth) on Capitol Hill. Senator Fitzwater confirms he’s praying about the issue and notes opportunities like this don’t come along often. Missouri’s massive third district includes Columbia, Boonville, California, Jefferson City, Fulton, New Florence and Wentzville. Senator Fitzwater says it’s important to have a mid-Missourian in that seat. He also discussed his proposed constitutional amendment to reduce the Missouri House’s size from 163 to 102 and to modify term limits for state lawmakers. Missouri’s current term limits allow lawmakers to serve up to eight years in both chambers for a total of 16 years in Jefferson City. Senator Fitzwater’s proposed constitutional amendment would allow lawmakers to serve up to 16 years in the Legislature, regardless of which chamber. If lawmakers approve Senator Fitzwater’s measure, the issue would be placed on the statewide ballot this August or November:
UPDATE: Columbia doctor charged with rape posts bond; placed on GPS monitoring
A Columbia physician who’s been jailed since October for allegedly raping a woman he met at a bar on the Business Loop has posted a $50,000 surety bond.
37-year-old Dr. Travis Birkhead has been released from the Boone County jail, and he’s hooked up to GPS monitoring, according to online court records. Birkhead posted bond on Friday.
Dr. Birkhead is charged with rape and misdemeanor assault for an alleged incident involving a woman he met at the Black and Gold tavern in October. Defense attorney Kevin O’Brien told the court this month that the surveillance video referenced by CPD simply showed vehicles at the bar and nothing else.
Counselor O’Brien told the court in January that the woman wouldn’t leave Birkhead’s house that night, saying she “went crazy.” O’Brien has told the court there was no sexual assault and that Birkhead was the one who called Columbia Police to ask the woman to leave his home.
Prosecutors describe Dr. Birkhead as a danger to the community, saying he has a history of threatening people. They’ve also said that Birkhead’s ex-wife, a different woman, is terrified of him. He’s facing separate harassment charges in that case. Counselor O’Brien told the Judge Kevin Crane earlier this month that there will be no contact between Birkhead and the alleged victim, saying Birkhead would be living in eastern Missouri’s Lincoln County.
Birkhead’s next appearance in Boone County Circuit Court is set for June 20.
(AUDIO): State Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) discusses Senate GOP priorities and nuclear waste on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
State Sen. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) says Missouri’s legislative Republicans are pushing an agenda that’s important to citizens. He says those items include protecting children, expanding busy I-70, approving a budget that funds priorities and initiative petition reform. Senator Fitzwater is also hopeful that the Senate will approve his bipartisan bill that asks Missouri’s congressional delegation to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. Senator Fitzwater represents Callaway, Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike and St. Charles counties in the Missouri Senate. Senator Fitzwater joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”:
Influential Missouri House committee chairman heading to state Senate
A veteran mid-Missouri lawmaker who chairs the House Fiscal Review Committee has been elected to the state Senate.
State Rep. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) earned 78 percent of the vote on Tuesday, beating Libertarian Catherine Dreher by about 30,000 votes. No Democrat filed in the heavily-Republican district. Fitzwater’s campaign focused on similar issues raised by U.S. Sen.-Elect Eric Schmitt.
“I think they want us to protect the police, take care of kids, grow our economy, grow our state,” Fitzwater says.
He will represent a new five-county Senate district that includes Callaway, Montgomery, Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties. Fitzwater tells 939 the Eagle he has three priorities in the Senate.
“We’ve got to protect kids, we got to fight for our freedoms and we’ve got to grow our economy. And I think those are the three tenants we’ll live by as a state senator,” says Fitzwater.
Fitzwater also wants to focus on Missouri’s 14,000 foster children, saying they need loving homes. He’ll replace term-limited State Sen. Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane).
Missouri’s 2023 session will begin in early January in Jefferson City.
(AUDIO): State Rep. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) credits hard work for Missouri Senate GOP primary win
Veteran State Rep. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) credits hard work for his victory in a five-way GOP primary for a Missouri Senate seat. The sprawling new district includes Callaway, Montgomery, Pike, Lincoln and St. Charles counties. Representative Fitzwater will face Libertarian Catherine Dreher in the November election. No Democrat filed in the race. The winner …