Disabled veteran announces candidacy for Lichtenegger's term-limited seat in 2018

Editor's note: the following story has been edited to clarify a statement regarding how the incumbent representative reacted to LaForest's plans to run for office.

Tony LaForest, 51, of Jackson announced his candidacy Thursday for state representative in District 146 as a Republican, and the issues that mean the most to him are concerns of personal relevance.

LaForest said he had been in contact with state Rep. Donna Lichtenegger about running for her seat after she reached her term limit in 2018. LaForest said Lichtenebber was "very happy with it."

LaForest served 11 years in the Marine Corps, first as a military police officer and then as infantry.

His spine was crushed during the Gulf War in 1991, and he is a 100 percent disabled veteran with degenerative joint disease.

LaForest spent years working through Veterans Affairs paperwork on his own case.

Since 2014, he has helped other veterans try to get the care they need.

A Korean war veteran believed LaForest saved his life, LaForest said. He said he encouraged the man to get treatment for an injury sustained during his service. A doctor ended up diagnosing the man with pancreatic cancer while treating him for the leg injury, LaForest said.

“The VA is taking the burden off themselves, and it’s putting the burden on the vet,” LaForest said.

LaForest supports the VA offering treatment through local hospitals.

Missouri offers veterans benefits LaForest would like to change, one of which is property-tax credits.

Currently, a veteran must be 100 percent disabled and a prisoner of war.

LaForest would like to change the language of the benefits to “and/or.”

According to state officials, there is only one POW in the area.

Another issue crucial to LaForest is benefits for people with mental and physical disabilities.

He has a son with cerebral palsy and a son with autism.

On a federal level, he views proposals affecting Medicaid and Medicare with apprehension because they might affect people with disabilities.

On a state level, LaForest views an increase in funding for services as one way to help.

“Their quality of life is so bad,” LaForest said of some veterans and disabled people.

LaForest wants to focus on education, especially bullying.

He’s not sure of the solution — it might be legislating harsher penalties on cyberbullies — but he is interested in addressing the issue at a state level.

“Kids are killing themselves because of cyberbullying,” LaForest said. “We’ve stepped over boundaries.”

LaForest has been working on a campaign for state representative for three years.

“You don’t just get up one morning and decide you’re going to run,” LaForest said.

LaForest has been married to Angie LaForest for 18 years, and they have five children — Brett, Josh and Gracie LaForest and Robert and Preston Beauchamp.

“If somebody has an issue, my door is always open,” LaForest said.

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