About the Author

Vicky Hartzler is a leader who believes people of faith have a wonderful opportunity to serve God and others through service in public office. In 1994 she heeded the call to run for state representative and became only the third person in her district to win from her political party since the Civil War. She won her next two elections with landslide victories and served in the Missouri House of Representatives for six years where she championed legislation promoting adoption, strengthening education, protecting children, assisting families, and helping communities. She served on the following committee: Social Services and Corrections Appropriations; Agriculture; Children, Youth & Families; Fiscal Review; and Social Services, Medicaid, and the Elderly.

During her time in office she received many awards including "Individual of the Year Award" from the Harrisonville Area Chamber of Commerce, "Public Servant of the Year Award" from the Pleasant Hill Area Chamber of Commerce, and "The City Gate Award" by the Family Leadership Forum "For proclaiming the truth, and defending the virtue of righteousness with courage and gentleness".

In 2000 Rep. Hartzler decided to not seek re-election after the Lord blessed her husband and her with a beautiful baby girl through adoption. Since leaving office in 2001 she has remained active in politics coordinating and managing numerous campaigns and serving as state spokesperson for the Coalition to Protect Marriage in Missouri in 2004. During the traditional marriage campaign she participated in over 150 interviews with television, radio, and newspaper reporters from all over the world and took part in television and radio debates. Despite being outspent 22 to 1, on Election Day, Missouri sent a clarion call around the world that traditional marriage was worth protecting by passing the constitutional amendment with 71% of the vote.

Vicky Hartzler has written newspaper columns over the years, written op-ed pieces for the KC Star and St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and spoke to groups of various sizes about political issues and Biblical truths. She teaches Sunday School at her church and has been a speaker at women's conferences.

In 2005 Missouri Governor Matt Blunt appointed her chairperson of the Missouri Women's Council--an agency within the Department of Economic Development dedicated to helping women achieve their economic goals—and was overwhelmingly confirmed by the Missouri Senate.

She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a B.S. in Education and Central Missouri State University with a M.S. in Education. She taught junior and senior high family and consumer sciences for 11 years before serving as state representative.

She is blessed to serve the Lord and others with her husband, Lowell, and daughter, Tiffany. They reside near Harrisonville, Missouri.