The Jefferson Review Voters Guide

Special Edition

The Jefferson Review Voters Guide is designed to help voters hear directly from the candidates seeking to represent Jefferson County. Candidate answers are published as submitted so readers can compare responses in each race.

Editor’s Note: Candidate responses are not endorsements by The Jefferson Review. Answers are provided by the candidates and are shared for voter information.

David Casteel

Political Party Affiliation: Republican

Brief Candidate Biography

I was born and raised in High Ridge, MO. I started my business in High Ridge. I am raising my family in High Ridge. I love High Ridge and the Greater Jefferson County region. I am Catholic and we attend Saint Paul Catholic Church. I started my construction company in 2004 and our first warehouse location was in the industrial court across the street from Dobbs Headquarters on Little Brennan. We stayed there until the company outgrew that location. Today we have 60 employees working clear across the state of Missouri. I feel truly blessed to have experienced so much growth. My early motivation to run for office came from all of the confusion around COVID. By the time I was first sworn in, COVID was gone but the we were and still are experiencing the lasting economic effects. I have been addressing those effects in the house as the Chairman of the House Commerce Committee. We look at everything from clearing regulatory roadblocks to reducing taxes.

Why are you running for this office?

I am running for re election because of my love of Jefferson County. Nothing can get done in the House without allies. My allies have always been the other Representatives from Jefferson County and beyond. If a wildcard candidate gets elected with radical views then the entire delegation will lose its ability to be as strong and influential. I am endorsed by all of the sitting Representatives because we work together for the greater good of Jefferson County. I have created strong relationships throughout the Capital so I can better serve the constituents of the 97th.

What experience best prepares you to serve in this role?

I feel my experience as the co founder of my construction company is the experience that best prepares me for office. As a business owner, I have to be able to clearly cast a vision for company, Lead the personnel, perform risk analysis, understand insurance and finance, negotiate with vendors and keep both the employees and clients satisfied. My competition always keeps me on my toes and my head on a swivel. These qualities have served me well in the legislature as well. As a legislator, we should not go to the capital with our eyes wide shut and our strategies already determined. We need to be open to truly understand all sides of the challenges facing the residents of Missouri. What works in one area might adversely affect another area. We have to able to work through those issues carefully.

What do you believe is the most important issue facing Jefferson County right now?

Jefferson County needs strategic growth and focused economic development. We need infrastructure upgrades to keep the lights on during storms and fiberoptic broadband access to the whole county. Many I have spoke to would like to see the new section of 21 continued south and Highway 30 desperately needs to be modernized to become safer and more accommodating to all of the recent developments. I have worked on economic developments in Jefferson every year of my service thus far. This year I was able to clear the roadblocks for the James Hardie Manufacturing Facility in Crystal City. That is $500 million investment in Jefferson County that will boost tax revenue and create hundreds of permanent high paying jobs and thousands of construction jobs. I am very proud of my work on that project.

How would you balance the needs of your district with broader statewide legislative priorities?

As I mentioned, some solutions hurt areas of the state unintentionally. I am confident that a unified Jeffco delegation would be able to oppose any legislation proposed by legislator's from other parts of the state. We would have to clearly communicate to the sponsor the unintended effects of their proposed legislation. Being well respected helps these conversations develop nicely. Otherwise all of the republicans want what is best for Missouri at large. What's good for Missouri should, in most cases, be good for Jefferson County. In closing, we always consider how Jefferson County will be affected by proposed legislation and we work together to get it amended.

What specific legislation would you like to sponsor or support during your first term or next term?

Firstly, I want to continue to fight against the time it takes to get a simple building permit. I have filed or worked on the fast track building permits for the last two years and think we have a good shot to get it done in 2027. I look forward to continuing to sponsor or to help pass pro business, job creating legislation. I think we should require schools to teach financial education that would teach the students financial responsibility, teach them about investments and credit ratings. I would like to help local law enforcement identify citizenship status at the time of arrest. Ultimately, I want to bring Jefferson County as many resources and opportunities as I can.

How should Missouri address rising costs for families and seniors, including housing, utilities, groceries, insurance, and taxes?

Missouri should focus on lowering structural costs instead of one time gimmicks. That means targeted property tax relief and "tax freeze" protections for seniors and long time home owners, expansion of utility assistance and weatherization programs, and removing state taxes on essential items like groceries and prescriptions for families on tight budgets. I would also support policies that encourage local food production, and hold insurance and utility rate hikes a higher standard justification so people are not priced out of their homes or basic necessities. Overall, the goal is to let families and seniors keep more of what they earn while bringing down the actual cost they face every month.

