Jun 26, 2014 - On the streets of Kathmandu, the sight of people begging for kidney treatment has become common. The capital of Nepal is no different from.

With the 2016 election still fresh in voters’ minds, it’s hard to imagine another one just around the corner. However, Missouri in particular will have some interesting races, with incumbents Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill, and Representatives Ann Wagner, a Republican, and Lacy Clay, a Democrat, defending their congressional seats for the St. Louis region. Osmack Wagner’s 2nd District, which was once a largely ignored district for the Democrats, will now become one of their most desired seats as they attempt to wrestle control back from the GOP majority in both chambers. The Clayton Times had a chance to sit down with Democratic candidate and political newcomer Mark Osmack to see why he believes he’s the right choice to represent the state of Missouri.

Osmack is a fourth generation St. Louisan originally from south St. Louis County.

After college, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he served two combat tours in Afghanistan and received a Bronze Star. Osmack was even featured in a article describing the unique war the United States was fighting in. Clayton Times: What compelled you to run? Osmack: It’s something that I’ve been interested in since I was much younger, but as I got older, I started to take classes and test things.

I started off as an intern in 2004 in Jefferson City, I worked for Rep. Bob May (then District 149 in Rolla). Fast forward to now, my time on the Hill in Washington D.C. But also time in service in the Army really fit into that. For me that most honest way to answer it it’s to continue public service. I don’t think we’re heading down the right direction but for me this is the way I want to continue to serve in addition to what I did in the Army.

Clayton Times: It seems more and more military veterans are running for office. Why do you think that is? Osmack: A lot of reasons. Part of it is that the war has been going on for so long (and) we have a lot of people coming back thankfully.

Duse vise hrvat^kili slih stoijeca; i. Razvija se sve vise djclovanje s a b o r a. Blavonskili sabora, kojima bi kralj. No zato su se sabori cesce. Saborski su se. Protokoli kili.

Right now, we’re at the lowest point of veterans since World War II in Washington D.C. But also that people are continually disappointed with the status quo — for a lack of a better term — in D.C. And in state capitols. The American military consistently is viewed highly and positively; it seems to be a natural progression to go from one form of leadership and service to the next.

Clayton Times: What do military veterans bring to a political race that separates them from someone who doesn’t have a service record? Osmack: It’s how they’re viewed and I think it’s also a bit of discipline and a commitment to something higher. Everybody that’s in the military, there is something larger than them and that is the organization, whether that’s the platoon, the company, the battalion, the brigade, the division, the corps, or the actual service — it’s knowing that they’re part of something much bigger than them. The way I kind of explain it is: I want to be the candidate who happens to be a veteran and not the veteran who happens to be the candidate.

So is it important? Yes, but it’s just a part of the story; it’s a part of who I am. Clayton Times: How would you rate incumbent Republican Rep. Ann Wagner’s performance in Congress and how would you improve on it? Osmack: I think I speak for a lot of people who are disappointed because she doesn’t meet with constituents.

It’s a matter-of-lack of familiarity or just ease and simplicity when she does meet, she does not seem to be willing to meet with people who do not agree with her positions. That’s one thing — probably the biggest aside from her flip-flopping supporting President Trump — and also her inconsistency on healthcare and how she wants to go about it, whether this new version is where we should go.

She seems to not get beyond her small, very isolated bubble of the wealthy part of where she lives. Clayton Times: It seems that Rep. Wagner seems to have a really strong base of support in her district. How will you attract moderates or possibly even Republicans to vote for you?

Osmack: Well I think there’s a distinction; she has financial support. Right now, I think she has about $3 million or so and we’re anticipating her to have upwards of $5 million by the time we get to the general election in November. But I think financial support and actual support are different. I know that she doesn’t go to South County, I know that she doesn’t go to Jefferson County, where I used to live.

I know the financial challenge, but that does not indicate actual support, so her $5 million, I’m not truly afraid of. I think 2018 is a different type of race because yes, people are upset with Trump, and I think a lot of them feel betrayed, so this area — as you know — has been fairly Republican for quite awhile. I think there’s a lot of crossover too with independents, and also the people who would usually vote Republican.