Sam Page's Biography

Sam as a fourth-grader

When Sam was nine, his father left and as is so common when the oldest child is a boy, his mother told him that he was the head of the family. With his mother, an English teacher, and his younger brother and sister, they lived on a too-tight budget — no secret to his classmates because Sam paid a reduced price for his school lunch.

He worked part time and brought his pay home to the family. He excelled in the Van Buren high school. His fellow students elected him class President and he was the 1983 class valedictorian. This earned him a University of Missouri Curators' Scholarship and he was determined to use it at one of the University's four campuses. He chose the University of Missouri-Kansas City because no application fee was required, but more important, he could stay with his father who lived in Kansas City.

Sam was under great stress when he left Van Buren for Kansas City. He knew that if his grade point average dropped below 3.9 his first year or below 3.75 his second and subsequent years, his scholarship would fade to where he might have to quit school. He studied hard, worked hard, and met his grade requirements. He often has said that many of his high school classmates, if given an opportunity, would have done just as well in college.

With my wife Jenny, and our children, Logan, Jacob, and Luke   enlarge   With Parkway North Middle School Bike Safety program honorees   enlarge   Discussing the need for affordable prescription drugs

Sam was a high-profile student. He was elected president of UMKC's student government. When Sam completed his undergraduate degree in chemistry, he entered UMKC's medical school. He was elected president of his medical school student council.

His wife, Jennifer Page (Horrell) was in the medical school's six-year program. They met when she was in her second year and she is remembered still by many for her unusual part-time job. For four years, she was a Kansas City Chiefs cheerleader.

When they graduated in 1992, they went to St. Louis for their internships and married the following year. Following their internships, they went to Chicago for their Residencies: Jennifer specialized in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Sam in Anesthesiology.

While an Anesthesiology Resident, he was elected by his fellow Residents to occupy the only Resident seat on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and later, he was elected to represent all the Residents nationally on the Council on Legislation for the American Medical Association.

When they returned to St. Louis and settled in Creve Coeur, Sam took a fellowship at Washington University. He did his additional studies in Pain Management, and then began his practice at Western Anesthesiology Associates, Inc. in St. Louis.

Once settled in Creve Coeur, a satellite city of St. Louis, it was not long before civic responsibilities again found Sam. He was elected to the Creve Coeur City Council and was elected president of the Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists. These civic duties were accepted by Sam — his nature, to do his duty, was forged as a nine-year old in South-Central Missouri.

With his medical training completed, he had a personal student loan debt just over $70,000. That debt, says Sam, in spite of scholarships and working part-time is what it takes a poor boy to become a doctor.

Because he and Jennifer were both physicians, their piled-up school debt was not as crippling as it would be for someone on a social worker or teacher's salary or for that matter, most other occupations. However, Sam has not forgotten how hard it was to get his education.

If there is one thing that can be predicted about Sam Page, it is that he will always work to level the playing field — not by pulling someone down, but by reaching down to lift someone up. As a product of teachers — his mother and all his teacher-mentors — he says, "How can I forget the lessons they taught me?" That is why education is so important to him. He believes that children should be allowed to go as far as their mind and ambition will take them.

Jennifer and Sam have three children, Logan, 9; Luke, 7, both in their neighborhood public school, and Jake, 4, waiting to join his brothers.

When Sam's neighbors elected him to two terms on the Creve Coeur City Council and then for three terms in the Missouri House, it afforded the voters many opportunities to examine him, to examine his voting behavior and to examine his political philosophy. Study below who endorsed him and who honored him for his legislative service. Take comfort in who he is and take comfort in the significance of those who trust him:

• The St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA) has twice named him their Lewis & Clark Statesman
• The Missouri National Education Association (MNEA) has recommended his re-election to its members
• The St. Louis Business Journal singled-out his service in the House of Representatives to honor him
• Missouri Association of Social Work named him 2006 Legislator of the Year
• The Sierra Club endorsed him in recognition of his support for the environment and recommended him to its members
• The St. Louis Labor Council endorsed him and recommended him to its members
• The Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industries honored him with their 2004 Spirit of Enterprise Award

He will have completed six years in the Missouri House of Representatives next year. There has been talk about his running for a statewide office. In the halls of the state capitol, the media tout Sam for the office of Lieutenant Governor.

