Jolie Justus
Justus is the first LGBTQ person elected to the Missouri State Senate.
As a Kansas City Councilmember, Justus has worked closely with Mayor Sly James to turn Kansas City into a world-class, 21st-century city. From leading the fight for a new, single terminal at KCI to expanding Kansas City’s downtown streetcar line, Jolie has helped pave the way for Kansas City’s success story.
Representing Kansas City’s 4th District, she was appointed by Mayor James to serve as the Chair of the Airport Committee; Vice-Chair of the Finance and Governance Committee; and member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Prior to serving on the City Council, Justus represented the Kansas City area in the Missouri State Senate. There too, she earned a reputation for getting things done and working across party lines to find areas of common ground. One of her most significant accomplishments was an overhaul of the state’s criminal justice code that brought out-of-date policies from the 1970s into the 21st Century. The badly needed criminal justice reform was lauded by prosecutors, law enforcement, defense lawyers and victims’ advocates for creating a system that was more just, more fair, and more effective.
While in Jefferson City, she served as the Senate Democratic Leader and was the chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Progress and Development and ranking member of both the Judiciary Committee and the Senate’s Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government.
Jolie Justus is a graduate of Missouri State University and University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law. Since 2003 she has served as the Director of Pro Bono Services for Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., where she is a champion for Kansas City’s most vulnerable citizens.
Running for:
Mayor
Location:
Kansas City, MO
Previous Office(s) Held:
Chair of the Airport Committee,
Vice-Chair of Finance & Governance Committee,
Kansas City, MO State Senate