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Mark and Leslie Alford

Former news anchor Mark Alford: “God’s calling me” to run for Congress

A familiar face is running for Congress from Missouri’s Fourth District. Mark Alford, a longtime anchor on Fox 4 News in Kansas City, announced on Wednesday that he will run for the seat being vacated by incumbent Vicky Hartzler, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

“I don’t want to be a politician,” Alford said. “My desire is not to leapfrog from one political office to the next. I just feel like God’s calling me at this time, kind of pushing me out the window and said, ‘You better start flying, and here’s what I want you to do.’”

Alford worked for Fox 4 for 23 years before departing a few weeks ahead of his campaign launch. He’s married to Leslie Alford and the couple has three children.

“Each district is due the strongest voice they can elect who represents their will and their beliefs. I am that strongest voice for the 4th congressional district of the state of Missouri,” Alford said on his campaign website.

https://twitter.com/markalfordkc/status/1452345168011612166

In a video posted to his Facebook page, Alford said “it has not been easy being in the media while also being a conservative Christian who respects law enforcement and wants to promote local entrepreneurs and small business owners.”

Alford joins a crowded field.

  • Kalena Bruce, a cattle farmer from Stockton, launched her candidacy on Aug. 18, billing herself as a “conservative outsider.” Aside from managing the family farm, Bruce is a CPA who owns and operates an accounting firm in Bolivar where she focuses on small businesses and federal tax law. She touted her agriculture expertise and ties to former President Donald Trump in her announcement with a promise to “clean up Congress.”
  • Taylor Burks, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves, filed to run for the seat on July 1. He said he will draw on “his record outside of politics” during his campaign. Burks also plans to publicly pledge to serve no more than 10 years in the U.S. House.
  • Sara Walsh, currently a state representative, kicked off her candidacy on July 7. She is the chair of the Consent and House Procedure Committee as well as the Subcommittee on Appropriations — Public Safety, Corrections, Transportation and Revenue.

–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice

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