The Lieutenant Governor assumes the powers and duties of the Governor when the Governor is absent from the state or is unable to serve. This is common knowledge, but the other roles of the office are little known:

• The Lieutenant Governor is the only statewide elected official that is part of both the Executive and Legislative branches. Under the Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor is President of the Missouri Senate and presides over the Senate, subject to the procedural rules of the Senate.
• The Constitution also gives the Lieutenant Governor the right to debate and vote on issues when the Senate sits as a Committee of the Whole.
• The Lieutenant Governor is to stand ready to cast a vote in the case of a tie.
• In addition, by law, the Lieutenant Governor serves on Twelve Boards and Commissions and of these, half have much to gain by the presence of a physician. Sam can and will make a serious contribution.

Commissions and Boards

• THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND HEALTH
  The Council promotes physical fitness and health throughout the state by implementing programs, fostering communication and cooperation and developing statewide support.
• THE MISSOURI SENIOR RX PROGRAM (CHAIR)
  The Program assists seniors in handling high costs of prescription drugs.
• THE PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE COMMISSION (CO-CHAIR)
  The Commission examines existing programs and services, provides community based treatment, facilitates communication and collaboration between state agencies, Health and Community based services, and consumer directed care.
• THE STATEWIDE SAFETY STEERING COMMITTEE
• SPECIAL HEALTH, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF MINORITY OLDER INDIVIDUALS COMMISSION
  The Commission studies certain needs of the state's minority older individuals and makes recommendations.
• THE BOARD OF FUND COMMISSIONERS
  The Board issues, redeems, and cancels state general obligation bonds and performs other administrative activities related to state general obligation debt as assigned by law.
• THE BOARD OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS
  The Board has general supervision and charge of state facilities at the seat of government. The Board also has the authority to issue revenue bonds for the construction of state office buildings and certain other facilities.
• THE MISSOURI DEVELOPMENT FINANCE BOARD
  The Board assists infrastructure and economic development projects in Missouri by providing the critical component of the total financing for projects that have a high probability of success but are not feasible without the Board's assistance.
• THE MISSOURI HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
  The Commission works to provide quality, safe, affordable housing for low and moderate-income citizens of Missouri.
• THE MISSOURI RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
  The council adopts and revises a comprehensive state rural investment guide consisting of policy statements, objectives, standards, and program criteria to guide state agencies in establishing and implementing programs relating to rural development.
• THE MISSOURI TOURISM COMMISSION
  The Missouri Tourism Commission promotes the growth of Missouri's travel industry.
• THE SECOND STATE CAPITOL COMMISSION
  The Commission evaluates and recommends courses of action on the restoration and preservation of the Capitol.
• THE VETERANS BENEFITS AWARENESS TASK FORCE (CHAIR)
  The Task Force helps Missouri veterans access and receive their earned benefits.
• THE MISSOURI COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMISSION
  The Commission nurtures volunteerism by encouraging an atmosphere that enables citizen service to prosper.
• ADVISOR TO DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND THE PARENTS-AS-TEACHERS PROGRAM

Sam's training as a physician and his six years as a legislator make him especially well suited to this office. He is 42 and brings to the office his high energy and his devotion to duty. He brings his South-Central Missouri values: honesty, hard work and respect for one's neighbor.

But to start with, Sam will need help for what promises to be a most expensive campaign. First, there are fund-raising rules. The limit is $1,350 per entity. Any amount someone wishes to give is appreciated. Sam's gratitude is not based on the amount sent to help him; it is based on the decision to help him.

Sam's supporters should seriously consider how much they are able to contribute. Some who are fortunate can carry a greater share of this burden. A statewide race is a high-ticket endeavor — heavy burden.

Please go to Sam's Donate page, or write your check to Page for Missouri and mail to:

Page for Missouri
17 Windsor Terrace Lane
Creve Coeur, Missouri 63141

To make an important, early difference, beat the June 30^th deadline.