Jackson County Democratic Committee

A native of the small town of DeSoto, Mo., Gov. Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon was raised in a family of public servants. His mother, the late Betty Wilson Nixon, was a teacher and served as president of the local school board. His father, Jerry Nixon, was elected Mayor of DeSoto and was a police judge for the community.

Growing up in a home with these strong examples, Gov. Nixon learned at a young age that faith and family come first - and giving back to the community comes next. That's the simple philosophy that has guided Gov. Nixon throughout his career in public service.

After earning both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia, Gov. Nixon returned to DeSoto to practice as an attorney. In 1986, he was elected to his first term in the Missouri State Senate, where he would represent the people of Jefferson County for six years. As a young State Senator, Gov. Nixon reached across the aisle to pass several major pieces of legislation, including an expansion of pre-natal care for expectant mothers.

Then, in 1992, the people of Missouri elected Gov. Nixon to serve as their Attorney General. Inheriting an office tainted by scandal, Gov. Nixon restored integrity to the Attorney General's Office by cleaning up corruption, cracking down on crime and protecting consumers and the environment. Under Gov. Nixon's leadership, the Attorney General's Office became one of the most efficient and effective in state government; in 2007, the office saved or generated more than $20 for every $1 appropriated by the legislature.

As Attorney General, Gov. Nixon earned a reputation for taking on the toughest fights - and winning. Gov. Nixon's suit against the big tobacco companies collected billions for Missourians, and his settlement with the insurance companies led to the formation of several of the largest health care foundations in state history. One of Gov. Nixon's most successful programs, Missouri's popular No-Call List, has become a model for states across the nation. Because of his effective leadership, the people of Missouri elected Gov. Nixon to a record four terms as Attorney General.

Missourians overwhelmingly elected Jay Nixon their 55th Governor on Nov. 4, 2008, to lead the state in a new direction. During these difficult economic times, Gov. Nixon has put forward an agenda to make government more efficient, effective and responsive to the needs of Missouri families. He is committed to attracting the jobs of the future to Missouri, making health care more affordable and placing a college education within reach for middle-class students. As he did as a young State Senator and throughout his career, Gov. Nixon will reach across the aisle to put Missouri families first.

Gov. Nixon and his wife, Georganne, have two sons, Jeremiah and Will. They belong to the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City.

The Missouri Federation of Women's Democratic Clubs is founded upon the ideals and principles of the Missouri Democratic Party's Platform:

"Our state's Democratic Party embodies the hopes and dreams of Missourians aspiring to better themselves, their families and their communities. We are a party of the people, all people, and our only qualification for membership is a genuine concern for the welfare of our nation and its citizens. Democrats believe in putting people first, and in doing so, believe that all of our citizens are entitled to ethical, efficient, economical, and responsive government on all levels in the State of Missouri that will improve the quality of their lives."

Organization Structure

Similar to the MFWDC's membership with the National Federation of Democratic Women, local Democratic clubs join the MFWDC and are organized within Missouri's Nine Congressional Districts. The local clubs elect District Presidents to be information/ communication liaison officers to the MFWDC's Executive Board of Directors. The Executive Board meets several times each year to conduct Federation business. This structure allows the MFWDC to achieve one of its primary objectives:

"...organizing all Women's Democratic Clubs in the state of Missouri into one group working for the success of the Democratic Party."

Yearly Convention

Each year local Federation clubs come together for MFWDC's annual June Convention, hosted by local clubs within one of the nine Congressional Districts. In June 2009, the Seventh Congressional District women hosted the Convention in Springfield, MO. The Federation celebrated the 90th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage in Missouri with the theme, "Women Shaping the Future: Then and Now." Please visit our Events page to learn about our 2010 Convention.

Democrat Day at the Capitol

The MFWDC traditionally hosts a fun and educational day at the Capitol to meet with our Democratic leadership as well as our Democratic State Senators and Representatives. This event is usually held during a weekday in April while our General Assembly is in session. A luncheon is served on site, making for easy access to visit with home town legislators. Our Jefferson City Democrats always seem very happy to see supportive Federation visitors at the Capitol. Visit our Events page for more information.

Full MFWDC Participation

In order to fulfill the Federation's purpose and to encourage full participation of women at every level of the Democratic structure, the MFWDC works together with the Missouri and National Democratic Committees, as well as the National Federation of Democratic Women to meet these objectives:

MFWDC members have many opportunities to gain leadership and advocacy skills, acquire practical working knowledge for life, and develop support systems. Federation membership means women have stronger voices in affecting positive change in their communities and the nation. MFWDC also offers opportunities in the following:

Membership

Interested in joining our organization or starting a Federation Club? Just contact us and we will make it easy for you. We will need to know your Congressional District and County to help you find a local club near you. Become a part of our Federation's proud heritage and work to continue the tradition and purpose our founding members envisioned for Missouri's Democratic Women.