James Andreas Kreider (born June 24, 1955) is an American Democratic Party politician who served as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.

Jim Kreider
68th Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 8, 2003
Preceded bySteve Gaw
Succeeded byCatherine Hanaway
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 142nd district
In office
January 6, 1993 – January 8, 2003
Preceded byBeth Long
Succeeded byJerry Bough
Personal details
Born
James Andreas Kreider

(1955-06-24) June 24, 1955 (age 69)
Nuremberg, Germany
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Deborah Joan Neil
(m. 1976)
Children2
ResidenceNixa, Missouri
EducationSouthwest Missouri State University (BS)
ProfessionFarmer and rancher

Kreider was born in Nuremberg, Germany. He graduated from Nixa Public High School in 1973[1] and received a degree in agricultural business and economics from Southwest Missouri State University.

He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives after redistricting in 1992, defeating longtime Republican legislator Don Gann. He was the first Democrat to represent Christian County, Missouri, since 1904 and the first Democrat to represent heavily Republican southwest Missouri since 1955.[1]

He became Speaker pro tempore in 1997 and Speaker in 2001. In 2002, he ran for the 20th district seat in the Missouri Senate, losing to Republican Dan Clemens. As of 2023, Kreider is the last Democrat to serve as Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "REP". house.mo.gov. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives
2001–2003
Succeeded by