Hello, my name is Thom Van Vleck and I am the Republican Candidate for State Representative in the 2nd House District.   

My family heritage is rooted deep in the district.  I grew up in Adair County (briefly living in Schuyler County) and graduated from Kirksville public schools.  I can trace my roots back 6 generations in Sullivan County.  My family has a farming tradition, like many of the families in this district, and it has taught me many lessons.  I feel connected and committed to the land and preserving it not only for recreation like hunting and fishing, but as means to provide for future generations.  We live on this land and we live “off” it as well.  I don’t believe that being born here or having had family here makes me more qualified to be your State Representative, but it has instilled in me the values we all truly hold dear.  

My spirituality is very important to me.  I am the head elder at Faith Lutheran Church.  There are 5 generations of Lutheran Pastors on my mother’s side of the family.  But my beliefs are not based on family legacy.  They are based on my own personal relationship with Christ.  My own faith has been built on a lifetime of experiences that I am always happy to share.  I have a strong respect for anyone that fully explores their own spirituality in their own way as this is an often neglected aspect of our lives in this modern world.  I am also taught within my religion that all Christians are my brothers and sisters in Christ and that each and every one of us is special in God’s eyes.   

My family is the driving force in my life and one of the major reasons I decided to go into politics.  I have been with my wife, Kelly, for nearly 22 years and married for the past 18.  I have three children Morgan (10), Dalton (9) and Ethan (7).  Being a husband and a father is a blessing and being a good one is extremely important.  Like all fathers, I think my children are special and gifted.  My youngest son, Ethan, has special needs but is excelling greatly due to the efforts of the Kirksville Public Schools and hard work.  I try to make special time with my children, as a family and individually.  They come first, but I see the impact I can have as a Representative on their future as being important.  My campaign, like everything we do, will be a family effort.   

I live on 40 acres in northern Adair County and enjoy the benefits of country living.  Many job opportunities have been considered, but when it came down to it, my love for this area has kept me and my family in northeast Missouri.  My dad was a truck driver that went coast to coast and went to every state in the lower 48.  As we watched a beautiful sunset one night he told me, “I have seen many beautiful places, but this is my favorite.  Not just because it’s home, the great thing about this area is how different it can look from one season to the next and year to year”.  Northeast Missouri is just a great place to live.
   
I am currently the Director of Counseling at A.T. Still University in Kirksville and a former counselor with Preferred Family Healthcare.  While earning my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master’s in Counseling, I also managed several local businesses in Kirksville.  As a teenager, I worked as a farm hand, a gas station attendant (when you could still get full service), and at Kirksville Diesel Repair as well as mowing lawns, delivering papers, cutting cord upon cord of firewood and I couldn’t count the bales of hay I bucked.  I know what hard work is and appreciate everything I have as a result.      

I am also a member of the Jackson Weightlifting Club.  The JWC was started by my grandfather and later my Uncles.  In the 1960’s the JWC fielded a weightlifting team that won a team state title against teams from Kansas City and St. Louis.  No small feat.  In the 90’s the team was brought back to life and has been involved in putting on Strongman contests, Scottish Highland Games, weightlifting meets, and other events in the Kirksville area that have drawn people from all over the Midwest and benefited the local economy.  The JWC also has an interdenominational evangelism team that has performed to over 20,000 people in the area.  We have brought real world class strongman performances to small, local churches and groups that could not have afforded a national team.  I have been a competitive weightlifter and a strongman, having won over 200 medals and awards while setting two masters world records.  I have offered free training and facilities to others including several who have won world championships in several strength related sports.  I have also had dozens of articles related to weightlifting published internationally.   

Everything I have accomplished has only come from being a citizen of this great nation.  America has been and continues to be the nation of opportunity.  My freedom to worship how I wish, to pursue my own version of happiness, to get an education, and raise my family as I see fit are why I love this nation and northeast Missouri.  It is also why I am running for office.  I want to make sure that opportunity is there for future generations.  God Bless America!