KC Rep. only Black committee chair for 2023-2024 session
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. —State Rep. Mark Sharp, D-Kansas City, released the following statement on House Speaker Dean Plocher’s decision to appoint him to the chairmanship of the House Special Committee on Urban Issues for the 102nd General Assembly:
“It is with great humility that I can share that the Speaker of the Missouri House has chosen me to be the sole Democrat to chair a committee in the Missouri House for the 102nd General Assembly, and I'm the only African-American to chair a committee in either the House or Senate.
“I believe that by working across the aisle and with members of both the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus and the Democratic Caucus, this committee will be able to address some of the toughest issues facing not only African-American and Hispanic-American urban communities, but all urban communities in our great state.
“This committee is comprised of members with a variety of shared experiences, and I believe that every member of this committee is eager to consider policy changes that will revitalize and strengthen our urban cores and help ensure that our cities are safer and remain strong economic and cultural hubs for our state.”
State Rep. Marlon Anderson, D-St. Louis, is the only other Democratic representative on the committee. State Rep. Scott Cupps, R-Shell Knob, will serve as vice-chair, and Republican state Reps. Brad Banderman of St. Clair, David Casteel of High Ridge, Jeff Coleman of Grain Valley and Bishop Davidson of Republic will make up the rest of the committee.
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