Jack Goodman

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Jack Goodman
Member of the Missouri State Senate from the 29th district
In office 2005 - present
Preceded by	Larry Gene Taylor

Born	September 9, 1973 (1973-09-09) (age 34) Aurora, Missouri
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Laura
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Catholic

Jack Goodman is a Republican member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 29th District since 2005. He is currently the Assistant Majority Floor Leader. Previously he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2003 through 2005.

[edit] Biography

Jack Goodman grew up in Pierce City, Missouri and graduated from Pierce City High School in 1991. He attended the University of Missouri, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Philosophy in 1995 and his juris doctorate in 1998.

After graduating from law school, Sen. Goodman served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Dade County, Missouri until 2002, when he was elected to his first term in the Missouri House. Then-Representative Goodman represented the 132nd District, covering almost all of Lawrence County. During his three-year House tenure, Sen. Goodman rose in the House ranks to serve as the Assistant Majority Floor Leader.

In the summer of 2005, Senator Larry "Gene" Taylor died less than one year into his first term in the Missouri Senate. Jack Goodman ran in the special election to succeed Sen. Taylor and was elected to serve the remainder of that term, ending in 2009. Sen. Goodman is running unopposed in 2008 for a second term in the Missouri Senate. The 29th District, which he represents, includes McDonald, Lawrence, Barry, Stone, Taney and Ozark counties. Sen. Goodman also represents Branson.

In addition to his duties as Assistant Majority Leader, Sen. Goodman chairs the Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight committee. He also serves as vice-chair of the Judiciary committee and a member of the Economic Development, Seniors & Families, and Ways & Means committees.

Sen. Goodman currently lives in Mount Vernon, Missouri with his wife, Laura, and two sons, Jack Elliott and William True Goodman.

[edit] Major Legislation

During his time in office, Sen. Goodman has sponsored several high-profile bills that have gained national attention. Sen. Goodman was the author of Missouri's Castle Doctrine, which allows homeowners to use lethal force against illegal intruders. The Stop Meth Act was also signed into law and gives law enforcement officials a wider range of tools to respond to the growing domestic production of methamphetamine. In the 2008 legislative session, Sen. Goodman sponsored Senate Bill 1194, which would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty for criminals convicted of forcible rape of a child under twelve years of age. This issue has gained national attention since the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008).