| Cynthia L. Davis | |
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| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 19th district |
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| In office 2003–2011 |
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| Preceded by | Charles F. Nordwald |
| Succeeded by | Kurt Bahr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 23, 1959 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Constitution Party |
| Spouse(s) | Bernie Davis |
| Children | John, Benjamin, Cathryn, Matthew, Amanda, Susanna, and Philip |
| Alma mater | Nyack College |
| Profession | Politician |
Cynthia L. Davis (born November 23, 1959) is a former Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives. She lives in O'Fallon, Missouri.
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She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from Needham High School in Needham, Massachusetts. She majored in music at Nyack College of Nyack, New York before marrying Bernie in 1980.
After moving to Missouri Christmas Eve of 1984, she with her husband opened the Back to Basics Christian Bookstore in O'Fallon in 1989.
In 1992 she was appointed to chair the legislative committee for the O'Fallon Business Association. She was first elected to the O'Fallon Board of Aldermen in 1994, served as its president in 1995, and was thereafter elected to five consecutive terms. She was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Other elected offices: Republican Committeewoman for Dardenne Township, State Committeewoman for the Second Senatorial District, Vice-President of the First Capitol Federation of Republican Women
She served on the following committees: Chairman of the Children and Families Committee, Chairman of the Interim Committee on Poverty, Member of Healthcare Policy Committee, State Parks and Waterways Committee, and Elections Committee.
Davis filed a bill calling for a state ban on elective abortions.[1] She said the bill would "protect public safety, health and welfare".
Davis left the Republican Party to join the Constitution Party over what amounts to a loss of party principles. She sent a letter to Republican Central Committee declaring her reasons for leaving. On October 2, 2011, she announced her run for Lieutenant Governor as a Constitution Party candidate.[2]
In June 2009, remarks made by Davis in her constituent newsletter received local and national criticism. Davis attacked programs providing subsidized meals for school-age children from lower-income families during the summer months, claiming that such programs "could break apart more families" and asserting that "Hunger can be a positive motivator." [3]
The Daily Star-Journal said that Davis "seems to have missed a lesson in humanity," concluding that "Schools provide real parents a real place where their real children can get a real meal, which is a lot more filling than empty advice from politicians."[4] St. Louis Today characterized Davis as "oblivious," declaring that "When you chair a state special committee on children and families, you probably ought to learn something about the needs of children and families."[5] Springfields New-Leader columnist Roger Ray called Davis "clueless" and noted reports that Davis had been seen "stealing food at state dinners to take home to her children.".[6] Missouri House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota requested Davis be removed as chairwoman of the Children and Families Committee.[7] And Missouri's junior U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill responded that "Fagin agreed that hunger was a motivator for children. I don't."[8]
Davis was named the daily "worst person in the world" more than once on Countdown with Keith Olbermann for her comments.[9] Stephen Colbert mocked Davis's comments about the motivational effect of hunger, telling Missourians "If you see Representative Davis at a restaurant or a hot dog stand or even through the window of her own dining room, do the right thing and take her food away."[10] Los Angeles Times columnist Patt Morrison concluded that "Questioning the need for school meals doesn’t prove that there is no need for them – only that someone’s not paying attention, or chooses not to.".[10]
Davis has responded by stating her comments were taken out of context, saying "We all agree on the importance of feeding children, but we differ on who should do this."[11] Ms. Davis is no longer a Missouri State Representative (term limits). She lost a primary race for state senator in 2010. She also lost an election for the St. Charles County Ambulance Board. She recently stepped down as the head of the St. Charles County GOP Committee to concentrate on further elective political office; there was controversy with the Committee about her tenure.
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