State Rep. Keith English Rolling Up Sleeves in Jefferson City

Rep. Keith English (D-68) has really begun to make a name for himself and Florissant in his freshman term in the state’s House of Representatives.

English beat out incumbent Rep. Bert Atkins last summer in the primary and won the seat Nov. 6 against Republican challenger Rekha Sharma. By Nov. 7, he was already in Jefferson City getting prepared for his first legislative session.

“We’re putting Florissant back on the map. Nobody knew where Florissant was, and they know where we’re at now.”

So far, this session, the North County representative has introduced more than 85 bills, including bills on making sure food stamp cards have photo identification and making sure to extend the voting machine privileges for the blind at federal elections to state and local elections.

While Rep. English is sponsoring and co-sponsoring legislation he believes in, he has gotten right to work in making Florissant and North County better.

Rep. English has introduced legislation that would allow the City of Florissant to set and collect fees in dealing with state-maintained easements and right-of-ways. He said that he introduced the legislation as the city has continued to maintain these state-based roads.

He’s also introduced a resolution that deals with West Lake Landfill, which has been a point of controversy in recent years for the area. The landfill is contaminated with radioactive waste from uranium ore processing residues, and it could be polluting the Missouri River, which sits more than five miles upstream of the site and serves as a drinking water source for the area.

English’s proposed resolution turns over its maintenance from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Army Corps of Engineers.

English credits his five years as Ward 4 Florissant City Councilman as helping ease the transition of becoming a state representative. He also notes the slow-nature process, where he’s used to a quicker legislation process in city council.

“Being in local government, I knew a lot of state laws needed to be changed,” he said. “Out of 84 bills, if I get one to the governor’s desk, it’ll make me smile."