What role should state government play in supporting public safety, law enforcement, and crime victims?

The states job is back the men and women on the front lines with funding, training, and to crack down on repeat offenders. It also should stand with the victims by providing fast access to compensation, counseling, and help navigating the system so as not to be re victimized by all of the red tape.

How would you protect local control while also ensuring state laws are applied fairly across Missouri?

I believe Missourians are best served when decisions are made at the local level so long as they are consistent with state framework. If the local jurisdiction communicates timely and effectively with the state legislature then we listen and begin to work with that jurisdiction or their representative such the Municipal League to amend the legislation so that it addresses their concern.

What are your views on school choice legislation in Missouri?

I support school choice because I believe competition creates excellence. I feel it empowers parents to choose the option that best fits their needs. Going forward I will back policies that give families options such as public, charter, private, or home schooling without abandoning the traditional public school models. I also love to see the growth of school spirit in the Northwest R-1 I've seen over the last decade. The school district I once called home has come a long way. Go Lions!!

What transportation, road, or infrastructure concerns in Jefferson County should receive more attention from the state?

I believe state transportation dollars should in Jefferson County should be focused on Highway 30 from Fenton to Ditmer just to start. I think the unfinished section of Highway 21 should be completed sooner than later. I think we also need to address all of the dangerous intersections and aging bridges. I have been talking to MoDOT about getting funding for many of our unfunded priorities and I believe we are making progress.

Would you support legislation for a taxpayer Bill of Rights? Why or why not?

I would definitely support a tax payer Bill of Rights. As a final conservative, I believe the government should live within its means and be accountable to the people who provide its funding. A Tax Payer Bill of Rights should cap government spending to a formula that is tied to CPI and requires vote of the people before major tax or fee increases. The best part of a Tax Payer Bill of Rights is that any unused tax revenue is returned to the payer. Just like a dividend check. Nobody wants to pay more taxes especially if those taxes are wasted. GO TABOR!

Do you support or oppose Right to Work legislation in Missouri? Why?

I oppose it. As a pro business Republican, I believe employers need stability, predictability, and access to a skilled workforce. I would rather focus my energy on workforce development, permitting reform and streamlining, building permit process, and reducing the tax burden. The voters in the state of Missouri already defeated the referendum by a wide margin in 2018 and I think it would be a waste of time and resources to revive that issue.

What is your opinion on work requirements for Medicaid or other public assistance programs?

I support work requirements for Medicaid and other public assistance programs for able-bodied adults, with commonsense exemptions for people who are disabled, elderly, or primary caregivers. Work is not just a way to earn a living; it gives people purpose, dignity, and a stake in their communities. Tying benefits to employment, job training, or active job search encourages independence, helps fill open positions in our local economy, and focuses limited taxpayer resources on those who truly cannot provide for themselves. At the same time, any work requirement must be implemented in a practical way that does not create needless red tape for workers or punish people who are genuinely trying to comply. Done right, work requirements should be about helping pyyeople move from dependency to opportunity, not about denying care to the vulnerable.

How will you stay accessible and accountable to constituents after the election?

I invite all to sign up for my weekly Capitol Reports. You can sign up at link below.

Additionally, I look forward to hearing from anyone who would like to follow state politics closer. I love to help people navigate the state government. The feedback I get from those I help solve a problem is often converted into a bill so the same issue doesn't become a problem for others.

Email anytime to [email protected]

Sign up for the Capitol Reports at the link below https://house.mo.gov/MemberDetails.aspx?year=2026&code=R&district=097

Why should voters choose you for this role?

Voters should choose me because of my proven legislative experience, service as the Commerce Committee Chairman, and strong work with the state and local Jefferson County Delegation deliver real, effective results for our community.

Voters Guide Notice: This candidate profile is not a paid advertisement. Candidate responses are published as part of The Jefferson Review Candidate Voter Guide and are presented in the candidate’s own words.

The opinions and statements expressed above are solely those of the candidate or campaign and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Jefferson Review, its staff, sponsors, or partners. Publication of a candidate response does not constitute an endorsement.

Candidate responses were submitted through The Jefferson Review Candidate Voter Guide questionnaire. Responses are presented in the candidate’s own words and have not been rewritten by The Jefferson Review. Formatting may be adjusted for spacing, readability, or display.

Questionnaire Note: Candidates were invited to respond to the same questionnaire for this office. If a question was left blank, The Jefferson Review may mark that answer as “No response provided.”